Overview
Background
Julia Keenan is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM), Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland. She has over 15 years’ experience working on the social dimensions of resource development, with a focus on governance, land, and community outcomes.
Her work examines how large-scale resource investments interact with local communities across the project lifecycle, including agreement-making, economic participation, gender equity, and mine closure. She specialises in corporate social performance, social risk management, and the design and implementation of social safeguards.
Julia’s current research focuses on land access, consent, and post-investment transitions, including emerging approaches to responsible exit and land return. She works across sectors and jurisdictions, contributing to global policy and practice on natural resource governance.
She has partnered with organisations including the United Nations Environment Programme on the implementation of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) Resolution on Mineral Resource Governance, and has contributed to regional governance initiatives such as the Northern Territory Government’s Strategic Regional Environmental and Baseline Assessment (SREBA).
Since 2023, Julia has coordinated CSRM’s involvement in the Community Smart Consultation and Consent Project (CSCC), which focuses on improving natural resource governance through community-based consultation and FPIC.
Julia holds a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts (Hons in Linguistics) from The University of Queensland.
Availability
- Ms Julia Keenan is:
- Not available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Julia Keenan’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Other Outputs
Implementing UNEA Resolution 4/19 on Mineral Resource Governance: Regional Summary Africa
Franks, Daniel M., Keenan, Julia, Tonda, Elisa and Kariuki, Angela (2020). Implementing UNEA Resolution 4/19 on Mineral Resource Governance: Regional Summary Africa. Nairobi, Kenya: United Nations Environment Program and The University of Queensland.
2020
Other Outputs
Discussion Paper for Regional Consultations on the Implementation of the United Nations Environment Assembly Resolution on Mineral Resource Governance (UNEP/EA.4/Res. 19)
Franks, Daniel M., Tonda, Elisa, Kariuki, Angela and Keenan, Julia (2020). Discussion Paper for Regional Consultations on the Implementation of the United Nations Environment Assembly Resolution on Mineral Resource Governance (UNEP/EA.4/Res. 19). Nairobi, Kenya: United Nations Environment Programme.
2020
Other Outputs
Mining as a temporary land use: transitions and repurposing.
Holcombe, Sarah and Keenan, Julia (2020). Mining as a temporary land use: transitions and repurposing. . Social Aspects of Mine Closure. Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, The University of Queensland.
2017
Other Outputs
Project-induced in-migration and large-scale mining: A scoping study
Bainton, Nicholas, Vivoda, Vlado, Kemp, Deanna, Owen, John and Keenan, Julia (2017). Project-induced in-migration and large-scale mining: A scoping study. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland, Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining.
2016
Book Chapter
Awkward alliances: is environmentalism a bonding agent between indigenous and rural settler politics in America and Australia?
Ali, Saleem and Keenan, Julia (2016). Awkward alliances: is environmentalism a bonding agent between indigenous and rural settler politics in America and Australia?. Land, indigenous peoples and conflict. (pp. 81-93) edited by Alan C. Tidwell and Barry Scott Zellin. New York , NY, United States: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315726649
2014
Journal Article
Aboriginal engagement and agreement-making with a rapidly developing resource industry: coal seam gas development in Australia
Trigger, David, Keenan, Julia, de Rijke, Kim and Rifkin, Will (2014). Aboriginal engagement and agreement-making with a rapidly developing resource industry: coal seam gas development in Australia. The Extractive Industries and Society, 1 (2), 176-188. doi: 10.1016/j.exis.2014.08.001
2014
Book
Mining and local-level development: examining the gender dimensions of agreements between companies and communities
Keenan, J. C. and Kemp, D. L. (2014). Mining and local-level development: examining the gender dimensions of agreements between companies and communities. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, The University of Queensland.
2013
Conference Publication
Company-community agreements, gender and development
Keenan, J. C., Kemp, D. L. and Ramsay, R. B. (2013). Company-community agreements, gender and development. 23rd World Mining Congress, Montreal, Canada, 11-15 August 2013. Montreal, Canada: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.
2012
Other Outputs
Why gender matters: training manual for communities and social performance practitioners, Rio Tinto: Melbourne
Collins, Nina, Kemp, Deanna, Keenan, Julia and Gronow, Jane (2012). Why gender matters: training manual for communities and social performance practitioners, Rio Tinto: Melbourne. Not available: Rio Tinto.
2011
Other Outputs
Why gender matters: a guide for integrating gender into communities and social performance at Rio Tinto
Kemp, D., Keenan, J. and Gronow, J. (2011). Why gender matters: a guide for integrating gender into communities and social performance at Rio Tinto. Not available:
2010
Other Outputs
Corporate assessment of site-level social performance in the resources industry: A brief summary of current and emerging practice
Brereton, David J., Kemp, Deanna, Evans, Robin and Keenan, Julia (2010). Corporate assessment of site-level social performance in the resources industry: A brief summary of current and emerging practice. Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute.
2010
Journal Article
Strategic resource or ideal source? Discourse, organizational change and CSR
Kemp, Deanna, Keenan, Julia and Gronow, Jane (2010). Strategic resource or ideal source? Discourse, organizational change and CSR. Journal Of Organizational Change Management, 23 (5), 578-594. doi: 10.1108/09534811011071298
2010
Other Outputs
Why gender matters: a resource guide for integrating gender considerations into communities work at Rio Tinto
Kemp, Deanna and Keenan, Julia (2010). Why gender matters: a resource guide for integrating gender considerations into communities work at Rio Tinto. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Rio Tinto.
2009
Book
Summary of International water issues in mining and metals: A scoping paper prepared for the International Council for Mining and Metals
Moran, C. J., Vink, S., Kunz, N. and Keenan, J. (2009). Summary of International water issues in mining and metals: A scoping paper prepared for the International Council for Mining and Metals. Brisbane, Qld Australia: CWiMI.
Funding
Past funding
Media
Enquiries
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