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Graciela Metternicht

Professor of Environmental Geography, School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, UNSW Sydney

I am a Professor within the Environmental Management Programme, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences. My research at the Earth and Sustainability Science Research Centre of UNSW is primarily in the field of environmental geography, with a focus on geospatial technologies and their application in environmental management and sustainability. I am Chair of the Geographical Science Committee of the Australian Academy of Science, and of the Biodiversity Conservation Advisory Panel for the government of New South Wales; and member of Scientific Technical Advisory Panel of the UN Global Environment Facility. Former member the College of Experts of the Australian Research Council, the Assessment Methodology Group of the 6th UNEP Global Environment Outlook, and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification Science Policy Interface.

My career has bridged science to policy; for 5 years I was Regional Coordinator of Early Warning and Assessment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Previous academic appointments include Head of Discipline and Professor of Geospatial Systems and Environmental Management at the School of Natural and Built Environments of the University of South Australia and Professor of Spatial Sciences at the Western Australian School of Mines, Curtin University of Technology.

Experience

  • 2015–2016
    Professor, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences
  • 2012–2015
    Director, Institute of Environmental Studies, UNSW
  • 2008–2012
    Regional Coordinator, United Nations Environment Programme
  • 2007–2007
    Professor & Head of Discipline, School of Natural and Built Environment, University of South Australia
  • 1996–2007
    Professor, A/Prof, Snr Lecturer, Curtin University of Technology

Education

  • 1996 
    University of Ghent, Belgium, PhD Geography (Physical)