Kate Harriden

Kate Harriden is a Research Fellow at MSDI Water, Monash University, and holds multiple external affiliations with the Australian National University (ANU), including Visiting Fellow in the School of Music and Advisor to Bandalang Studio Indigenous Engineering. She has previously served as Co-convener of the Indigenous peoples, cultures and knowledges cluster at the ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions and as a Visiting Indigenous Fellow at CAEPR.

Education:

• Doctorate of Philosophy (Environmental Science), Australian National University (ANU), 2024
• Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture & Heritage, Charles Sturt University, 2022
• Master of Geographical Sciences, Australian National University (ANU), 2014
• Master of Arts (Asian Studies), Australian National University (ANU), 2008
• Bachelor of Science (Geography), Australian National University (ANU), 1999
• Bachelor of Asian Studies (Thai), Australian National University (ANU), 1998

Her research focuses on Indigenous science, water governance, Indigenous water rights, and transdisciplinary environmental research. She explores how Indigenous knowledge systems can be centred in environmental science and engineering, challenging colonial frameworks in research and education. Her work emphasizes relationality, decolonisation, and the integration of Indigenous ontologies into academic and policy domains.

The recent articles reflect a strong trend toward decolonising environmental research, Indigenous-led design, and legal justice for First Nations water rights. Her publications increasingly focus on integrating Indigenous epistemologies into mainstream science, engineering, and public policy, particularly in urban river and freshwater systems.

Scientific Awards:

• Student Water Prize (2020)

Kate Harriden is actively involved in research leadership and collaboration, serving as a Chief Investigator in multiple national projects such as the NESP2 Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub and IP1.03 Sustainable People-Environment Interactions. She mentors emerging scholars and collaborates extensively with First Nations communities, legal experts, and environmental scientists. Her public engagement includes media contributions and keynote speaking at major conferences.

She is associated with research groups such as the Network of Early Career Researchers in Sustainability Transitions (NEST) and contributes to Indigenous-led initiatives like Bandalang Studio, which promotes First Nations engineering practices grounded in cultural knowledge and connection to Country.