Sarah Niklas

Sarah Niklas is a Senior Research Consultant at the Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF), University of Technology Sydney (UTS), where she has worked since May 2020, advancing to her current senior role in 2022. Her expertise centers on community-level energy transitions, energy resilience, sectoral decarbonisation, and First Nations empowerment in the clean energy space.

Dr. Niklas holds a PhD in Environmental Management from UNSW Australia (2013-2019), an MSc in Global Change Ecology from the University of Bayreuth, Germany (2008-2011), and a BSc in Biology from the University of Innsbruck, Austria (2004-2007). She is fluent in both English and German, enabling her to collaborate effectively on international projects across diverse contexts.

Her research explores practical approaches for communities to actively participate in and benefit from the clean energy transition. She brings specialized expertise in comparative energy policy analysis and political economy to develop inclusive and sustainable energy solutions. Notable projects include an UNEP-funded initiative developing sectoral pathways for the global economy, an Emergency Smart-Grid project for East Gippsland/Victoria using qualitative research methods, and evaluations of energy efficiency and renewable energy uptake in apartment buildings.

Dr. Niklas's research outputs demonstrate a strong focus on translating climate science into actionable policy and community solutions. Her work addresses critical challenges in achieving net-zero emissions while ensuring equitable outcomes, with particular attention to First Nations communities and vulnerable populations. She examines how energy transitions can create meaningful employment opportunities and economic benefits for communities traditionally excluded from energy decision-making.

• European Climate Foundation grants supporting sectoral decarbonization pathways
• ARENA ChargeKonnect project (2025-2028) on energy system flexibility
• Power Shift Africa collaboration on Africa-wide energy scenarios
• First Nations Clean Energy Network projects on Aboriginal land
• Greenpeace International research on deep-sea mining implications

Dr. Niklas actively engages with the public through media appearances, including interviews on microgrids as resilience solutions during climate disasters and contributions to The Conversation discussing energy solutions for regional communities. Her media work demonstrates a commitment to translating complex research into accessible insights for broader audiences while maintaining scientific rigor.

She is deeply involved in developing practical frameworks for the energy transition, working at the intersection of technical analysis, policy development, and community engagement to create pathways toward a sustainable and equitable energy future that prioritizes both environmental integrity and social justice.