BAgric.Sci (Melb), PhD (CSU)
Dr Joanne Millar is a social scientist with expertise in action research for natural resource management, agriculture, rural development and conservation management. Joanne's research focuses on understanding landholders, farming families and community engagement processes in order to improve rural livelihoods and environmental management.
Research projects have been conducted in regional NSW, Victoria and Queensland with agencies and organisations involved in natural resource management. Joanne currently leads an international research project commissioned by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) in Laos to investigate extension approaches to scaling up livestock production in upland areas. Further work with ACIAR projects involves social research on improving smallholder aquaculture systems and preventing animal health outbreaks in Indonesia.
Joanne has over 20 years experience in the government and university sector. After completing a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at the University of Melbourne in 1982, Joanne worked for 10 years as a Beef Extension Officer and Landcare Advisor in north east Victoria. She completed a PhD at Charles Sturt University in 1997 investigating the role of local farmer knowledge in the management of native and improved pastures on hill country in the southern Murray Darling Basin. From 1998 to 2002, Joanne managed the Community Nature Conservation program in Queensland, which included Bushcare projects, establishing the Land for Wildlife program, and accelerating Nature Refuge covenants on private land.
Joanne lectures in Natural Resource Management, Environmental Planning and Environmental Policy. A member of the editorial board for the International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, Joanne is also a member of the Human Dimensions of Environmental Management discipline group.