Centre for Policy Futures

Dr Sarah de Vries

Adjunct Research Fellow

Researcher biography

Dr Sarah de Vries is an experienced policy practitioner within the Department of Environment and Science, where she currently works with on the policy, legislative, First Nations and management aspects of World Heritage. Sarah has worked in various policy roles in the Queensland and Victorian Governments, relating to climate change, biodiversity, urban planning and community development.

With a background in design and planning, Sarah brings this lens to public policy challenges– seeking to optimise policy design for environmental and social outcomes. In 2021, Sarah completed her PhD at UQ, which focused on the role of local government in environmental advocacy. Her current research interests include the development of public policy responses for better managing human and environmental systems to achieve more circular economies. 

Publications

Book Chapter (1)
Journal Articles (2)
Thesis (1)

Book Chapter

de Vries, Sarah (2024). Local governments as policy shapers. Policy as practice: making sense of governing. (pp. 27-38) edited by H.K. Colebatch and Calista Castles. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.4324/9781003368564-4

Journal Articles

de Vries, Sarah (2021). The power of procedural policy tools at the local level: Australian local governments contributing to policy change for major projects. Policy and Society, 40 (3), 1-17. doi: 10.1080/14494035.2021.1955471
de Vries, Sarah (2020). Place identity and major project deliberation: the contribution of local governments in Australia. Australian Geographer, 51 (3), 1-21. doi: 10.1080/00049182.2020.1788269

Thesis

de Vries, Sarah Elise (2021). Local government agency and advocacy on major projects in Australia: facilitating active citizenship for environmental politics. PhD Thesis, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/68f31c4

Areas of research

Environment, Energy and Sustainability