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Professor Kristen Lyons
Professor

Kristen Lyons

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 52020

Overview

Background

Professor Kristen Lyons is a public intellectual with over twenty years experience in research, teaching and service that delivers national and international impacts on issues that sit at the intersection of sustainability and development, as well as the future of higher education. Trained as a sociologist, Kristen is comfortable working in transdisciplinary teams to deliver socially just outcomes, including for some of the world's most vulnerable communities. Kristen works regularly in Uganda, Solomon Islands and Australia, and her work is grounded in a rights-based approach. In practice, this means centring the rights and interests of local communities, including Indigenous peoples, in her approach to research design, collaboration, and impacts and outcomes. Kristen is also a Senior Research Fellow with the Oakland Institute.

Availability

Professor Kristen Lyons is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, Griffith University
  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), Griffith University
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Central Queensland University

Research interests

  • Climate Change and Human Rights

    Responses to climate change deliver significant impacts at the local level. I lead cross country research that examines the impacts of carbon trading initiatives - one response to climate change - for local communities.

  • Transdisciplinary and Indigenous Rights

    I am engaged in research that examines the social, legal and policy frameworks to support Australia to meet its Indigenous rights obligations, especially in the context of a climate changing world.

  • Transforming Universities for the Public Good

    Today’s university system is increasingly market driven, with institutional requirements that constrain options for public good research and learning. This system stands at odds with the primary and historical role of universities. Higher education movements – including free universities, progressive colleges and civic forums – offer important critical alternatives to this current system. I am engaged in research to analyse a selection of movements, delivering outcomes that will increase knowledge of how alliances and campaigns organise, what their change agenda entails, and how they are transforming universities for the public good.

Research impacts

My recognised role as public intellectual enhances my national and international academic, policy and industry impacts on issues related to the environment, development and human rights. Over the last five years I have led research teams to deliver socially just outcomes for some of the world's most vulnerable communities. For example, I have led research to identify human rights abuses that underpin international carbon offset projects in Uganda. The outcome of this has changed practices of one of the worlds largest plantation forestry and carbon offset companies, and shaped public debates related to global carbon trade projects. Collaborative research with Traditional Owners in Australia has also also delivered outcomes that have impacted public and policy understandings of Australia's indigenous rights obligations in the context of resource development.

To maximise research impact, I regularly work with funding bodies that support collaborative engagement with key partners, and build enduring relations between academic, industry and community groups.

In my role as advisor on a number of government advisory bodies, I have played a part in changing guidelines and policies related to emerging technologies. I was part of a team that provided recommendations to the Department of Industry Science and Resources to ensure Australia's compliance with international organic agriculture and food standards, with outcomes that ensure Australia maintains international market access.

I am committed to publishing broadly in non academic outlets, including in The Conversation (over 126,000 readers, and ranked #3 at UQ in 2018), ABC, New Matilda), and my research regularly features in international and national media.

Works

Search Professor Kristen Lyons’s works on UQ eSpace

174 works between 1995 and 2024

41 - 60 of 174 works

2019

Journal Article

Expanding cashew nut exporting from Ghana’s breadbasket: a political ecology of changing land access and use, and impacts for local food systems

Boafo, James and Lyons, Kristen (2019). Expanding cashew nut exporting from Ghana’s breadbasket: a political ecology of changing land access and use, and impacts for local food systems. International Journal of the Sociology and Food and Agriculture, 25 (2), 152-172.

Expanding cashew nut exporting from Ghana’s breadbasket: a political ecology of changing land access and use, and impacts for local food systems

2019

Other Outputs

Ghana wants to grow more cashews. But what about unintended consequences?

Boafo, James and Lyons, Kristen (2019, 08 14). Ghana wants to grow more cashews. But what about unintended consequences?

Ghana wants to grow more cashews. But what about unintended consequences?

2019

Journal Article

“Forests for life” or forests for carbon markets?The case of Choiseul Province, Solomon Islands

Lyons, Kristen, Walters, Peter and Shewring, Annabel (2019). “Forests for life” or forests for carbon markets?The case of Choiseul Province, Solomon Islands. Pacific Dynamics: Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, 3 (1).

