Overview
Background
Karen is a Professor of Development Geography in the School of the Environment and an ARC Industry Laureate Fellow (2026–2031). Her work examines how people experience and respond to the intersecting challenges of climate change, disaster risk, poverty, and displacement. Over the past two decades, she has led long-term, collaborative research partnerships across the Asia-Pacific, working with governments, NGOs, and local communities to understand lived experiences of vulnerability, resilience, and adaptation.
Karen’s research has included supporting farming communities in Aceh rebuilding after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami; examining the experiences of newly settled migrants in Dhaka displaced by erosion and flooding; partnering with Torres Strait Elders to record traditional environmental knowledge; and documenting everyday climate impacts and adaptation stories across rural Pacific Island communities.
She has led a series of major research projects, including an ARC Future Fellowship, and has served in advisory roles for national governments and international organisations. She currently sits on the Expert Group on Non‑Economic Losses under the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (UNFCCC), contributing her expertise on climate-related impacts and social equity.
Karen grew up in Quirindi on Kamilaroi Country in NSW. Her rural upbringing fostered a deep commitment to research that is grounded, community-focused, and centred on supporting more just and resilient futures.
Availability
- Professor Karen McNamara is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Environmental Science, University of New South Wales
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of New South Wales
Research impacts
Karen’s research has influenced climate change policy, adaptation planning, and community resilience initiatives across the Asia-Pacific. Through more than 30 research and capacity‑building grants totalling over $11.5 million, her work has generated new evidence, frameworks, and practical tools now used by governments, NGOs, regional bodies, and international organisations.
Her pioneering work on non‑economic loss and damage, developed through an ARC Future Fellowship, produced the first conceptualisation of loss and damage grounded in Pacific perspectives. This work has been used by island governments, NGOs, and Pacific regional institutions to shape policy submissions and negotiations under the UNFCCC.
Her research on climate‑related human rights violations has informed advocacy and international legal processes led by the Government of Vanuatu, while her work with UN Women has guided gender-responsive recovery programming in disaster‑affected communities. Through an ARC Linkage project, she helped identify optimisation points for adaptation outcomes, now informing how agencies design and evaluate adaptation investments.
Karen’s current ARC Industry Laureate Fellowship (2026–2031) deepens these contributions by working with frontline communities across the Pacific, DFAT, and regional partners to co-develop new approaches to climate‑driven non‑economic losses. This fellowship aims to reshape how Australia and the region understand, measure, and respond to the emotional, cultural, spiritual, and relational dimensions of climate change.
Works
Search Professor Karen McNamara’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Journal Article
Multiple mobilities in Pacific Islands communities
Thornton, Fanny, McNamara, Karen, Dun, Olivia, Farbotko, Carol, McMichael, Celia, Yee, Merewalesi, Coelho, Sabira, Westbury, Tim, James, Sharon and Namoumou, Frances (2020). Multiple mobilities in Pacific Islands communities. Forced Migration Review, 64, 30-33.
