Dr Emma Woodward

Research Scientist

https://people.csiro.au/W/E/Emma-Woodward

Biography

I am a research scientist (applied geographer) with Land & Water based in Perth, Australia. My research frequently involves partnering with Australian Indigenous communities to co-develop methods, tools, protocols and guidelines that can facilitate understanding and inclusion of diverse knowledges, values and interests in natural resource planning and management and enterprise development.

I seek to apply my research to support more equitable and sustainable local to international decision-making, and research outputs I have led and contributed to have been adopted by state and federal governments, peak industry organisations, non-government organisations and Indigenous and community organisations across the domains of agriculture, education, health, water and biodiversity.

Over the past 15 years I've particularly enjoyed working to support water resources planning and working with Indigenous partners in the fields of Indigenous ecological knowledge systems, land and sea management, knowledge networking & Indigenous livelihoods, realising impact in water allocation planning in northern Australia; the teaching of Indigenous knowledge systems in classrooms nationally; and influencing the adoption of Indigenous approaches to land management via the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

Other Interests

A small team of us at CSIRO have been working intensively with our partners - North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance; Australian Committee for IUCN; and the National Environmental Science Program - to facilitate over 100 Indigenous contributions to the development of a new set of Best Practice Guidelines called: Our Knowledge Our Way in caring for Country: Indigenous-led approaches to strengthening and sharing our knowledge for land and sea management.

Developed over a three year period, and founded on 23 case studies submitted by Indigenous land and sea managers from across Australia, the authors share what is seen as best practice when working with Indigenous knowledge in land and sea management, research and enterprise development.

The Indigenous-led Guidelines highlight how Indigenous knowledge is kept strong through access to Country and Indigenous cultural governance of knowledge. The key guiding principle is that Indigenous people must decide what is best practice in working with Indigenous knowledge. The Guidelines cut across four themes: strengthening Indigenous knowledge; strong partnerships; sharing and weaving knowledge; and Indigenous land and sea networks.

To assist in the virtual launch of the Guidelines in July 2020, a short film was commissioned, which includes perspectives from each of the six Indigenous lead chapter authors and partner representatives. The film and Guidelines can be accessed at:
http://www.csiro.au/ourknowledgeourway

Professional Areas

Fields of Research

Current

Current Roles

Project lead
Ningaloo Indigenous Ecological Knowledge project
Project co-lead
ABC/CSIRO Indigenous weather knowledge project
Section Lead
Our Knowledge, Our Way in caring for Country Guidelines, CSIRO & NAILSMA

Academic Qualifications

2019

PhD -The critical role of network brokers in strengthening Indigenous land and sea management in Australia
University of Western Australia
2000

BSc(Env) Hons (Class 1)
University of Western Australia

Professional Experiences

2008-2012

College Fellow
NCCARF

Achievements and Awards

2018

Ruby Payne-Scott Award
CSIRO
2014

Chief Executive Study Award
CSIRO
2012

National Finalist
Fresh Science Awards

Community and Corporate Citizenship

2008-2012

NCCARF Climate College Fellow
2012-current

Member - Institute of Australian Geographers