Research Group Leader

Cathy Robinson

Dr Cathy Robinson

Principal Research Scientist

Cathy leads and supports several initiatives that provide practical examples of how to accelerate innovation with ideas that value and enable diversity. This includes research with Indigenous and remote rural communities and scientists to accelerate collaboration and innovation to achieve to enable a total system health approach for Northern Australian regions. These outcomes include building better knowledge systems to tackle contemporary landscape management issues, improving economic participation for Indigenous people, and enhancing positive health and well-being.

Recent Projects

Indigenous action in threatened species research and management

Most threatened species ranges overlap with Indigenous lands. Many Indigenous people and groups already play an active role in the management of many threatened species but there is still a lot of opportunity to increase and formalise Indigenous involvement in threatened species management.

Bininj/Mungguy healthy country indicators

As in other protected areas around Australia, staff and Traditional Owners in Kakadu National Park are committed to working together to protect the health of important values on their country. However, information is limited on how to jointly assess the health of country to guide effective co-management activities.

Investing in Indigenous cultural and natural resource managers

Indigenous cultural and natural resource management (ICNRM) creates many environmental, social, cultural and economic benefits. The ICNRM sector has grown quickly through investment by Indigenous communities and key government departments focused on Indigenous and environmental issues.

Lessons from Top End Indigenous fire management

Highlights some of the key aspects of Indigenous peoples’ relationship with fire, as well as the implications of this relationship for wider Australian landscapes and biota.

Indigenous NRM in Kakadu National Park

Kakadu National Park is a living cultural landscape internationally recognised for its outstanding natural and cultural values. The World Heritage listed park boasts an incredible array of interconnected ecosystems and rich biodiversity and to this day continues to support traditional resources for Indigenous people.