2020
Other Outputs
Immobilised Solomon Islands seasonal workers
Dunn, Olivia , McNamara, Karen, Farbotko, Carol, McMichael, Celia and Thornton, Fanny (2020, 05 29). Immobilised Solomon Islands seasonal workers Devpolicy Blog
2020
Journal Article
Who defines “good” climate change adaptation and why it matters: a case study from Abaiang Island, Kiribati
Piggott-McKellar, Annah E., McNamara, Karen E. and Nunn, Patrick D. (2020). Who defines “good” climate change adaptation and why it matters: a case study from Abaiang Island, Kiribati. Regional Environmental Change, 20 (2) 43, 43. doi: 10.1007/s10113-020-01614-9
2020
Journal Article
Women as recovery enablers in the face of disasters in Vanuatu
Clissold, Rachel, Westoby, Ross and McNamara, Karen E. (2020). Women as recovery enablers in the face of disasters in Vanuatu. Geoforum, 113, 101-110. doi: 10.1016/j.geoforum.2020.05.003
2020
Journal Article
Exploring local perspectives on the performance of a community-based adaptation project on Aniwa, Vanuatu
Clissold, Rachel and McNamara, Karen E. (2020). Exploring local perspectives on the performance of a community-based adaptation project on Aniwa, Vanuatu. Climate and Development, 12 (5), 457-468. doi: 10.1080/17565529.2019.1640656
2020
Journal Article
From community-based to locally led adaptation: evidence from Vanuatu
Westoby, Ross, McNamara, Karen E., Kumar, Roselyn and Nunn, Patrick D. (2020). From community-based to locally led adaptation: evidence from Vanuatu. Ambio, 49 (9), 1466-1473. doi: 10.1007/s13280-019-01294-8
2020
Book Chapter
Dam(n) seawalls: a case of climate change maladaptation in Fiji
Piggott-McKellar, Annah E., Nunn, Patrick D., McNamara, Karen E. and Sekinini, Seci T. (2020). Dam(n) seawalls: a case of climate change maladaptation in Fiji. Managing Climate Change Adaptation in the Pacific Region. (pp. 69-84) edited by Walter Leal Filho. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-40552-6_4
2020
Journal Article
A livelihood analysis of resettlement outcomes: lessons for climate-induced relocations
Piggott-McKellar, Annah E., Pearson, Jasmine, McNamara, Karen E. and Nunn, Patrick D. (2020). A livelihood analysis of resettlement outcomes: lessons for climate-induced relocations. Ambio, 49 (9), 1474-1489. doi: 10.1007/s13280-019-01289-5
2020
Journal Article
“System of hunger”: understanding causal disaster vulnerability of indigenous food systems
Jackson, Guy, McNamara, Karen E. and Witt, Bradd (2020). “System of hunger”: understanding causal disaster vulnerability of indigenous food systems. Journal of Rural Studies, 73, 163-175. doi: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2019.10.042
2020
Book Chapter
iTaukei ways of knowing and managing mangroves for ecosystem-based adaptation
Pearson, Jasmine, McNamara, Karen E. and Nunn, Patrick D. (2020). iTaukei ways of knowing and managing mangroves for ecosystem-based adaptation. Managing climate change adaptation in the Pacific region. (pp. 105-127) edited by Walter Leal Filho. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-40552-6_6
2020
Other Outputs
Policy Brief: The need for community-led adaptation in the Pacific Islands
McNamara, K. E., Clissold, R., Westoby, R., Piggott-McKellar, A., Kumar, R., Clarke, T., Watson, J. E. M. , Jupiter, S., Chisholm, M., Namoumou, F., Areki, F., Joseph, E., Warrick, O. and Nunn, P. D. (2020). Policy Brief: The need for community-led adaptation in the Pacific Islands. Brisbane, QLD Australia: University of Queensland.
2019
Journal Article
Vulnerable groups and preliminary insights into intersecting categories of identity in Laamu Atoll, Maldives
McNamara, Karen E. and Clissold, Rachel (2019). Vulnerable groups and preliminary insights into intersecting categories of identity in Laamu Atoll, Maldives. Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, 40 (3), 410-428. doi: 10.1111/sjtg.12280
2019
Journal Article
Gender-specific perspectives of mangrove ecosystem services: case study from Bua Province, Fiji Islands
Pearson, Jasmine, McNamara, Karen E. and Nunn, Patrick D. (2019). Gender-specific perspectives of mangrove ecosystem services: case study from Bua Province, Fiji Islands. Ecosystem Services, 38 100970, 100970. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2019.100970
2019
Journal Article
Fear, grief, hope and action
Westoby, Ross and McNamara, Karen E. (2019). Fear, grief, hope and action. Nature Climate Change, 9 (7), 500-501. doi: 10.1038/s41558-019-0511-z
2019
Journal Article
Community-based adaptation to climate change: lessons from Tanna Island, Vanuatu
Clarke, Tahlia, McNamara, Karen E., Clissold, Rachel and Nunn, Patrick D. (2019). Community-based adaptation to climate change: lessons from Tanna Island, Vanuatu. Island Studies Journal, 14 (1), 59-80. doi: 10.24043/isj.80
2019
Journal Article
What is shaping vulnerability to climate change? The case of Laamu atoll, Maldives
McNamara, Karen E., Clissold, Rachel, Piggott-Mckellar, Annah, Buggy, Lisa and Azfa, Aishath (2019). What is shaping vulnerability to climate change? The case of Laamu atoll, Maldives. Island Studies Journal, 14 (1), 81-100. doi: 10.24043/isj.67
2019
