Overview
Background
Dr Kathy Witt is an internationally-recognised senior social science researcher and currently an Advance Queensland Fellow at the UQ Centre for Natural Gas. Previously working in the areas of environmental and community change for the Queensland Government, Kathy went on to receive her PhD in 2013 before joining UQ-CNG’s Social Performance research team in 2014. Kathy specialises in the social dimensions of land use, natural resource management and energy technologies and transition, particularly in relation to sustainable regional development.
With degrees in Environmental Management (Natural and Rural Systems Management)/ Sociology from UQ's Gatton and St Lucia campuses, she is an inter-disciplinary researcher fluent in both environmental and social sciences. She applies ‘socio-ecological systems’ approaches to her research.
Leading the UQ-CNG Social Performance team, Kathy currently studies the cumulative social and economic effects of energy development for local communities, and non-technical risks. Her recent work focusses on social acceptance and ‘social licence’ across a range of industries and technologies, including the cattle industries, future fuels, hydrogen, carbon capture, use & storage and utility-scale renewable energy. Through her work Kathy has fostered mutually trusting and enduring relationships with different stakeholders including in the agricultural and energy sectors. She has collated and analysed longitudinal data on town and regional social and economic indicators alongside community members’ own interpretations of lived experience.
While currently in a research-focussed position, Kathy has previously lectured in Effective Stakeholder Engagement, Environment and Community, Global Challenges in Agriculture, Non-Technical Risks and Sustainable Energy.
Kathy’s excellent understanding of participatory research methods and ability to apply approaches from different academic specialisations, is combined with an ability to engage with diverse stakeholder groups.
Availability
- Associate Professor Kathy Witt is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Environmental Management, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research impacts
Dr Witt is internationally recognised for her work through her current positions as co-chair of the Social Impact Assessment Committee of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) and the IUCN/IAIA Impact Assessment in Protected Areas Taskforce. She provides input into natural resource management policy briefings to federal and state governments and has contributed significantly to regional communities through her work on cumulative effects assessment and shared value.
Kathy is a current member of the Australian Hydrogen Council Social Licence Working Group, a member of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand and a member of the International Association for Public Participation. She coordinates the cross-institutional Gasfields Social Scientists’ network and is part of the US National Science Foundation’s Energy Impacts Researchers Network.
Works
Search Professor Kathy Witt’s works on UQ eSpace
2020
Other Outputs
Evaluating the impact and effectiveness of the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework
Witt, Bradd, Sauvage, Claire, Witt, Katherine, Gillespie, Nicole and Ariyawardana, Anoma (2020). Evaluating the impact and effectiveness of the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework. North Sydney, NSW, Australia: Meat and Livestock Australia .
2020
Conference Publication
Unconventional gas development in Queensland, Australia: How well does it align with the ‘Golden rules’ of gas?
Witt, Katherine and Garnett, Andrew (2020). Unconventional gas development in Queensland, Australia: How well does it align with the ‘Golden rules’ of gas?. SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition 2020, APOG 2020, Online, 17 - 19 November 2020. Richardson, TX United States: Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/202448-ms
2019
Journal Article
Understanding the public’s response towards ‘enhanced water recovery’ in the Great Artesian Basin (Australia) using the carbon capture and storage process
Witt, Katherine, Ferguson, Michele and Ashworth, Peta (2019). Understanding the public’s response towards ‘enhanced water recovery’ in the Great Artesian Basin (Australia) using the carbon capture and storage process. Hydrogeology Journal, 28 (1), 427-437. doi: 10.1007/s10040-019-02066-0
2019
Other Outputs
Developing community trust in hydrogen
Ashworth, P., Witt, K., Ferguson, M. and Sehic, S. (2019). Developing community trust in hydrogen. Canberra, ACT Australia: Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.