“Forests for life” or forests for carbon markets?The case of Choiseul Province, Solomon Islands

2019

Other Outputs

Torres Strait Islanders ask UN to hold Australia to account on climate 'human rights abuses'

Lyons, Kristen (2019, 05 27). Torres Strait Islanders ask UN to hold Australia to account on climate 'human rights abuses' The Conversation

Torres Strait Islanders ask UN to hold Australia to account on climate 'human rights abuses'

2019

Journal Article

Getting to where we want to go. Do we need a new relational politics?

Hil, Richard and Lyons, Kristen (2019). Getting to where we want to go. Do we need a new relational politics?. Arena, 159, 25-27.

Getting to where we want to go. Do we need a new relational politics?

2019

Journal Article

Traditional owners still stand in Adani's way

Lyons, Kristen and Brigg, Morgan (2019, 04 17). Traditional owners still stand in Adani's way

Traditional owners still stand in Adani's way

2019

Book Chapter

Rural farmer empowerment through organic food exports: lessons from Uganda and Ghana

Lyons, Kristen (2019). Rural farmer empowerment through organic food exports: lessons from Uganda and Ghana. The Palgrave handbook of ethnicity. (pp. 1-18) edited by Steven Ratuva. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan. doi: 10.1007/978-981-13-0242-8_109-1

Rural farmer empowerment through organic food exports: lessons from Uganda and Ghana

2019

Other Outputs

The development of postgraduate work integrated learning (WIL) – a review of the literature and lessons for the master of development practice and HASS faculty

Rashidi, Pedram, Lyons, Kristen and Seini, Monica (2019). The development of postgraduate work integrated learning (WIL) – a review of the literature and lessons for the master of development practice and HASS faculty. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.

The development of postgraduate work integrated learning (WIL) – a review of the literature and lessons for the master of development practice and HASS faculty

2018

Journal Article

Securing territory for mining when Traditional Owners say ‘No’: the exceptional case of Wangan and Jagalingou in Australia

Lyons, Kristen (2018). Securing territory for mining when Traditional Owners say ‘No’: the exceptional case of Wangan and Jagalingou in Australia. The Extractive Industries and Society, 6 (3), 756-766. doi: 10.1016/j.exis.2018.11.007

Securing territory for mining when Traditional Owners say ‘No’: the exceptional case of Wangan and Jagalingou in Australia

2018

Journal Article

Transnational corporations, violence and suffering: the environmental, public health and social impacts from comparative case studies in Zimbabwe and Uganda

Claudio, Fernanda and Lyons, Kristen (2018). Transnational corporations, violence and suffering: the environmental, public health and social impacts from comparative case studies in Zimbabwe and Uganda. Research in Political Economy, 33, 145-169. doi: 10.1108/S0161-723020180000033006

Transnational corporations, violence and suffering: the environmental, public health and social impacts from comparative case studies in Zimbabwe and Uganda

2018

Journal Article

Governing with ignorance: understanding the Australian food regulator’s response to nano food

Lyons, Kristen and Smith, Naomi (2018). Governing with ignorance: understanding the Australian food regulator’s response to nano food. NanoEthics, 12 (1), 27-38. doi: 10.1007/s11569-017-0309-2

Governing with ignorance: understanding the Australian food regulator’s response to nano food

2018

Journal Article

The failure of a forestry giant's carbon offset project in Uganda

Lyons, Kristen (2018). The failure of a forestry giant's carbon offset project in Uganda. Chain Reaction, 17.

The failure of a forestry giant's carbon offset project in Uganda

2018

Other Outputs

Vice chancellors’ salaries are just a symptom of what’s wrong with universities

Lyons, Kristen and Hil, Richard (2018, 02 05). Vice chancellors’ salaries are just a symptom of what’s wrong with universities The Conversation

Vice chancellors’ salaries are just a symptom of what’s wrong with universities

2018

Book Chapter

Plantation forestry and carbon violence in neoliberal Uganda

Lyons, Kristen (2018). Plantation forestry and carbon violence in neoliberal Uganda. Uganda: the dynamics of neoliberal transformation. (pp. 218-233) edited by Jörg Wiegratz, Giuliano Martiniello and Elisa Greco. London, United Kingdom: Zed Books. doi: 10.5040/9781350223721.ch-011

