Dr Kim Houghton
Dr Kim Houghton
Current position & organisation:
Director with Strategic Economic Solutions, a small economic consultancy specialising in regional economic development and small business growth which was established in 1997.
Current research project:
- Economic sustainability in Murray Darling basin communities
- Reviewing small business support services in Tasmania
- Reviewing economic development options for the Greater Capital Region around the ACT
- Economic gardening as a tool for stimulating small business growth in Australia
Australian Regional Policy with Helen Swan
Current position & organisation: Senior Consultant, Courage Partners Management Consulting.
Location: Canberra
Current research project:Evaluation of the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Communities and Indigenous Affairs’ Youth in Communities Program.
Tell us about your PhD research project?: The study examined ways of governing for coherence and sustainability in a regional context in the Australian Federal Government policy framework. A model of policy coherence was developed which incorporates whole-of and joined up government approaches and offers the potential of a nationally consistent approach to regional governance in Australia.
NIRRA member Aysha Fleming talks about her current research into climate change
NIRRA member Aysha Fleming talks about her current research into climate change
Current position & organisation: Social scientist at CSIRO
Current research project: Currently researching climate change adaptations in the Australian wine industry, particularly looking at decision making processes and information sources. The project is one case study combined with two community case studies (Wimmera and Mildura) as well as the livestock and peanut industry. I am working with a number of colleagues (Sarah Park, Anne-Maree Dowd, Estelle Gaillard, Emma Jakku) and we are looking at the changes that are occurring for climate change and other key drivers for Australian primary industries and how they might be better supported.
Tracking Rural Justice with Richard Coverdale
NIRRA Member Profile: Richard Coverdale
Current position & organisation:
Research Fellow - Deakin University School of Law
Current research project:
Having just completed a research project titled “Postcode Justice – Rural and Regional Disadvantage in the Administration of the Law”, I am keen to ensure the findings and recommendations are not relegated to filing cabinets and bookshelves and so am pursuing support in policy and law reform activities to address the issues raised.
Lisa Robbins
Dr Lisa Robins is a Visiting Fellow at the Fenner School of Environment and Society. She has recently returned from working on water governance in the Mekong Region under an Australian Government Endeavour Executive Award.
Lisa was based in Vientiane, Lao PDR, for three months with M-POWER - Mekong Program on Water, Environment and Resilience. M-POWER is a network of action researchers, dialogue facilitators and knowledge brokers. The network's big ticket issue is the proposed construction of hydropower dams on the main stem of the Lower Mekong River and the consequent impacts on fisheries and livelihoods.