2019
Journal Article
The community cost of consultation: Characterising the qualitative social impacts of a wind energy development that failed to proceed in Tasmania, Australia
Colvin, R. M., Witt, G. Bradd, Lacey, Justine and Witt, Kathy (2019). The community cost of consultation: Characterising the qualitative social impacts of a wind energy development that failed to proceed in Tasmania, Australia. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 77, 40-48. doi: 10.1016/j.eiar.2019.03.007
2019
Journal Article
Comparing how the public perceive CCS across Australia and China
Ashworth, Peta, Sun, Yan, Ferguson, Michele, Witt, Katherine and She, Shengxiang (2019). Comparing how the public perceive CCS across Australia and China. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 86, 125-133. doi: 10.1016/j.ijggc.2019.04.008
2019
Other Outputs
Managed aquifer recharge focus groups
Ferguson, Michele, Witt, Katherine and Ashworth, Peta (2019). Managed aquifer recharge focus groups. The University of Queensland Surat Deep Aquifer Appraisal Project (UQ-SDAAP) Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2019
Other Outputs
Effects of message framing on the support for carbon capture and storage (CCS) and alternative energy technologies
Ferguson, Michele, Witt, Katherine, Nisa, Claudia and Ashworth, Peta (2019). Effects of message framing on the support for carbon capture and storage (CCS) and alternative energy technologies. The University of Queensland Surat Deep Aquifer Appraisal Project (UQ-SDAAP) Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2019
Other Outputs
Five country survey
Ferguson, Michele, Witt, Katherine and Ashworth, Peta (2019). Five country survey. The University of Queensland Surat Deep Aquifer Appraisal Project (UQ-SDAAP) Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2019
Other Outputs
Australian Energy Preferences and the place of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) within the energy mix
Nisa, Claudia, Witt, Katherine, Ferguson, Michele, Hodson, Amy and Ashworth, Peta (2019). Australian Energy Preferences and the place of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) within the energy mix. The University of Queensland Surat Deep Aquifer Appraisal Project (UQ-SDAAP) Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2019
Journal Article
How do Local People Value Rural Waterways? A Study in the Upper Catchments of South East Queensland’s Rivers
Witt, Katherine, Ross, Helen, Shaw, Sylvie, Jones, Natalie, Rissik, David and Pinner, Breanna (2019). How do Local People Value Rural Waterways? A Study in the Upper Catchments of South East Queensland’s Rivers. Society & Natural Resources, 32 (6), 638-656. doi: 10.1080/08941920.2019.1578910
2019
Book Chapter
Managing for the multiple uses and values of Moreton Bay and its catchments
Ross, Helen, Rissik, David, Jones, Natalie, Witt, Katherine, Pinner, Breanna and Shaw, Sylvie (2019). Managing for the multiple uses and values of Moreton Bay and its catchments. Moreton Bay Quandamooka and catchment: past, present and future. (pp. 563-578) edited by Ian R. Tibbetts, Peter C. Rothlisberg, David T. Neil, Tamara A. Homburg, David T. Brewer and Angela H. Arthington. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Moreton Bay Foundation.
2019
Book Chapter
A custodial ethic: Indigenous values towards water in Moreton Bay and catchments
Pinner, Breanna, Ross, Helen, Jones, Natalie, Babidge, Sally, Shaw, Sylvie, Witt, Katherine and Rissik, David (2019). A custodial ethic: Indigenous values towards water in Moreton Bay and catchments. Moreton Bay Quandamooka and catchment: past, present and future. (pp. 29-44) edited by Ian R. Tibbetts, Peter C. Rothlisberg, David T. Neil, Tamara A. Homburg, David T. Brewer and Angela H. Arthington. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Moreton Bay Foundation.
2019
Conference Publication
Monitoring socio-economic changes in small towns affected by large scale CSG-LNG development
Witt, Katherine and Simpson, Jonathan (2019). Monitoring socio-economic changes in small towns affected by large scale CSG-LNG development. SPE/AAPG/SEG Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 18 – 19 November 2019. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (URTEC). doi: 10.15530/AP-URTEC-2019-198314
2018
Journal Article
Stephen Kellert’s development and contribution of relational values in social-ecological systems
Ross, Helen, Witt, Katherine and Jones, Natalie A (2018). Stephen Kellert’s development and contribution of relational values in social-ecological systems. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 35, 46-53. doi: 10.1016/j.cosust.2018.10.007
2018
Journal Article
Is the gas industry a good neighbour? A comparison of UK and Australia experiences in terms of procedural fairness and distributive justice
Witt, Katherine, Whitton, John and Rifkin, Will (2018). Is the gas industry a good neighbour? A comparison of UK and Australia experiences in terms of procedural fairness and distributive justice. Extractive Industries and Society, 5 (4), 547-556. doi: 10.1016/j.exis.2018.09.010
2018
Journal Article
Industry and government responses to unconventional gas development in Australia
Witt, Katherine, Kelemen, Stephen, Schultz, Helen and Vivoda, Vlado (2018). Industry and government responses to unconventional gas development in Australia. The Extractive Industries and Society, 5 (4), 422-426. doi: 10.1016/j.exis.2018.09.012
2018
Journal Article
Evolution or revolution: where next for impact assessment?
Banhalmi-Zakar, Zsuzsa, Gronow, Claire, Wilkinson, Lachlan, Jenkins, Bryan, Pope, Jenny, Squires, Geraldine, Witt, Kathy, Williams, Galina and Womersley, Jon (2018). Evolution or revolution: where next for impact assessment?. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 36 (6), 506-515. doi: 10.1080/14615517.2018.1516846
2018
Conference Publication
Comparing how the public perceive CCS across Australia and China
Ashworth, Peta, Sun, Yan, Ferguson, Michele, Witt, Katherine and She, Shengxiang (2018). Comparing how the public perceive CCS across Australia and China. International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas, IEAGHG.
2018
Other Outputs
A framework for Social Impact Assessment of shale gas development in the Northern Territory
Witt, Katherine, Vivoda, Vlado, Everingham, Jo-Anne and Bainton, Nick (2018). A framework for Social Impact Assessment of shale gas development in the Northern Territory. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Kathy Witt is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
The multiple values associated with coal seam water management in Queensland, Australia
Principal Advisor
Completed supervision
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Gas on farms: Causal Layered Analysis of the meaning of co-existence from multiple stakeholder perspectives.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lynda Shevellar
Media
Enquiries
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