Plantation forestry and carbon violence in neoliberal Uganda

2018

Book Chapter

Carving out space for community gardens in Australia: exploring the potential of community gardens as social movements for urban change in Sydney and Canberra

Thornton, Alec, Lyons, Kristen and Sharpe, Scott (2018). Carving out space for community gardens in Australia: exploring the potential of community gardens as social movements for urban change in Sydney and Canberra. The Routledge handbook of community development research. (pp. 223-235) edited by Lynda Shevellar and Peter Westoby. Abingdon, Oxfordshire United Kingdom: Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.4324/9781315612829-15

Carving out space for community gardens in Australia: exploring the potential of community gardens as social movements for urban change in Sydney and Canberra

2018

Book Chapter

An environmental justice perspective on the state of carbon forestry in Uganda

Nel, Adrian, Lyons, Kristen, Fisher, Janet and Mwayafu, David (2018). An environmental justice perspective on the state of carbon forestry in Uganda. Conservation and development in Uganda. (pp. 125-147) edited by Chris Sandbrook, Connor Joseph Cavanagh and David Mwesigye Tumusiime. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315200538-7

An environmental justice perspective on the state of carbon forestry in Uganda

2017

Journal Article

Traditional Owners expose Adani’s relentless pursuit of W&J country

Lyons, Kristen (2017, 11 23). Traditional Owners expose Adani’s relentless pursuit of W&J country New Matilda

Traditional Owners expose Adani’s relentless pursuit of W&J country

2017

Journal Article

The Queensland Government is the Real Driver of Adani’s Dirty Land Grab

Lyons, Kristen (2017). The Queensland Government is the Real Driver of Adani’s Dirty Land Grab. New Matilda, 1-1.

The Queensland Government is the Real Driver of Adani’s Dirty Land Grab

2017

Journal Article

The Adani Carmichael coal mine: introduction to a special five-part series

Lyons, Kristen, Brigg, Morgan and Quiggin, John (2017, 11 16). The Adani Carmichael coal mine: introduction to a special five-part series New Matilda

The Adani Carmichael coal mine: introduction to a special five-part series

2017

Journal Article

Nanomaterials in our Food

Lyons, Kristen and Smith, Naomi (2017). Nanomaterials in our Food. ABC Organic Gardener.

Nanomaterials in our Food

Funding

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    Building Climate-Resilient Agri-Food Futures: Reducing Emissions and Improving FoodSecurity Through Agroecology (Monash administered Australia Awards Fellowship)
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Centring Community-based planning and participation alongside low carbon transition: a global south-north comparative study
    UQ-FAPESP Strategic Research Fund SPRINT
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    ''We are the people from that land'': Beyond big coal by centering Indigenous peoples' rights in the transition to a sustainable low carbon future (GCI Flagships)
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Enhancing Economic Opportunities offered by Community and Smallholder Forestry in Solomon Islands (ACIAR Project Administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2012
    UQ Category 2 Travel Award - Kristen Lyons
    UQ Travel Awards for International Collaborative Research (Category 2)
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Urban food security, urban resilience and climate change (administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2015
    The New Farm Owners: Finance Companies and the Restructuring of Australian and Global Agriculture
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    The politics of food security in a global age: Community impacts and responses to biofuel production in Ghana, West Africa
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Professor Kristen Lyons is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Digital and Agricultural Innovation, and Alternative Agriculture Practices in Australia

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Kiah Smith

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Digital and Agricultural Innovation, and Alternative Agriculture Practices in Australia

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Kiah Smith

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Breaking the bias: delivering gender equality in conservation

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Political and Environmental Contributions of Agro-Forestry and Permaculture to Build Resilience to Climate Change

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Sonia Roitman

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Postapocalyptic environmental practices: the narratives and political possibilities of the Dark Mountain Project

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Heloise Weber

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Gender, Conservation and Natural Resource Management in Solomon Islands

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Hugh Possingham

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Postapocalyptic environmental practices: the narratives and political possibilities of the Dark Mountain Project

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Heloise Weber

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Green extractivism, environmental justice and Indigenous Rights: The case of lithium mining in Chile

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Sally Babidge

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Professor Kristen Lyons directly for media enquiries about:

  • carbon markets and human rights
  • development and environment
  • East Africa
  • nanotechnology in food and agriculture
  • privatised university
  • Solomon Islands and logging

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au