Professor Karen Hussey was appointed chair of the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee, starting on October 9 2023.
Hussey was deputy director-general of the Queensland Department of Environment and Science and was the inaugural director at the University of Queensland’s Centre for Policy Futures.
In its first year, the centre developed capacity in three key areas:
- Science, technology and society
- Sustainable development
- Trade, foreign and security policy
A political scientist and economist by training, Professor Hussey’s research focuses on policies, institutions and governance arrangements for sustainability.
For more than a decade she has undertaken research and consultancies in the areas of water policy, climate mitigation and adaptation policy, coastal and reef governance, energy policy, natural disasters, the climate-energy-water nexus, and the links between international trade and environmental outcomes (especially in relation to agricultural trade).
She has a particular interest in the challenges and opportunities of making environmental policy in federal systems; and owing to her time in Brussels (2007 – 2010) enjoys an enduring interest in the EU–Australia relationship.
Before establishing the Centre for Policy Futures, Professor Hussey was Deputy Director at the Global Change Institute, a role she commenced in September 2015. Prior to joining UQ, Karen was an Associate Professor at the Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University.
She has a PhD in Political Science from the University of Melbourne, an M.Econ.Sc from University College Dublin, Ireland, and a BA (Economics and Politics) from the University of Melbourne.
Connect with Karen:
Publications
Book Chapters
Critchell, K., Bauer-Civiello, A., Benham, C., Berry, K., Eagle, L., Hamann, M., Hussey, K. and Ridgway, T. (2019). Plastic pollution in the coastal environment: current challenges and future solutions. Coasts and estuaries: the future. (pp. 595-609) edited by Eric Wolanski, John W. Day, Michael Elliott and Ramesh Ramachandran. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-814003-1.00034-4
Critchell, K., Bauer-Civiello, A., Benham, C., Berry, K., Eagle, L., Hamann, M., Hussey, K. and Ridgway, T. (2019). Plastic pollution in the coastal environment: current challenges and future solutions. Coasts and estuaries: the future. (pp. 595-609) edited by Eric Wolanski, John W. Day, Michael Elliott and Ramesh Ramachandran. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-814003-1.00034-4
Hussey, Karen and Tidemann, Carl (2017). Agriculture in the Australia–EU economic and trade relationship. Australia, the European Union and the New Trade Agenda. (pp. 97-120) edited by Annmarie Elijah, Don Kenyon, Karen Hussey and Pierre van der Eng. Canberra, ACT, Canberra: ANU Press.
Hussey, Karen (2015). Climate mitigation and waste management in the Asia-Pacific. Research handbook on climate change mitigation law. (pp. 407-425) edited by Geert Van Calster, Wim Vandenberghe and Leonie Reins. Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar. doi: 10.4337/9781849805834.00030
Hussey, Karen, Pittock, Jamie and Dovers, Stephen (2015). Future prospects in climate, energy and water research and policy. Climate, energy and water: managing trade-offs, seizing opportunities. (pp. 324-336) edited by Jamie Pittock, Karen Hussey and Stephen Dovers. New York, NY, United States: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9781139248792.019
Oliver, Greg and Hussey, Karen (2015). Cross-sectoral governance of the climate, energy and water sectors: a ‘Rubik's cube’ analysis of cross-sectoral co-ordination. Climate, energy and water: managing trade-offs, seizing opportunities. (pp. 172-197) edited by Jamie Pittock, Karen Hussey and Stephen Dovers. New York, United States: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9781139248792.011
Hussey, Karen (2014). Using markets to achieve environmental ends: reconciling social equity issues in contemporary water policy in Australia. International handbook on social policy and the environment. (pp. 300-326) edited by Tony Fitzpatrick. Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar. doi: 10.4337/9780857936134.00018
Hussey, Karen and Dovers, Stephen (2014). Uncertainty: risk, technology and the future. Routledge handbook of global environmental politics. (pp. 231-245) edited by Paul G. Harris. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780203799055
Hussey, Karen and Schram, Albert (2012). Climate change and the policy integration dividend: an open source policy dashboard to enhance energy, water and food policy coordination. Innovative Economic Policies for Climate Change Mitigation. (pp. 181-198) edited by Valentino Piana. Italy: Lulu.
