Mira Kakonen

Mira Kakonen is an ARC DECRA Fellow at the Resources, Environment & Development Group within the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University (ANU). Previously, she held a Lecturer position in Global Development Studies at the University of Helsinki. Her research focuses on political ecology, environment, and development, particularly in the Mekong Region of Southeast Asia, examining water governance, infrastructure politics, and the impacts of China’s global expansion and climate change. She also participates in the Kone Foundation-funded project exploring restoration politics in extractive-affected environments of the Global South.

• Education: PhD in Global Development Studies (University of Helsinki)

Her work bridges environmental geography and development studies, analyzing how power dynamics shape resource governance. Current projects include 'Volatile Rivers and the Infrastructure Politics in the Mekong Region,' which investigates riverine systems, infrastructure development, and geopolitical influences. She critically examines how marginalized communities adapt to environmental and infrastructural transformations.

Awards:

• ARC DECRA Fellowship

Advising & Grants: Engaged with the Kone Foundation-funded research on restoration and responsibility in ruined environments. Her work addresses interdisciplinary challenges in sustainability and global development.

Labs/Teams: Member of the Resources, Environment & Development Group at ANU, fostering collaborative research on environmental policy and development challenges.