Darla Hatton MacDonald

Professor Darla Hatton MacDonald is a Professor and Associate Head (Research & Performance) in the Department of Economics at the University of Tasmania's Tasmanian School of Business and Economics. Her research focuses on environmental and resource economics, with particular emphasis on ecosystem accounting, behavioral economics, and policy analysis. She leads projects addressing soil stewardship, Antarctic governance, marine plastic reduction, and energy transitions. Her work integrates interdisciplinary approaches to evaluate environmental policies, stakeholder preferences, and market mechanisms.

Notable funded projects include studies on temperate saltwater marsh accounting (2024-2025), behavioral change in fisheries (2023-2024), and certification frameworks for soil stewardship (2022-2025). She has also contributed to policy-relevant research on Tasmania's hydrogen industry and groundwater management in mining regions. Her supervision spans doctoral projects on beetle conservation, blue economy hazards, and renewable energy transitions.

Publications highlight her expertise in Antarctic ecosystem valuation, microplastic distribution, and consumer preferences for environmental policies. She engages in media outreach, notably critiquing the Murray-Darling Basin Plan's effectiveness. Her work bridges academic research with practical policy solutions for sustainable resource management.