Personal profile

Biography

Fiona Miller is a human geographer who conducts research from a political ecology perspective on the social and equity dimensions of environmental change in the Asia Pacific, notably Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as Australia. She specialises in social vulnerability, society-water relations and climate change adaptation and is currently undertaking research on climate-related displacement in the Asia Pacific region. She teaches into the development studies, social impact assessment and human geography programs at Macquarie University. Previously Fiona has held research positions at the Department of Resource Management and Geography, the University of Melbourne, the Stockholm Environment Institute and the University of Sydney.

Research interests

Fiona's research interests concern the equity dimensions of climate change, particularly adaptation and extreme events, focusing on questions of vulnerability, resilience and justice. Fiona is currently undertaking research on community experiences of floods, with a focus on recovery, and climate-related displacement, including planned resettlement and migration. Fiona has a long-held interest in society-water relations, particularly focusing on perceptions and responses to floods and water scarcity. Fiona's work is undertaken from a political ecology perspective. 

Recent research projects:

  • ARC Discovery Project: "Everyday, Humble, Messy: Understanding place-based repair in climate-affected communities" (2025-2028) - Lead: Prof. Emily Potter, Deakin University
  • ARC Linkage Project: "Storying and repairing water places in Wiradjuri Country" (2022 Round 2) Lead: Assoc Prof Jess McLean (MQ)
  • Natural Hazards Research Australia: "Community experiences of the 2022 floods in Victoria and South Australia" (2023-2024) Lead: Erica Kuligowski (RMIT)
  • Natural Hazards Research Australia: "Post Flood 2022: A collaborative and coordinated flood research program across QLD and NSW" (2022-2023) Lead: Assoc Prof Mel Taylor (MQ)
  • NSW Environmental Trust: "Enabling Healthier Gomeroi/Kamilaroi Country through On-Country Classrooms" (2021-2024) Lead: Emily O'Gorman (MQ) 

Assoc Prof Miller is Deputy Director (Outreach and Engagement) at the Centre for Housing and Urban Research. She is also a founding member of the Shadow Places Network, a group of international scholars and artists reimagining connections between places, people, and climate change.

Research student supervision

Fiona is available to supervise MRes and PhD students in the following fields:

  • political ecology, social vulnerability, resilience and climate justice
  • equity dimensions of climate change adaptation
  • post-disaster recovery, especially floods
  • forced resettlement and climate-related displacement
  • social and cultural dimensions of water planning and water resource developments
  • social impact and vulnerability assessment
  • Mekong Region, Vietnam, Cambodia

Current PhD Students
Mominyar Khalid Butt, Discipline of Geography and Planning, Macquarie University (2023-ongoing)(Associate)
Tshering O'Gorman, Discipline of Geography and Planning, Macquarie University (2021-ongoing)(Associate)

Current MRes students
Hanan Alolabe, Discipline of Geography and Planning, Macquarie University

Completed PhD Students
Lauren Tynan, Discipline of Geography and Planning, Macquarie University (2019-2024)(Principal)
Lara Mottee, Department of Geography and Planning, Macquarie University (2017-2021) (Associate)
Navchaa Tugjamba, Department of Geography and Planning, Macquarie University (2017-2020) (Associate)
Sabiha Yeasmin Rosy Department of Geography and Planning, Macquarie University (2016-2020) (Principal)
Sufia Khanom, Department of Geography and Planning, Macquarie University (2015-2019) (Principal)
Dauglas Wafula Juma, Department of Geography and Planning, Macquarie University (2016-2019) (Associate)
Minna Hsu, Department of Environment and Geography, Macquarie University (2013-2016, Associate)
Kamal Gaire, Dept. of Resource Management and Geography, University of Melbourne (2011-2015, Co-supervisor)
Michael Santhanam-Martin, Dept. Of Resource Management and Geography, University of Melbourne (2011-2015) (Co-supervisor)
Nguyen Thanh Hai, Department of Environment and Geography, Macquarie University (2012-2013) (Co-supervisor)

Completed MRes
Mahtab Saeidi Manesh, Discipline of Geography and Planning, Macquarie University (2023)
Lana Frost, Department of Geography and Planning, Macquarie University (2017)

Teaching

Fiona currently convenes and/or teaches into the following units:
Climate Change and Society: Vulnerability, Adaptation and Transformation

Fiona has previously convened and taught into the following units:
Asia Pacific Development
Environmental Decision Making
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environment and Development
Disasters and Resilient Communities
Gateway to the Planning Profession
Society and Environments
Social Impact Assessment
Social Impact Assessment and Cross-Cultural Negotiation /(OUA)

Fiona was the former Director of the Social Impact Assessment program (GDip SIA; GCert SIA) and the major in Development Studies and Culture Change.

Education/Academic qualification

PhD, Society – water Relations in the Mekong Delta: A Political Ecology of Risk, University of Sydney

Award Date: 1 Oct 2003

BA (Hons), University of Sydney

Award Date: 1 Nov 1993

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