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Professor Karen McNamara
Professor

Karen McNamara

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 54459

Overview

Background

Karen is a Professor of Development Geography in the School of the Environment, deeply committed to understanding how people experience and respond to the interconnected challenges of poverty, disaster risk, and climate change. Over the past 20 years, she has led applied research on resilient livelihoods, non-economic loss and damage, community-based adaptation, human mobility, and gender—working closely with governments and NGOs across the Asia-Pacific region. Her research has supported farmers in Aceh rebuilding after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami; assisted newly settled migrants in Dhaka displaced by flooding and erosion; collaborated with Elders in the Torres Strait to record traditional environmental knowledge; and documented everyday climate impacts and adaptation stories in rural communities throughout the Pacific Islands.

Karen has advised multiple governments and international organisations on adaptation, loss and damage, and human mobility. She currently serves on the Expert Group on Non-Economic Losses for the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage under the UN Climate Change Secretariat. Her recent contributions include a world-first conceptualisation of loss and damage in the Pacific Islands (as part of an ARC Future Fellowship); research on climate-related human rights violations (as part of work for the Vanuatu Government); identification of optimisation points for adaptation outcomes (as part of an ARC Linkage); and strategies to support women in disaster recovery (in collaboration with UN Women).

She has led or co-led 29 research and capacity-building grants totalling over $7.6 million, funded by the ARC, Australian Government, DFAT, National Geographic, OECD, Scope Global, UNDP, and others. Karen has published more than 125 academic papers and book chapters, alongside over 85 reports, commentaries, and policy briefs. She has supervised 14 PhD students to completion (9 as Principal Advisor), many of whom now hold influential roles in academia, government, the UN, and consultancy. She currently supervises 5 PhD students and teaches core courses in environmental management.

Karen proudly hails from Quirindi, Kamilaroi Country, on the Liverpool Plains in NSW. Her upbringing in a small, close-knit rural town sparked a lifelong interest in social, development, and environmental issues affecting rural communities.

Availability

Professor Karen McNamara is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Environmental Science, University of New South Wales
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of New South Wales

Works

Search Professor Karen McNamara’s works on UQ eSpace

196 works between 2007 and 2025

81 - 100 of 196 works

2019

Other Outputs

Conducive and hindering factors for effective disaster risk reduction in Emae Island, Vanuatu

Jackson, Guy, McNamara, Karen E. and Witt, Bradd (2019). Conducive and hindering factors for effective disaster risk reduction in Emae Island, Vanuatu. Geneva: UNISDR Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Conducive and hindering factors for effective disaster risk reduction in Emae Island, Vanuatu

2018

Other Outputs

Loss and damage from climate change

McNamara, K. E. and Jackson, G. (2018, 12 25). Loss and damage from climate change Advanced Science News

Loss and damage from climate change

2018

Journal Article

Human mobility and environmental change: a survey of perceptions and policy direction

Thornton, Fanny, McNamara, Karen E., Farbotko, Carol, Dun, Olivia, Ransan-Cooper, Hedda, Chevalier, Emilie and Lkhagvasuren, Purevdulam (2018). Human mobility and environmental change: a survey of perceptions and policy direction. Population and Environment, 40 (3), 239-256. doi: 10.1007/s11111-018-0309-3

Human mobility and environmental change: a survey of perceptions and policy direction

2018

Other Outputs

A world on the move

Farbotko, Carol, McMichael, Celia, Dun, Olivia, Ransan-Cooper, Hedda, McNamara, Karen E. and Thornton, Fanny (2018, 09 14). A world on the move APPS Policy Forum

A world on the move

2018

Other Outputs

Climate change mitigation and adaptation of the poor: A call for decolonial responses to climate change

Adams, Helen and McNamara, Karen E. (2018, 03 17). Climate change mitigation and adaptation of the poor: A call for decolonial responses to climate change Uneven Earth

Climate change mitigation and adaptation of the poor: A call for decolonial responses to climate change

