Dr Ruth O’Connor is an engagement and evaluation specialist at the Institute for Infrastructure in Society where she is working with Industry partners to develop indicators for best practice infrastructure engagement. Ruth’s research interests revolve around participatory processes undertaken to address complex problems. She is particularly interested in how we can meaningfully evaluate these processes in ways that capture diverse values and enable learning and improvement. Ruth is motivated by the belief that complex problems can be solved by people with different knowledge and experience working together.

Her PhD research at the ANU Centre for the Public Awareness of Science focussed on two national engagement programs: An Australian case involving environmental managers integrating climate change research into regional planning, and a South African case involving co-production of national river conservation planning by different levels of government and researchers. Before joining Crawford, Ruth worked with researchers from the ANU Fenner School of Environment & Society on developing indicators of research impact and she was a Knowledge Exchange Specialist at the ANU Climate Change Institute.

Ruth started her career as a freshwater scientist with Sydney Water and has worked with other water utilities, governments and communities as a researcher and engagement practitioner.

Qualifications and Expertise

Doctor of Philosophy, ANU Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, July 2019
Thesis: Frameworks for evaluating decision-maker engagement with science (graduated July 2019) 

Master of Applied Science, University of Canberra
Thesis: ‘An assessment of sampling strategies and analytical methods to monitor stream health – Kedumba catchment, Blue Mountains.’

Bachelor of Applied Science, Canberra College of Advanced Education
Majors: Vegetation and Wildlife Management, and Land Management