Leah Gibbs

Assoc. Professor Leah Gibbs is an environmental and cultural geographer at the University of Wollongong, holding dual appointments in the School of Geography and Sustainable Communities and the School of Social Sciences. She holds a PhD from the Australian National University and has held academic roles since 2010, including postdoctoral fellowships at the Universities of Glasgow and Sheffield. Her research focuses on environmental governance, human-shark encounters, and freshwater ecosystems, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and Indigenous knowledges.

Leah's work explores mechanisms of environmental damage through colonialism and governance, while also investigating cultural practices that foster human-nature connections. Key projects include the 'Fish Futures' initiative on freshwater ecosystems and the 'City+Sea' collaboration examining coastal urbanization. She has secured significant funding from bodies like the Australian Research Council and New Zealand's MBIE, totaling over 29 grants since 2014.

Leah has supervised numerous PhD students, with current advisees researching topics like eel fisheries management and Aboriginal women’s cultural burning practices. Awards include multiple Writer-in-Residence fellowships and a nomination for the UOW OCTAL teaching award. She actively contributes to academic leadership roles, including editorial boards for cultural geographies and People and Nature, and governance roles at the Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

Her research outputs span over 50 peer-reviewed articles and reports, addressing themes like shark hazard mitigation, climate change adaptation, and urban natures. Collaborations with artists and scientists highlight her commitment to transdisciplinary scholarship addressing global environmental challenges.