Andrea Haefner

Dr Andrea Haefner is a Senior Lecturer at the Griffith Asia Institute, part of Griffith University's Griffith Business School. Her academic roles include Deputy Director of Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) and leadership of the award-winning Griffith Asia Business Internship Program. With over 15 years of experience, she focuses on civil society governance in Southeast Asia, transboundary river basins (especially the Mekong), climate change, and water governance. She holds a PhD in International Relations from Griffith University and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).

Education Background:

• PhD in International Relations, Griffith University
• Master in International Relations and Asian Studies, Griffith University
• Bachelor with Honours in Public Administration, University of Applied Science Kehl, Germany

Research Interests:

• Non-traditional security, transboundary rivers, civil society dynamics
• Water governance and climate change mitigation in Mekong, Southeast Asia, and beyond
• Gender inclusion leadership programs in collaboration with DFAT

Key Contributions:

• Published Negotiating for Water Resources: Bridging Transboundary River Basins (2016)
• Lead DFAT-funded projects like the Lao Leadership for Gender Inclusion Program
• Recipient of ABDC Award (2021), Global Orientation Award, and multiple teaching accolades

Professional Activities:

• Secretary of Association of Mainland Southeast Asia Scholars (AMSEAS)
• Conference organizer for AMSEAS and International RiverSymposium
• Consultancy work on water legislation in Laos and regional leadership programs

Labs/Teams: Active in Griffith Asia Institute's research network, collaborating with industry partners across Asia-Pacific for transdisciplinary projects.