2018

Other Outputs

Panacea for the Pacific? Evaluating community-based climate change adaptation

Clissold, Rachel, Clark, Tahlia, Priebbenow, Benjamin and McNamara, Karen E. (2018, 02 22). Panacea for the Pacific? Evaluating community-based climate change adaptation New Security Beat

Panacea for the Pacific? Evaluating community-based climate change adaptation

2018

Journal Article

Providing useful climate information to subsistence farmers: The case of Timor-Leste

Watt, S., McNamara, K. E. and Nesbitt, H. (2018). Providing useful climate information to subsistence farmers: The case of Timor-Leste. Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment, 16 (1), 64-72. doi: 10.1234/4.2018.5484

Providing useful climate information to subsistence farmers: The case of Timor-Leste

2018

Book Chapter

Climate-smart agriculture in Southeast Asia: lessons from community-based adaptation programs in the Philippines and Timor-Leste

Chandra, Alvin and McNamara, Karen E. (2018). Climate-smart agriculture in Southeast Asia: lessons from community-based adaptation programs in the Philippines and Timor-Leste. Resilience: the science of adaptation to climate change. (pp. 165-179) edited by Zinta Zommers and Keith Alverson. Kidlington, Oxford, United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-811891-7.00013-x

Climate-smart agriculture in Southeast Asia: lessons from community-based adaptation programs in the Philippines and Timor-Leste

2018

Journal Article

The complex decision-making of climate-induced relocation: adaptation and loss and damage

McNamara, Karen E., Bronen, Robin, Fernando, Nishara and Klepp, Silja (2018). The complex decision-making of climate-induced relocation: adaptation and loss and damage. Climate Policy, 18 (1), 111-117. doi: 10.1080/14693062.2016.1248886

The complex decision-making of climate-induced relocation: adaptation and loss and damage

2018

Journal Article

Climate-smart agriculture: perspectives and framings

Chandra, Alvin, McNamara, Karen and Dargusch, Paul (2018). Climate-smart agriculture: perspectives and framings. Climate Policy, 18 (4), 526-541. doi: 10.1080/14693062.2017.1316968

Climate-smart agriculture: perspectives and framings

2018

Journal Article

Transformative mobilities in the Pacific: promoting adaptation and development in a changing climate

Farbotko, Carol, McMichael, Celia, Dun, Olivia, Ransan-Cooper, Hedda, McNamara, Karen E. and Thornton, Fanny (2018). Transformative mobilities in the Pacific: promoting adaptation and development in a changing climate. Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, 5 (3), 393-407. doi: 10.1002/app5.254

Transformative mobilities in the Pacific: promoting adaptation and development in a changing climate

2018

Book Chapter

Stories of climate-induced mobility Responses, challenges and the need for an institutional framework to guide these transitions

Henly-Shepard, Sarah, McNamara, Karen E. and Bronen, Robin (2018). Stories of climate-induced mobility Responses, challenges and the need for an institutional framework to guide these transitions. The Routledge Handbook of Community Development Research. (pp. 197-209) edited by Shevellar, L and Westoby, P. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315612829-13

Stories of climate-induced mobility Responses, challenges and the need for an institutional framework to guide these transitions

2018

Book Chapter

Climate-migration responses in the Pacific region

McMichael, Celia, Farbotko, Carol and McNamara, Karen E. (2018). Climate-migration responses in the Pacific region. The Oxford handbook of migration crises. (pp. 1-21) edited by Cecilia Menjivar, Marie Ruiz and Immanuel Ness. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Climate-migration responses in the Pacific region

2017

Other Outputs

Climate change in the Pacific: are community-based adaptation efforts working?

McNamara, Karen and Watson, James (2017, 12 07). Climate change in the Pacific: are community-based adaptation efforts working? IAPS Dialogue: The online magazine of the Institute of Asia and Pacific Studies, University of Nottingham, UK

Climate change in the Pacific: are community-based adaptation efforts working?

2017

Other Outputs

Environment and migration experts: who are they, and what are their views?

McNamara, Karen, Farbotko, Carol, Thornton, Fanny, Dun, Olivia, Ransan-Cooper, Hedda, Chevalier, Emilie and Lkhagvasuren, Purevdulam (2017). Environment and migration experts: who are they, and what are their views?. Policy Brief Series Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Migration.

