Barbara Pamphilon

Professor Barbara Pamphilon AM FACE holds the position of Research Professor and Director of the Family Farm Teams program at the Centre for Sustainable Communities (CSC) within the University of Canberra's Faculty of Education. As the CSC's former Foundation Director, she now serves as a research advisor and mentor, focusing on innovative methodologies that bridge diverse knowledge systems in low-literacy and multilingual contexts. Her work emphasizes asset-based community development, appreciative inquiry, and participatory evaluation approaches.

Her research spans Papua New Guinea (PNG) and other Pacific regions, addressing sustainable agriculture, gender equity in rural development, and food security. Current projects include optimizing soil management in PNG cocoa farming systems and enhancing livelihoods through fisheries in Timor-Leste and Solomon Islands. She leads initiatives like the Family Farm Teams program, which empowers smallholder farmers through peer learning networks and culturally relevant educational resources.

Key contributions include developing dual-language picture books for PNG schools and gender-awareness training videos. Over 27 active research projects demonstrate her interdisciplinary impact across education, agriculture, and public health. Awards include the Order of Australia and Fellowships from the Australian College of Educators. She chairs the Snowy Valleys Resilience Hub and collaborates internationally on climate adaptation and community resilience initiatives.

• Education: PhD in Education from University of Wollongong (1997)
• Key Areas: Community-based learning, agricultural innovation, gender equity, climate resilience
• Grants: Multiple ARC and ACIAR-funded projects totaling over AUD 10M in recent years