In broad terms, my research and teaching focuses on the intersections between social change, environmental degradation and environmental governance. I have examined this through studies of the consumption of goods and materials, and associated issues of waste, reuse and materials recycling, and of the social and cultural aspects of land use change in rural and regional Australia and its biodiversity consequences. My current research sits at the interface between social science research on consumption and the study of socio-technical transitions at the interlinked scales of the household, the city and the nation. I am currently involved in four major research projects:

1)        Measuring the benefits of reuse in the circular economy: I am lead investigator on this ARC Linkage Project which aims to build understanding of the role of charitable and community organisations in facilitating reuse in the circular economy and to inform policy and programs to support reuse in addition to materials recycling. (2021-2024)

2)        Household innovation and the transition to the low waste city: I am Lead investigator on this Australian Research Council Discovery Project that examines the potential of households to contribute as innovators in a low waste sustainability transition. (2020-2023)

3)        Investigating innovative waste economies: Redrawing the circular economy: This project, led by Prof Gay Hawkins at Western Sydney University, examines innovative case studies addressing single use plastics, organics and textiles to understand how more sustainable waste economies are practically developed. I am undertaking case study research into mattress recycling. (2021-2024)

4)         National Environmental Science Program (NESP) on Sustainable Communities and Waste. I am leading a sub-project on 'Governing community-based resource recovery and circular economy initiatives that aims to facilitate circular economy networks in regional and remote Australia.

Supervision 

I am am not currently accepting new PhD students. 

Monash teaching commitment

APG5428 Environmental Governance and Citizenship (Master of Environment and Sustainability, core in Environment and Governance specialisation)

APG5230 Field Studies in Environmental Governance (Master of Environment and Sustainability, core in Environment and Governance specialisation)