I am a human geographer who studies human-environment interactions in Australia and Southeast Asia. My research explores innovative responses to global environmental change.  I am particularly interested in contributing to the development of more ethical, just and resilient multispecies societies in relation to food and forests.  I have two main research programs and another in development.

1. Food futures.  This program explores innovations in the food sector that seek to mitigate the environmental impacts of food systems - and animal agriculture in particular.  Responses include manipulation of animal bodies, cellular agriculture, restorative agriculture, alternative proteins, and adoption of flexitarian, vegetarian and vegan diets.  The aim is to identify possibilities and barriers for  developing improved food systems.   
2. Avoiding deforestation. This program explores global initiatives to prevent forest emissions in Indonesia.  The research traces the impacts of REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) on people and places, exploring how the program can become more effective, equitable and just. 
3. Animals in development.  This is a new research agenda that focuses on the experiences of non-human animals in development processes.  Animals are chronically under-researched in development studies and yet their lives and habitats are fundamentally entangled.  In this research project I am developing a multispecies approach to development studies.

Most of my research focuses on Australia, New Zealand and the Southeast Asian region, particularly Indonesia and Timor-Leste. I also co-Chair the Environments Societies and Power research cluster. I have supervised over 30 PhD and Masters students to completion and welcome research enquiries on any of these or related topics.

Current HDR supervsion

Ioannis Rigkos (PhD) Commoning in the Anthropocene: anti-mining resistance in Greece

Milena Bojovic (PhD) Transitioning away from dairy in New Zealand / Aotearoa

Penelope Klen (MRes) Rabbits as food: multispecies justice perspectives

Completed PhD supervision

Tasmin-Lara Dilworth, Bryan Maher, Ashraful Alam, Sunita Chaudhary, Fabiola Figuerola, Rini Astuti, Rowan Dixon, Pete Howson, Rachel Tallon, Amanda Thomas, Guil Figgins, Anthony George, Chandima Dakson

Completed Masters supervision

Milena Bojovic, Patrick McEvoy, Tasmin-Lara Dilworth, Tshering O'Gorman, Hilda Tantinko, Jane McLaughlin, Laura Skeaff, Renee Rushton, Andrew Johnson, Peter Jackson, Chum Samnang, Rowan Dixon, Sara Ellis, Stephen Molloy, Luke Swainson, Gradon Diprose, Jessica Hattersley, Tim Lester