Steven Cork

Steven Cork is an Adjunct Professor in the Resources, Environment and Development Department at the Australian National University's Crawford School of Public Policy. A renowned ecologist and futurist, he spent 25 years at CSIRO researching human-environment interactions. He played a pivotal role in the UN's Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and led projects on Australia's social-ecological futures. Currently, he advises governments and works as Principal Consultant at EcoInsights, directing sustainability R&D at Australia21. He also serves as Director of Australia21 and facilitates strategic thinking workshops through Interaction Consulting.

His research focuses on integrating ecological science with long-term policy planning, emphasizing resilience, sustainability, and scenario-based decision-making. He contributed to the 2011 National State of the Environment Report as Deputy Chair and has authored influential publications on ecosystem services, adaptive governance, and future Australia scenarios. His work bridges environmental science, policy design, and public engagement.

Dr. Cork's publications analyze complex environmental challenges through interdisciplinary lenses, emphasizing holistic approaches to sustainability. His scenario-based projects address climate change adaptation, resource management, and equitable policy frameworks. He actively participates in public debates on environmental issues and applies his expertise in teaching and research at ANU.