Hussey, K. (2011). Water Energy. Berkshire encyclopedia of sustainability: Volume 4, Natural resources and sustainability. (pp. 1-20) Berkshire: Berkshire Publishing.
Hussey, K. (2010). Water Security. Berkshire encyclopedia of sustainability: Volume 3, The law and politics of sustainability. (pp. 498-504) edited by Klaus Bosselmann. Berkshire: Berkshire Publishing.
Hussey, Karen and Dovers, Stephen (2007). International perspectives on water policy and management: emerging principles, common challenges. Managing water for Australia: the social and institutional challenges. (pp. 141-154) edited by Karren Hussey and Steven Dovers. Collingwood, VIC, Australia: CSIRO Publishing.
Journal Articles
Hankamer, Ben, Pregelj, Lisette, O’Kane, Shane, Hussey, Karen and Hine, Damian (2023). Delivering impactful solutions for the bioeconomy. Trends in Plant Science, 28 (5), 583-596. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2023.02.007
Roles, John, Yarnold, Jennifer, Hussey, Karen and Hankamer, Ben (2021). Techno-economic evaluation of microalgae high-density liquid fuel production at 12 international locations. Biotechnology for Biofuels, 14 (1) 133, 1-19. doi: 10.1186/s13068-021-01972-4
Anthony, Kenneth R.N., Helmstedt, Kate J., Bay, Line K., Fidelman, Pedro, Hussey, Karen E., Lundgren, Petra, Mead, David, McLeod, Ian M., Mumby, Peter J., Newlands, Maxine, Schaffelke, Britta, Wilson, Kerrie A. and Hardisty, Paul E. (2020). Interventions to help coral reefs under global change—a complex decision challenge. PLoS One, 15 (8 August) e0236399, e0236399. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236399
Narain, Divya, Maron, Martine, Teo, Hoong Chen, Hussey, Karen and Lechner, Alex Mark (2020). Best-practice biodiversity safeguards for Belt and Road Initiative’s financiers. Nature Sustainability, 3 (8), 650-657. doi: 10.1038/s41893-020-0528-3
Roles, John, Yarnold, Jennifer, Wolf, Juliane, Stephens, Evan, Hussey, Karen and Hankamer, Ben (2020). Charting a development path to deliver cost competitive microalgae-based fuels. Algal Research, 45 101721, 101721. doi: 10.1016/j.algal.2019.101721
Fidelman, Pedro, McGrath, Chris, Newlands, Maxine, Dobbs, Kirstin, Jago, Belinda and Hussey, Karen (2019). Regulatory implications of coral reef restoration and adaptation under a changing climate. Environmental Science and Policy, 100, 221-229. doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2019.04.016
Mitter, Neena and Hussey, Karen (2019). Moving policy and regulation forward for nanotechnology applications in agriculture. Nature Nanotechnology, 14 (6), 508-510. doi: 10.1038/s41565-019-0464-4
Belcher, Andrea, Mangelsdorf, Marie, McDonald, Fiona, Curtis, Caitlin, Waddell, Nicola and Hussey, Karen (2019). What does Australia’s investment in genomics mean for public health?. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 43 (3), 204-206. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12887
He, Lulu, Aitchison, Jonathan C., Hussey, Karen and Chen, Yong (2019). Building new houses or long-term recovery?: a combination of quantitative and qualitative evidence from earthquake-displaced households in Sichuan, China. Habitat International, 83, 135-145. doi: 10.1016/j.habitatint.2018.12.002
Curtis, Caitlin, Hereward, James, Mangelsdorf, Marie, Hussey, Karen and Devereux, John (2018). Protecting trust in medical genetics in the new era of forensics. Genetics in Medicine, 21 (7), 1483-1485. doi: 10.1038/s41436-018-0396-7
Benham, Claudia F. and Hussey, Karen E. (2018). Mainstreaming deliberative principles in Environmental Impact Assessment: current practice and future prospects in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Environmental Science and Policy, 89, 176-183. doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2018.07.018
He, Lulu, Aitchison, Jonathan C., Hussey, Karen, Wei, Yongping and Lo, Alex (2018). Accumulation of vulnerabilities in the aftermath of the 2015 Nepal earthquake: household displacement, livelihood changes and recovery challenges. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 31, 68-75. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2018.04.017