Environment and migration experts: who are they, and what are their views?

2017

Journal Article

A framework for disaster vulnerability in a small island in the Southwest Pacific: a case study of Emae Island, Vanuatu

Jackson, Guy, McNamara, Karen and Witt, Bradd (2017). A framework for disaster vulnerability in a small island in the Southwest Pacific: a case study of Emae Island, Vanuatu. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 8 (4), 358-373. doi: 10.1007/s13753-017-0145-6

A framework for disaster vulnerability in a small island in the Southwest Pacific: a case study of Emae Island, Vanuatu

2017

Journal Article

A study of climate-smart farming practices and climate resiliency field schools in Mindanao the Philippines

Chandra, Alvin, Dargusch, Paul, McNamara, Karen E., Caspe, Ana Maria and Dalabajan, Dante (2017). A study of climate-smart farming practices and climate resiliency field schools in Mindanao the Philippines. World Development, 98, 214-230. doi: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.04.028

A study of climate-smart farming practices and climate resiliency field schools in Mindanao the Philippines

2017

Journal Article

Identification of limits and barriers to climate change adaptation: case study of two islands in Torres Strait, Australia

McNamara, Karen E., Westoby, Ross and Smithers, Scott G. (2017). Identification of limits and barriers to climate change adaptation: case study of two islands in Torres Strait, Australia. Geographical Research, 55 (4), 438-455. doi: 10.1111/1745-5871.12242

Identification of limits and barriers to climate change adaptation: case study of two islands in Torres Strait, Australia

2017

Journal Article

Climate-induced migration: Exploring local perspectives in Kiribati

Allgood, Lacey and McNamara, Karen E. (2017). Climate-induced migration: Exploring local perspectives in Kiribati. Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, 38 (3), 370-385. doi: 10.1111/sjtg.12202

Climate-induced migration: Exploring local perspectives in Kiribati

2017

Other Outputs

In Philippines, climate change and conflict both conspire against rural women

Chandra, Alvin and McNamara, Karen Elizabeth (2017, 07 25). In Philippines, climate change and conflict both conspire against rural women The Conversation

In Philippines, climate change and conflict both conspire against rural women

Funding

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2029
    Climate-related relocation: improving policy and practice outcomes (ARC Discovery Project administered by UoM)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022
    Climate change impacts and human rights in Vanuatu
    Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade, Republic of Vanuatu
    Open grant
  • 2022
    Case study on climate change adaptation governance in the South Pacific
    Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Working through loss from climate change in the Pacific Islands
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2024
    Sea-level rise and everyday lives in small island states (ARC Discovery Project administered by the University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Transformative human mobilities in a changing climate
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Navigating Rising Seas: A Comparative Study of relocation in Fiji, the Maldives and Tuvalu (National Geographic Society grant administered by The University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    Optimising community-based climate change adaptation in the Pacific Islands
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Assessing Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation in the Maldives
    United Nations Development Programme
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Dr Karen McNamara - Maternity Funding (Advance Queensland Women's Academic Fund)
    Queensland Government Advance Queensland Women's Academic Fund
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Socio-economic study of Palau's Protected Areas Network
    Palau International Coral Reef Center
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Socio-economic study of Palau's Protected Areas Network
    Palau International Coral Reef Center
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Climate Change and Human Mobility: Understanding Policy Responses at International, Regional and National Levels
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Professor Karen McNamara is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Exploring vulnerability to climate change for women vendors in Vanuatu

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Bradd Witt

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Experiencing and working through climate-induced non-economic loss in Vanuatu

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Climate Change Adaptation in Tuvalu

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Claudia Benham

  • Master Philosophy

    The gendered impact of extreme weather events on migration in Asia Pacific

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Aude Bernard

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Picturing climate migration: critiquing the visual discourse

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Roland Bleiker

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Professor Karen McNamara directly for media enquiries about:

  • Climate change adaptation
  • Climate-induced human mobility
  • Pacific Islands region

Need help?

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

communications@uq.edu.au