Kristen Lyons

Professor Kristen Lyons is a sociologist and academic leader at the University of Queensland (UQ), holding roles as Director of Indigenous Engagement and Professor in the School of Social Science within the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. She serves on the UQ Senate and Office of the Vice-Chancellor. Her research focuses on climate change, human rights, and transformative higher education, emphasizing socially just outcomes for vulnerable communities in Uganda, Solomon Islands, and Australia. Trained as a sociologist, she employs transdisciplinary approaches grounded in rights-based frameworks.

Education:
- Bachelor of Science (Griffith University)
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced) (Griffith University)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Central Queensland University)

Research Interests:
1. Climate Change & Human Rights: Examining carbon trading impacts on communities.
2. Transdisciplinary Indigenous Rights: Supporting Australia's compliance with Indigenous rights obligations.
3. Transforming Universities: Advocating for public good-focused education beyond neoliberal models. Her work bridges academia with activism, including roles with the Oakland Institute as a Senior Research Fellow.

Grants & Impact:
- Led projects like 'Building Climate-Resilient Agri-Food Futures' (2023-2024) and 'Centring Community-based Planning' (2020-2023).
- Influenced policy changes in carbon offset practices and Indigenous rights frameworks.
- Media engagement includes contributions to ABC Religion and Ethics, Conversation, and Times Higher Education.

Labs & Teams:
- Collaborates with UQ's SocioHealthLab and Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S) initiatives.
- Leads interdisciplinary teams on climate justice and university reform projects.