Tidemann, Carl, Engerer, Nicholas, Franklin, Evan, Hussey, Karen and Pezzey, John C. V. (2018). Promoting behind-the-meter battery storage: options for more effective government support and regulation. International Journal of Technology Intelligence and Planning, 12 (1), 77-98. doi: 10.1504/IJTIP.2018.094407
Bouckaert, Frederick, Wei, Yongping, Hussey, Karen, Pittock, Jamie and Ison, Ray (2018). Improving the role of river basin organisations in sustainable river basin governance by linking social institutional capacity and basin biophysical capacity. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 33, 70-79. doi: 10.1016/j.cosust.2018.04.015
Steele, Wendy E., Hussey, Karen and Dovers, Stephen (2017). What’s critical about critical infrastructure?. Urban Policy and Research, 35 (1), 74-86. doi: 10.1080/08111146.2017.1282857
Grafton, R. Quentin, Mclindin, Mahala, Hussey, Karen, Wyrwoll, Paul, Wichelns, Dennis, Ringler, Claudia, Garrick, Dustin, Pittock, Jamie, Wheeler, Sarah, Orr, Stuart, Matthews, Nathanial, Ansink, Erik, Aureli, Alice, Connell, Daniel, De Stefano, Lucia, Dowsley, Kate, Farolfi, Stefano, Hall, Jim, Katic, Pamela, Lankford, Bruce, Leckie, Hannah, Mccartney, Matthew, Pohlner, Huw, Ratna, Nazmun, Rubarenzya, Mark Henry, Sai Raman, Shriman Narayan, Wheeler, Kevin and Williams, John (2016). Responding to global challenges in food, energy, environment and water: risks and options assessment for decision-making. Asia and the Pacific Policy Studies, 3 (2), 275-299. doi: 10.1002/app5.128
Hussey, Karen (2015). Linking government support and what we value: the case of environmentally-harmful subsidies. Australian Review of Public Affairs
Benham, C. F., Beavis, S. G. and Hussey, K. (2015). The cost of collaboration: how 'Caring for our Country' has shaped regional Natural Resource Management in Australia. Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 22 (3), 285-297. doi: 10.1080/14486563.2014.976847
Pittock, Jamie, Hussey, Karen and Dovers, Stephen (2015). Ecologically sustainable development in broader retrospect and prospect: evaluating national framework policies against climate adaptation imperatives. Australasian Journal of Environment Management, 22 (1), 62-76. doi: 10.1080/14486563.2014.999725
Hussey, Karen and Burnett, Peter (2014). Robust and resilient public policy: what does it look like and is it always desirable?. Advance, 13-14.
Sue, Keith, MacGill, Iain and Hussey, Karen (2014). Distributed energy storage in Australia: quantifying potential benefits, exposing institutional challenges. Energy Research and Social Science, 3 (C), 16-29. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2014.07.004
Wallis, Philip J., Ward, Michael B., Pittock, Jamie, Hussey, Karen, Bamsey, Howard, Denis, Amandine, Kenway, Steven J., King, Carey W., Mushtaq, Shahbaz, Retamal, Monique L. and Spies, Brian R. (2014). The water impacts of climate change mitigation measures. Climatic Change, 125 (2), 209-220. doi: 10.1007/s10584-014-1156-6
Benham, C. F., Hussey, K. and Beavis, S. (2014). Planning for Success: Collaborative water management and planning in an Australian river catchment. Australian Journal of Water Resources, 18 (1), 1-14. doi: 10.7158/W13-027.2014.18.1
Pittock, Jamie, Hussey, Karen and McGlennon, Samuel (2013). Australian Climate, Energy and Water Policies: conflicts and synergies. Australian Geographer, 44 (1), 3-22. doi: 10.1080/00049182.2013.765345
Hussey, K., Carter, N. and Reinhardt, W. (2013). The Transformation of the Energy Sector: Four implications for water governance. Australian Journal of Water Resources, 17 (2), 170-179. doi: 10.7158/W13-025.2013.17.2
Wenger, C., Hussey, K. and Pittock, J. (2012). The use of the 1:100 year standard in the United States: Insights for Australia?. Australian Environment Review (10), 337-346.
