Zoe Wang

Zoe is a Lecturer in Environment and Development.  Currently she serves as the convener of Master of Global Development and co-convener of Master of Public Health-Master of Global Development. She holds a PhD in Human Geography from the University of Sydney, a Master in Environmental Management from Yale University and a Bachelor in Science from National Taiwan University. Zoe is an interdisciplinary expert on environmental governance, agrarian change and rural development, with a strong focus on community-based and participatory approach. Her research concerns the politics of environment and development, such as indigenous resource governance, participation and empowerment. The geographical focus of her research has been Asia-Pacific region including China, Taiwan and Australia. Currently she is a Chief Investigator of an ARC Discovery Project "High-value horticulture and global production networks in coastal Australia."

Zoe's research is grounded in extensive fieldwork and is primarily framed through a political ecology lens. Throughout her research career, she has focused on examining the impact of various environmental, development, and agrarian interventions—such as NGO projects, government policies, and commodity markets—on natural resource use. Her work has been published in high-ranked journal such as Land Use Policy and World Development.

Prior to joining JCU, her professional experience included Research Fellow at University of Melbourne and Visiting Fellow at City University of Hong Kong. She has taught subjects such as Environmental and Resource Management, Global Environmental Politics, Environmental Policy and Governance, Environmental and Regional Planning, Research Methods on Global Development.

Zoe welcomes prospective PhD students to work on topics related to the political and social aspects of environmental governance, agrarian change and rural development. Scholarship funding is available through James Cook University Postgraduate Research Scholarships.

Media Engagement (selected)

1.ABC News on climate change talk (24/11/2022). https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-24/us-china-resume-climate-change-talks-what-could-it-mean/101682242

2.Channel 7 TV Cairns on temporary migrant farm workers (21/09/2022) https://mobile.twitter.com/7NewsCairns/status/1572503510553620485

3.ABC News on agriculture labourer (16/09/2022) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-16/pick-paradise-campaign-to-lure-ag-workers-to-north-queensland/101441838

4. ABC Rural Report temporary migrant farm workers (20/08/2022) https://www.abc.net.au/farnorth/programs/rural-report/far-north-and-north-queensland-rural-report/14018416

5.DW on Great Barrier Reef (26/06/2021) https://p.dw.com/p/3vahL

Environmental governance; Environmental politics; Natural resource management; Agrarian change; Indigenous knowledge; Rural development