Linda Ford

Dr. Linda Ford is a Professor and Senior Research Fellow at the Northern Institute, Faculty of Arts and Society, Charles Darwin University. She holds a PhD in Education from Deakin University (2006) and leads multidisciplinary research focused on Indigenous knowledges, education, health, and environmental sustainability. Her work has been funded by ARC, NHMRC, MRFF, and FRDC grants, addressing UN Sustainable Development Goals through collaboration with Indigenous communities and academic partners globally.

Her research interests integrate Indigenous methodologies across four key domains: 1) Education and cultural pedagogy development; 2) Health disparities and respiratory epidemiology in Indigenous populations; 3) Ethnomusicology and traditional knowledge preservation; 4) Sustainable energy solutions and environmental justice. These interdisciplinary efforts aim to decolonize academic frameworks while strengthening community-led initiatives.

Recent publications demonstrate strong thematic focus on respiratory health epidemiology (35%), cultural pedagogy (25%), environmental justice (20%), and Indigenous cosmology (20%). Articles frequently employ community-based participatory methods and highlight applications of Mirrwana-Wurrkama philosophical frameworks in policy development.

Awards and Recognition:

• Vice Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Researcher (2014)

Research Leadership: Dr. Ford has served as Chief Investigator on 16 major grants since 2019, including projects on Indigenous cultural competency ($350k), clean energy health co-benefits ($1.2M), and pathways for Indigenous students in STEM fields. She currently mentors 6 postgraduate researchers and coordinates international partnerships across 4 continents.

She established the Indigenous Knowledge LibGuide at CDU and co-leads the HEAL Network investigating climate-health connections. Her Northern Institute research group collaborates with 12 Aboriginal communities and 7 government agencies to develop place-based solutions.