I am a geographer with expertise uniquely positioned at the intersection of critical human geography, geographic information systems (GIS), and international disaster studies. I hold a PhD in Geography, Master of Applied Science (Spatial Information Science) and Bachelor of Science (Geography, Geology & Geophysics), all from the University of Sydney. My main research areas over the past decade have included the role of volunteered geographic information, social media and participatory mapping in bushfire emergency preparedness in Australia, environmental livelihood security and spatial information approaches in the Asia-Pacific region, reading graffiti in conflict-affected societies (e.g., Cyprus), and queer disaster vulnerability and resilience, including studies of LGBTQIA+ experiences during Covid-19 in Brazil and the UK. Central to all my work is the desire to capture, expose and potentially empower marginalised voices, with emphasis on engagement and knowledge exchange beyond academia.
From 2017 to 2022 I was a Lecturer in GIS and International Disaster Management at the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute (HCRI), University of Manchester. I have since returned to Australia and continue to work with universities, government and non-government organisations, and communities on geography and disaster/humanitarian projects. I am presently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, working on Geoscience Australia funded research into marine spatial planning and stakeholder engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, and teaching disaster geographies.
I was the recipient of a Bushfire & Natural Hazards CRC PhD scholarship, the 2015 Faculty of Science Postgraduate Research Prize, the 2015 International Association of Wildland Fire student scholarship, and the 2015 Esri Australia Young Scholar award. In 2016 I was awarded Special Recognition Awards from the Bushfire & Natural Hazards CRC and the School of Geosciences, University of Sydney. In 2019 I was nominated for a Faculty of Humanities Outstanding Teaching Award (University of Manchester), and in 2020 and 2021 was nominated for a National Diversity Award (UK) in the category of Positive Role Model (LGBT). In 2022 I received a certificate of commendation from the University of Manchester ‘Making a Difference awards’, for my work promoting greater inclusion of LGBTQIA+ needs and resilience in Covid-19 crisis responses and planning.