Melissa Parsons

Melissa Parsons is an Associate Professor in Physical Geography at the University of New England (UNE), affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education and the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. She holds a BAppSc (Hons) and PhD from the University of Canberra. Her research focuses on disaster resilience, river science, and social-ecological systems, with expertise in environmental psychology and large flood disturbances. She has led national initiatives like the Australian Disaster Resilience Index (ADRI) and contributed to projects such as the National Carbon Accounting System and Sustainable Rivers Audit.

Teaching areas include natural hazards, environmental management, and policy-making, with courses like GEPL309/409 Natural Hazards and GEPL390/490/590 Planning Policy for Hazards. She coordinates the Planning and Management of Natural Hazards program and advises PhD students in river science, floodplain management, and natural hazards psychology.

As Editor in Chief of the Australian Journal of Emergency Management, she bridges academic research with practical applications. Consultancy interests span disaster resilience strategies, environmental management, and adaptive monitoring frameworks.