Kim A. Johnston

Kim A. Johnston is a Professor in the School of Advertising, Marketing & PR at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Her research focuses on public relations, community engagement, disaster management communication, and stakeholder relationships. She has authored over 90 publications, including the influential Handbook of Communication Engagement (2018). Her work bridges theory and practice, emphasizing resilience-building in vulnerable communities, social impact assessment, and organizational communication strategies.

Education & Roles: Holds a PhD in Strategic Communication (QUT, 2011). Served as lead researcher in multiple projects funded by organizations like Natural Hazards Research Australia and Healthy Waterways.

Research Highlights: Pioneered frameworks like the 'Authenticity Matrix for Community Engagement' (2019) and 'Co-orientation on Social Impact' (2025). Her work on disaster preparedness has informed policy through systematic reviews and toolkit development.

Grants & Collaborations: Collaborated with institutions such as Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC and Murray-Darling Basin stakeholders. Projects include assessing stakeholder engagement in water governance and evaluating community flood experiences post-2022.

Labs/Teams: Active in QUT's Business School research clusters on strategic communication and CSR. Leads interdisciplinary teams in disaster resilience and employee engagement studies.