Our interdisciplinary teams include researchers from a wide range of specialties within the University of Otago, from other universities and research agencies, in New Zealand and internationally.
The Centre is committed to growing research capability in sustainability by supervising and supporting postgraduate students with aligned interests.
Research staff
Research Associate Professor Caroline Orchiston
Director, Centre for Sustainability
Caroline's passion is for applied research that makes a difference to our society, particularly in building social capital through networks and connections, and working with communities to build resilience.
Email caroline.orchiston@otago.ac.nz
Professor Hugh Campbell
Professor of Sociology, Gender Studies and Criminology, School of Social Sciences
Hugh has research interests in the social and economic dynamics of 'greening' food systems, the politics of sustainability under neoliberal governance, achieving sustainability via audits, food waste, transitions in agriculture and food systems in New Zealand, and theories of global food regimes.
Email hugh.campbell@otago.ac.nz
Dr Negin Imani
Research Fellow
Negin Imani is passionate about interdisciplinary research and collaborations. Her academic background is in Architectural engineering. Her research interests include biomimetic energy-efficient and ecologically sustainable building design with a focus on thermal regulation, and optimal internal comfort for human wellbeing and productivity.
Email negin.imani@otago.ac.nz
Kimberley King
Assistant Research Fellow, Centre for Sustainability
Kimberley is passionate about cross-sectional and interdisciplinary research and collaboration for effective research translation and engagement with communities to build advocacy and resilience and improve health and equity outcomes.
Dr Jen Purdie
Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Sustainability
Jen works at the nexus of climate and energy. Her research interests include climate change impacts on the energy system, and climate forecasting on a range of timescales.
Email jen.purdie@otago.ac.nz
Research Professor Janet Stephenson
Postgraduate Co-ordinator
Janet is passionate about collaborative, interdisciplinary research. Her research interests include indigenous resource management; the interconnections between people and their local environments; and the role of individuals and organisations in the transition to a sustainable future.
Email janet.stephenson@otago.ac.nz
Abbi Virens
Postdoctoral Fellow, Centre for Sustainability
Abbi is a social scientist, originally from Canada. Her interest in natural history directed her doctoral research into an exploration of the foraging landscape within Dunedin. Her research areas include science and technology studies ( STS ), post-humanism and post-colonialism.
Email abbi.virens@otago.ac.nz
Associate Professor Priscilla Wehi
Director, Te Pūnaha Matatini, Centre of Research Excellence
Priscilla a conservation biologist whose research has two main research themes: ecological knowledge; evolutionary ecology, and especially foraging behaviour, including isotope and nutrient analyses of diet, and socioecological relationships, including cultural environmental management.
Administration
Email centre-sustainability@otago.ac.nz
Gwenda Crawford
Senior Research Administrator
Tel +64 3 479 5220
Email gwenda.crawford@otago.ac.nz
Hours 8:30am–4:30pm (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)
Fiona Gray
Senior Research Administrator
Tel + 64 3 479 5220
Email fiona.gray@otago.ac.nz
Hours 9:00am-4:00pm (Thursday & Friday)
Project Administrator: Kainga and climate change
Tel + 64 3 479 5220
Email fiona.gray@otago.ac.nz
Hours 9:00am-4:00pm (Monday & Wednesday)
Mary-Jane Campbell
Research Assistant: Media and Communications
Email mary-jane.campbell@otago.ac.nz
Angela Moore
Administrator
Email angela.moore@otago.ac.nz
Postgraduates
PhD students
- Marufa Akther
- Maria Barnes
- Caelan Church
- Mino Cleverley
- Lucia Danzi
- Deborah Davies
- Jefferson Dew
- Kakau Foliaki
- Rajan Chandra Ghosh (submitted)
- Paula Herrera
- Laura Kamau
- Aiggan Tamene Kitila
- Rochelle Mackintosh
- Sonja Mueller
- Angella Ndaka (submitted)
- Caroline Rowe
- Margaretha Situmorang (submitted)
- Cheri vanSchravendijk-Goodman
- Kathryn Wright
Visitors
- Professor Mick Abbott, Research Affiliate
- Associate Professor James Beattie
- Emeritus Professor Tom Brooking
- Dr Ian Mason, Research Affiliate
- Dr Ann Pomeroy
Advisory Board
- Lynette Carter
- Professor Peter Crampton
- Rauru Kirikiri
- Jinty MacTavish
- Matt Matahaere
- Geoff Mavromatis