Other Outputs
Climate change forced these Fijian communities to move – and with 80 more at risk, here’s what they learned
Piggott-McKellar, Annah, McNamara, Karen E. and Nunn, Patrick D. (2019, 04 30). Climate change forced these Fijian communities to move – and with 80 more at risk, here’s what they learned The Conversation
2019
Journal Article
Moving people in a changing climate: lessons from two case studies in Fiji
Piggott-McKellar, Annah, McNamara, Karen, Nunn, Patrick and Sekinini, Seci (2019). Moving people in a changing climate: lessons from two case studies in Fiji. Social Sciences, 8 (5) 133, 133. doi: 10.3390/socsci8050133
2019
Journal Article
Indigenous (im)mobilities in the Anthropocene
Suliman, Samid, Farbotko, Carol, Ransan-Cooper, Hedda, Elizabeth McNamara, Karen, Thornton, Fanny, McMichael, Celia and Kitara, Taukiei (2019). Indigenous (im)mobilities in the Anthropocene. Mobilities, 14 (3), 1-21. doi: 10.1080/17450101.2019.1601828
2019
Journal Article
Loss and damage: a review of the literature and directions for future research
McNamara, Karen E. and Jackson, Guy (2019). Loss and damage: a review of the literature and directions for future research. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 10 (2) e564, e564. doi: 10.1002/wcc.564
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Karen McNamara is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Restoring Holistic Wellbeing Following Extreme Weather Events in Australia and Vanuatu
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Climate Change Adaptation in Tuvalu
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Claudia Benham
-
Doctor Philosophy
Picturing climate migration: critiquing the visual discourse
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Roland Bleiker
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring vulnerability to climate change for women vendors in Vanuatu
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Bradd Witt
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Centering local voices across planned relocations: case studies from Fiji
Principal Advisor
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Defining the planning and policy problem of climate change adaptation: A discursive analysis of multi-level governance frameworks
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ann Ellen Peterson
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Local government agency and advocacy on major projects in Australia: facilitating active citizenship for environmental politics
Principal Advisor
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Plastic food and beverage packaging in small island developing states: Mapping the flow to identify innovation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kelly Fielding
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
The influence of emergency food aid on the causal disaster vulnerability of remote Indigenous food systems: a case study of the Bedamuni of Western Province, Papua New Guinea
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Bradd Witt
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing the effectiveness of planned adaptation in rural Pacific Island communities: case studies from Fiji and Kiribati
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor James Watson
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding Long-term Livelihood Resilience of Resettled Ethnic Groups in the Yali Falls Dam Basin, Central Highlands of Vietnam
Joint Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Bradd Witt
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Climate-Smart Agriculture in Practice: Insights from smallholder farmers, Timor-Leste and the Philippines, Southeast Asia
Joint Principal Advisor
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Climate Change Adaptation Planning in Bangladesh: Gender, Participation, and Power
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Elske van de Fliert
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Disruptive factors as drivers for rapid energy transition: A case study of Japanese electricity demand over three system disruptions
Associate Advisor
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Settling into a New Place: Livelihood recovery and belongingness of households forced to relocate in Yangon, Myanmar
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sonia Roitman
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Social impact assessment, social justice and scales of knowledge: exploring the emerging mining industry in Solomon Islands
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Simon Albert, Professor Kristen Lyons
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Living with drought: a study of spatial mobility in semi-arid Northeast Brazil
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Elin Charles-Edwards
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Karen McNamara directly for media enquiries about:
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate-induced human mobility
- Pacific Islands region
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