Brooke Wilmsen

Dr Brooke Wilmsen is an Associate Professor in Anthropology at La Trobe University, working within the Department of Social Inquiry in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. She serves as the Director of the Master of International Development and Convenor of the Major in Sustainability and Development in the Bachelor of Arts program.

Her academic journey includes a Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science), a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours), and a PhD in Geography, all from The University of Melbourne. Her research expertise spans:

• Resettlement and displacement studies
• Climate adaptation and social protection
• Agrarian change in China and Southeast Asia
• Sustainable development and social justice

Wilmsen's research demonstrates a distinctive longitudinal approach, particularly evident in her work on the Three Gorges Dam in China where she tracked displacement impacts over time. Her more recent scholarship has expanded to climate-related resettlement in the Philippines, Indonesia, and the Maldives, examining power dynamics, justice outcomes, and community agency in adaptation processes. Her publications appear in leading journals including Global Environmental Change, World Development, and Progress in Human Geography.

Her significant research projects include:

• ARC DECRA fellowship (2012-2017) on Three Gorges Dam impacts
• World Social Science Fellowship with ISSC (2014)
• UNRISD New Directions in Social Policy Project (2015-2019)
• ARC Discovery Project on China's agricultural restructuring (2018-2023)
• Current ARC-funded project 'Reframing the yield gap' in the Philippines (2023-2025)

Wilmsen's scholarly contributions have been recognized with multiple awards including the Vice Chancellor's Mid Career Researcher Award (2018) and International Academic Collaboration Award (2020). Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 13 (Climate Action), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and 15 (Life on Land).

Prior to academia, she worked as a consultant for the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and government agencies, bringing practical policy experience to her research. She is available for Masters Research and PhD student supervision and actively collaborates with international institutions.