Ruth O'Connor

Dr Ruth O'Connor is a Research Fellow at the Institute for Infrastructure in Society within the Crawford School of Public Policy at Australian National University (ANU). She specializes in engagement and evaluation methodologies, particularly in infrastructure planning and public policy contexts. Her work focuses on participatory processes to address complex societal challenges, emphasizing the evaluation of these processes to capture diverse values and improve decision-making.

Ruth holds a PhD from ANU’s Centre for the Public Awareness of Science (2019), where her thesis explored frameworks for evaluating science engagement in climate change planning. She also holds a Master of Applied Science (University of Canberra) and a Bachelor of Applied Science (Canberra College of Advanced Education). Her career began as a freshwater scientist with Sydney Water, transitioning into academia through roles at ANU’s Fenner School and Climate Change Institute.

Her research interests include knowledge co-production, transdisciplinary research, and the evaluation of research impact. She collaborates with industry partners to develop best practice indicators for infrastructure engagement. Key projects include work on Australia’s infrastructure reform and climate resilience strategies. Ruth’s publications span environmental management, policy evaluation, and aquatic ecology, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to solving complex environmental and societal issues.

Her current projects include the Sydney Water-I2S Next Gen Partnership (2023-2026) and initiatives to enhance research impact through knowledge-to-action frameworks. Ruth’s work bridges academic research with practical implementation, aiming to foster sustainable and equitable solutions through collaborative engagement.