Henrikson, Christian Bugge, Hussey, Karen and Holm, Peter E. (2011). Exploiting soil management strategies for climate mitigation in the European Union: maximising 'win-win' solutions across policy regimes. Ecology and Society, 16 (4). doi: 10.5751/ES-04176-160422
Hussey, Karen and Kenyon, Donald (2011). Regulatory divergences: a barrier to trade, a potential source of trade disputes. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 65 (4), 381-393. doi: 10.1080/10357718.2011.586668
Hussey, Karen and Pittock, Jamie (2011). Managing the links between energy and water for a sustainable future. Ecology and Society, 17 (1). doi: 10.5751/ES-04641-170131
Hussey, Karen and Lightfoot, Simon (2010). A new era for EU-Australia relations? Sustainable development and the challenge of climate change as litmus test. The Round Table: the commonwealth journal of international affairs, 99 (410), 503-513. doi: 10.1080/00358533.2010.509952
Grafton, R. Q. and Hussey, K. (2007). Buying back the living Murray: at what price?. Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 14 (2), 74-81. doi: 10.1080/14486563.2007.9725153
Hussey, Karen and Dovers, Steve (2006). Trajectories in Australian water policy. Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education, 135 (1), 36-50. doi: 10.1111/j.1936-704X.2006.mp135001005.x
Hussey, Karen (2006). Sustainable water management in Australia, Europe and the United States. Environmental Law Reporter, 37, 59-63.
Connell, Daniel and Hussey, Karen (2006). Water Policy is not that simple. On Line Opinion
Conference Paper
Hussey, K. and Dovers, S. (2014). Managing critical infrastructure in a changing climate: risk, roles, responsibilities and politics. AFAC and Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Conference 2014, Wellington, New Zealand, 2-5 September 2014. Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC.
Newspaper Article
Curtis, Caitlin, Hereward, James, Devereux, John, Hussey, Karen and Mangelsdorf, Marie (2018, 12 19). Dramatic advances in forensics expose the need for genetic data legislation The Conversation
Research Reports
Yarnold, Jennifer, Hussey, Karen , Davey, Adam and Guster, Kirsty (2021). Policy Futures: A reform agenda. Policy Futures Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Hussey, Karen, Brolan, Claire, Hill, Peter, Hine, Damian, Williams, Owain, Stamms, Julia, McEwan, Chris, Yarnold, Jennifer and Hazell, Rachael (2019). The Pacific Community Futures Project: Ensuring SPC can meet the challenges of the 21st Century. Centre for Policy Futures: The University of Queensland.
Hussey, Karen, Yarnold, Jennifer, McEwan, Christopher, Maher, Ray, Henman, Paul, Radke, Amelia, Curtis, Caitlin, Fidelman, Pedro, Vickers, Claudia and Brolan, Claire (2019). Policy futures: regulating the new economy. Policy Futures Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Taylor, B., Hussey, K. , Fidelman, P. , Vella, K. , Maclean, K. , Newlands, M. , Ritchie, B. , Lockie, S. , Lacey, J. , McGrath, C. , Baresi, U. , Barber, M. and Koopman, D. (2019). Reef restoration and adaptation program: engagement and regulatory dimensions. Townsville, Australia: Australian Institute of Marine Science.
