Gas & Energy Transition Research Centre
Associate Professor Kathy Witt
Principal Research Fellow in Social Performance
Biography
Associate Professor Kathy Witt is an internationally-recognised social science researcher and the leader of the Communities & Coexistence theme within the Gas & Energy Transition Research Centre.
Kathy specialises in 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.
Kathy is a 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 is also part of the US National Science Foundation’s Energy Impacts Researchers Network.
Highlighted publications
Journal Articles
Shalsi, Sarah, Svobodova, Kamila, Corder, Glen and Witt, Katherine (2024).Values-driven water management in coal seam gas industries. The Extractive Industries and Society, 20 101566, 101566. doi: 10.1016/j.exis.2024.101566
Kambo, Amrita, Kannampuzha, Leo, Arratia-Solar, Andrea and Witt, Katherine (2024).Uncovering an emerging policy direction for Australian energy and future fuels using a “participatory decision-making” framework. Frontiers in Sustainable Energy Policy, 3 1400747, 1-15. doi: 10.3389/fsuep.2024.1400747
Wade, Belinda, Bharadwaj, Bishal, Kambo, Amrita, Jensen, Mikayla, Witt, Katherine, Weder, Franzisca, Phelan, Anna (Anya) and Ashworth, Peta (2024).Stakeholder engagement: the role of facilitators and gender in ‘opening up’ conversations and enabling participation. Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 31 (1), 7-39. doi: 10.1080/14486563.2023.2298195
Bharadwaj, Bishal, Kambo, Amrita, Witt, Kathy, Wade, Belinda, Weder, Franzisca and Ashworth, Peta (2024).Shorter message, stronger framing increases societal acceptance for hydrogen. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 59, 880-888. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.02.024
Book chapters
Witt, Katherine, Cheung, Tracy and Simpson, Jonathan (2023).Towards an integrated approach to community resilience: ten years on. Rural development for sustainable social-ecological systems. (pp. 327-354) edited by Claudia Baldwin and Séverine van Bommel. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan Cham. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-34225-7_17