Dr Yiheyis Maru
Senior Principal Systems Research Scientist
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Contact details:
CANBERRA ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA
Biography
Dr Yiheyis Taddele Maru is a senior principal systems research scientist at CSIRO in Canberra, Australia. He is also part of the CSIRO Drought Resilience MissionTeam.
Yiheyis worked as a veterinarian before joining CSIRO in 2002 and led vaccination programs, including vaccination programs for cattle plague (rinderpest). He has a postgraduate diploma in rural and natural systems management and a PhD in integrative systems research, modelling and practice from the University of Queensland.
Dr Maru's research focuses on understanding social-ecological system traps, conducting linked resilience-vulnerability assessments and developing resilience, adaptation and transformation pathways for sustainability in developing and developed countries. His current research includes producer-led partnerships for transforming animal health biosecurity, reviewing policy advice for regional drought resilience plans, exploring agricultural adaptation limits and options for transformation, and developing integrated resilience assessment tools.
He is currently chairing a CSIRO Nature Sustainability International expert panel on overcoming resistance to sustainability transformations, which is expected to produce tangible policy, practice, and research recommendations.
Professional Areas
Current Roles
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Project Leader
Independent Regional Drought Resilience Plans Assessment -
Strategic Convenor
Strategic Convening for Scaling Drought Resilience Impact -
Leader
Advancing new modules for Resilience Adaptation Pathways and Transformation (RAPTA) -
Project leader
Integrated Objective and Subjective Resilience Assessment -
Adjunct Associate Professor
Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University
Academic Qualifications
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2000
PhD in systems approaches to sustainable development
University of Queensland -
1996
Post-graduate Diploma in rural and natural systems management
University of Queensland -
1994
Certificate in development policy and management
Ethiopian Management Institute -
1990
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Addis Ababa University -Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Professional Experiences
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2019-2024
Principal Research Scientist
CSIRO -
2002-2010
Research Scientist
CSIRO -
2001-2002
Associate lecturer on systems methodologies and project manager for the development of Online Evaluation Course
Natural and Rural Systems Management, University of Queensland (UQ), Australia -
1996-1998
Extension Research Officer
Rural Extension Centre, UQ, Australia -
1992-1995
Member of Tigray State Executive Council and in Charge of Bureau of Agriculture, Tigray State, Ethiopia
Tigray State Government, Ethiopia -
1991-1992
Regional Veterinary Officer and Head of Division of Livestock and Fisheries Resource Development; Tigray State Department of Agriculture and Environment, Tigray State, Ethiopia
Tigray State Department of Agriculture and Environment, Tigray State, Ethiopia -
1989-1990
Veterinary Research Officer
International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA): Debre-Zeit Research Station, Ethiopia
Achievements and Awards
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2014--
CSIRO Agricultural Flagship Director’s Research for Development Delivery Award
CSIRO
Other highlights
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July 2024-July 2025
Chairing a CSIRO-Nature Sustainability International Expert Panel on Overcoming Resistance to Sustainability Transformations
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2016-2018
Edited a special issue on the AFSI work in the Journal of Agricultural Systems published in 2018 , with lead authorship of three publications on emerging impact of Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) and research for development
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2013-2014
Edited a special issue in the Journal of Global Environmental Change published in 2014 on reframing adaptation as an iterative decision making along alternative pathways for managing climate and other changes.
Publications
We have publications by Dr Yiheyis Maru