Kathleen Mee

Associate Professor Kathleen Mee is a cultural geographer at the University of Newcastle, where she serves as Associate Dean for Equity Diversity and Inclusion in the School of Environmental and Life Sciences. She is a member of both the Discipline of Geography and Environmental Studies and the Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, with over two decades of academic experience. An award-winning educator, Mee has received multiple teaching honors including the University of Newcastle Excellence in Teaching Award (1998), Faculty of Science and IT Excellence in Teaching Awards (2008, 2017), and the Vice Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence and Contribution to Student Learning (Science) (2017).

Her research program focuses on three interconnected themes: (i) the changing nature of social vulnerability in urban and regional areas, (ii) housing for socially vulnerable groups, and (iii) the diverse workings and practices of urban regeneration. Mee employs cultural geography frameworks to examine how places are understood, represented, valued, and experienced across different scales. Her current work utilizes assemblage theory to investigate urban regeneration processes, with particular attention to the role of care in housing transitions from public to community-managed models. Her research methodology combines theoretical analysis with community engagement, producing both academic publications and practical resources for industry partners.

Mee's scholarly output reveals a consistent trajectory toward understanding care infrastructures within urban contexts, particularly examining housing as a fundamental component of social support systems. Her recent work has increasingly focused on shadow care infrastructures that sustain marginalized populations in post-welfare cities, with significant attention to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on community support networks. This research bridges housing studies, urban geography, and social policy, contributing to theoretical frameworks while maintaining practical relevance for policymakers and community organizations.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• University of Newcastle Excellence in Teaching Award (1998)
• Faculty of Science and IT Excellence in Teaching Award (2008)
• Faculty of Science and IT Excellence in Teaching Award (2017)
• Vice Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence and Contribution to Student Learning (Science) (2017)
• Urban Studies Fellowship, University of Glasgow (2007)

As an academic supervisor, Mee has guided 5 PhD students to completion and currently mentors 6 doctoral candidates. Her research program has secured over $1.3 million in competitive funding, including multiple ARC Discovery and Linkage Projects that have fostered strong regional engagement with state agencies in the Hunter and Central Coast regions. These projects have examined public housing management, interagency collaboration, and urban regeneration processes in Newcastle.

Mee has also made significant contributions to curriculum development, particularly through her work as Program Convenor of the Bachelor of Development Studies, where she has led efforts to Indigenise the curriculum—a project recognized as best practice both at the University of Newcastle and across the higher education sector.