Zoe Wang

Zoe Wang is a Senior Lecturer in Development Studies and Convener of the Master of Global Development program at James Cook University (JCU). She holds a PhD in Human Geography from the University of Sydney, a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University, and a Bachelor of Science from National Taiwan University. Her research focuses on environmental governance, agrarian change, and rural development, employing a political ecology framework. She currently leads an ARC Discovery Project on high-value horticulture in coastal Australia and has published in journals like Land Use Policy and World Development.

Education:

• PhD in Human Geography, University of Sydney
• Master of Environmental Management, Yale University
• Bachelor of Science, National Taiwan University

Research Interests: Zoe’s work examines the politics of environmental and development interventions, including indigenous resource governance, participatory approaches, and the impact of NGOs, policies, and markets on natural resource use. Her geographical focus spans China, Taiwan, and Australia. Recent projects include analyzing global production networks in Australian horticulture and studying coffee value chains in China’s borderlands.

Awards and Grants: Zoe has received awards such as the Early Career Researcher Grant (2023) and the Goldman International Environmental Fellowship (2003). She actively engages in media discussions on climate policy, migrant labor, and environmental issues, including appearances on ABC News and Deutsche Welle.

Consultancy and Outreach: She advises the FNQ Taiwanese Emergency Assistance Association on migrant community outreach and has served as a peer reviewer for the ARC Discovery Project and DECRA grants. Zoe also reviews for journals like Geoforum and Sustainability.

Labs/Teams: Her research aligns with interdisciplinary initiatives at JCU, focusing on sustainable development and environmental policy. She collaborates with global scholars on projects addressing agrarian reforms and transnational labor dynamics.