Lucy Holmes McHugh is a recent graduate in social science who currently holds a Postdoctoral

Research Fellowship at The University of Melbourne. Her research combines political science,

public policy, and geography to focus on how innovations in governance and policy systems can

achieve more sustainable and just outcomes in climate-driven regional transitions. She has

received recognition for her work, including a University Medal for excellence for her Masters

research in sustainability, and a competitive Fulbright scholarship to support international

research collaboration for her PhD at the University of Michigan, USA.

Her PhD thesis investigated multi-level governance and policy in the context of climate change

for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage site. During this time, she undertook stakeholder

interviews to understand how perspectives had shifted as a response to the climate crisis facing

the Reef. Through this research she identified climate transition pathways and regional

governance initiatives needed to navigate them effectively. This research resulted in publications

in both high impact and practitioner-oriented journals: WIRES Climate Change; npj

Climate Action; and Conservation Biology Policy and Practice (forthcoming).

Her current research position at The University of Melbourne is supported by the Governing

Ocean Change Science for Nature and People Partnership, a collaboration between scientists, the

Nature Conservancy, the Wildlife Conservation Society, governments, and stakeholders to co-

develop governance tools to expedite sustainability transitions in the context of climate change.

Lucy's overarching goal is to leverage research and partnerships to develop governance and

policy innovations that can fast-track equitable climate transitions in Australia and globally.

Lucy Holmes McHugh