Fidelman, P., Newlands, M., McGrath, C. and Hussey, K. (2019). Reef restoration and adaptation program: regulatory framework. Townsville, QLD, Australia: Australian Institute of Marine Science.
Fidelman, P. , Newlands, M, Jago, B., Dobbs, K., Simpson, A. , Vella, K. and Hussey, K. (2019). Regulatory approvals for RRAP activities & developmental evaluation framework. Online: Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program.
Mead, D., Bay, L.K., Anthony, K., Hussey, K., Taylor, B., Fidelman, P., Mumby, P.J., Harrison, D., Gibbs, M.T., Daly, J. and Bryan, S. (2019). Reef restoration and adaptation program - research and development program report. Australia : Australian Institute of Marine Science.
Fidelman, P., Newlands, M., McGrath, C. and Hussey, K. (2019). Reef restoration and adaptation program: regulatory assessment findings. Townsville, QLD, Australia: Australian Institute of Marine Science.
Hall, Nina L., Hussey, K., Lestari, E., Pudjiastuti , T. N. and Wilson, L. (2017). Enhancing food security in Indonesia through the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The University of Queensland’s Global Change Institute Discussion Paper Series St Lucia QLD Australia: Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland.
Stock, Petra, Bourne, Greg and Hussey, Karen (2017). Renewables: powering Queensland's future. Potts Point, NSW, Australia: Climate Council of Australia.
Stock, Petra, Rice, Martin, Hughes, Lesley, Steffen, Will, Pearce, Alix, Hussey, Karen and Flannery, Tim (2017). Local leadership: tracking local government progress on climate change. Sydney, NSW, Australia: Climate Council of Australia.
Wenger, Caroline, Hussey, Karen and Pittock, Jamie (2013). Living with floods: Key lessons from Australia and abroad. National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility.
Hussey, Karen, Price, Richard, Pittock, Jamie, Livingstone, Jules, Dovers, Steve, Fisher, Doug, Hatfield-Dodds, Steve and Dodds, S. (2013). Statutory Frameworks, institutions and policy processes for climate adaptation: Do Australia's existing statutory frameworks, associated institutions and policy processes support or impede national adaptation planning and practice?. National Climate Change Adaption Research Facility.
McGlennon, S., Hussey, K. and Mackey, B. (2011). Rio+20: Towards sustainable development. ANU.
Duggan, Kate, Beavis, Sara, Connell, Daniel, Hussey, Karen and MacDonald, Ben (2008). Approaches to, and Challenges of, Managing Interception: A review of current measurement and management practices for the determination of run off-interception and the implications for the implementation of the National Water Initiative (NWI), Report to t. Canberra ACT Australia: National Water Commission.
Walstab, Anne, Teese, Richard and Hussey, Karen (2001). Changing workplace and occupational demands. Brisbane, Australia: Australian National Training Authority.
Generic Documents
Working Papers
Muriuki, Grace, Schubert, Lisa, Hussey, Karen and Roitman, Sonia (2017). Urban food systems - a renewed role for local governments in Australia. Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland.
Hall, Nina , Abal, Eva, Albert, Simon , Ali, Saleem , Barrington, Dani , Dean, Angela , Head, Brian, Hill, Peter, Hussey, Karen , Jagals, Paul , Muriuki, Grace , Pascoe, Mark , Reid, Simon , Richards, Russell, Robinson, Jacqueline, Ross, Helen , Shannon, Cindy , Torero Cullen, Jose and Willis, Jon (2016). The UN Sustainable Development Goals for water and sanitation: how should Australia respond within and beyond its borders?. Global Change Institute discussion paper: water for equity and wellbeing series. 2207-9602. Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane.
Hall, N., Richards, R., Barrington, D., Ross, H., Reid, S., Head, B., Jagals, P., Dean, A., Hussey, K., Abal, E., Ali, S., Boully, L. and Willis, J. (2016). Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals for water and beyond. Global Change Institute Discussion Paper: Water for Equity and Wellbeing Series. 2207-9602. Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane.