Neil Argent

Professor Neil Argent is a prominent academic at the University of New England (UNE), affiliated with the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences within the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education. His roles include teaching courses such as GEPL112 (Australia’s global context) and GEPL322 (Population Geography). He holds a BA(Hons) and PhD from Adelaide University.

His research focuses on rural community resilience, migration dynamics, and the interplay of social theory with spatial contexts. Key themes include rural youth migration, amenity-led migration, and the socio-economic impacts of resource booms. He has secured significant grants, including multiple Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Projects, totaling over $600,000 since 2004.

Recent students supervised include Stuart Robertson (PhD, mining-dependent regions), Paul McFarland (PhD, peri-urban planning), Darrell Fisher (MA, dairy heritage tourism), and Amanda Davies (PhD, rural leadership).

Publications span journals like Progress in Human Geography, Journal of Rural Studies, and Applied Geography, addressing topics such as rural demographic change, multifunctional landscapes, and policy interventions. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical studies to address challenges in rural sustainability.