Dr Lila Singh-Peterson

NameDr Lila Singh-Peterson
Email Addresslila.singh-peterson@unisq.edu.au
Job TitleSenior Lecturer (Climate Science)
QualificationsBSc Curtin, GDipGeoIS&RS Charles Sturt, BSc(Hons) Macquarie, FndUL&T USC, PhD UNSW
DepartmentSchool of Agriculture and Environmental Science
AffiliationsCentre for Heritage and Culture
Centre for Applied Climate Sciences
ORCIDhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6095-9569
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Biography

Dr Lila Singh-Peterson is a climate change professional who has worked in the public and private sector specifically in the fields of climate change policy, sustainability, climate adaptation and climate risk. More recently, over the last fourteen years, she has lectured and undertaken research examining the societal and cultural impacts of climate change – particularly in the fields of community resilience, rural development and food security. Lila has been awarded almost $3m in research funding as a principal or co-investigator. As a mixed methods researcher, Lila has worked across the South Pacific with the United Nations and AusAID and across Australia with multiple funding partners.

Employment

PositionOrganisationFromTo
Senior Lecturer, Climate ScienceSchool of Agriculture and Environmental Science2021

Expertise

Climate & Culture, Climate & Food Security, Sustainable Rural Development

Teaching

CLI6205 Climate & Sustainability

CLI6001 Climate Risk

ENV3301 Climate & Environmental Risk Assessment

Fields of Research

  • 410199. Climate change impacts and adaptation not elsewhere classified
  • 440104. Environmental anthropology
  • 440406. Rural community development

Professional Membership

Professional MembershipYear
Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand
Australian Anthropological Society
The Australian Sociological Association
BSc
Curtin
1996
GDipGeoIS&RS
Charles Sturt
2002
BSc(Hons)
Macquarie
2003
FndUL&T
USC
2017
PhD
UNSW
2007

Current Supervisions

Research TitleSupervisor TypeLevel of StudyCommenced
Building Climate Resilience: Island Ecology and Biodiversity for Ecosystem Services in a Smallholder Tropical Crop Production SystemAssociate SupervisorDoctoral2025
Cultural Heritage Research: Critical Heritage StudiesAssociate SupervisorDoctoral2022
Gaps in, and limitations of existing climate adaptation policies in Fiji and barriers to further changesAssociate SupervisorMasters2022
Project titleDetailsYear
Assisting knowledge brokers to respond to local threats of food insecurity attributable to a changing climate in rural Fiji.The Crawford Fund - International Engagement Award 2022
Cultural Impacts of Climate Change in Rural FijiInternal UniSQ PhD Completion Grant to complete PhD in Socio-Cultural Anthropology (Cultural Impacts of Climate Change in Rural Fiji). 2022
Integrating gender into agricultural development in the South Pacific.The Crawford Fund - International Engagement Award 2018
Improving the capacity of small famers to market a consistent supply of safe, quality food Social science consultant United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation 2016
Enhanced fruit production and postharvest handling systems for Fiji, Samoa, and TongaAustralian Centre for Agricultural Research (ACIAR) 2016
Bundaberg ResilienceBundaberg Regional Council 2016
A scoping study to identify strategies that enhance the resilience of the economic sectorSunshine Coast Council 2015
Community Resilience GympieGympie Regional Council 2014
Building Resilience by Empowering Communities: Addressing the Vulnerability of Food Supply Chains following Extreme Weather EventsFoundation of Regional Renewal and Resilience: Repair Restore Renew — QLD Flood & Cyclone Recovery Grant Program 2014
Developing a Systems Approach to Understanding Vulnerability and Resilience in Relation to Natural HazardsUSC Internal Research Grants and Local Government Assoc. of Qld 2014
Every State for Themselves? Learning from Cross-Border Regulatory Instruments to Support and Promote Climate Change Adaption in Australia National Climate Change Adaption Research Grants Program (Social, Economic and Institutional Dimensions)2012

Interrogating resilience: toward a typology to improve its operationalization

Davidson, Julie L., Jacobson, Chris, Lyth, Anna, Dedekorkut-Howes, Aysin, Baldwin, Claudia L., Ellison, Joanna C., Holbrook, Neil J., Howes, Michael J., Serrao-Neumann, Silvia, Singh-Peterson, Lila and Smith, Timothy F.. 2016. "Interrogating resilience: toward a typology to improve its operationalization." Ecology and Society: a journal of integrative science for resilience and sustainability. 21 (2). https://doi.org/10.5751/es-08450-210227

Investigating the “Thief in the Night”: The Reproduction and Erosion of Indigenous Forms of Social Resilience in Rural Fiji

Singh-Peterson, Lila and Iranacolaivalu, Manoa. 2024. "Investigating the “Thief in the Night”: The Reproduction and Erosion of Indigenous Forms of Social Resilience in Rural Fiji." Human Ecology. 52 (1), pp. 143-154. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-024-00483-8

The Changing Face of Mary documentary

Singh-Peterson, ila, Smit, Sondra, Lawrence, Geoff and Carter, Bill. 2015. The Changing Face of Mary documentary. Sippy Downs, Australia.

Integrating gender in agricultural development: learnings from South Pacific contexts

Singh-Peterson, Lila and Carnegie, Michelle. 2020. Integrating gender in agricultural development: learnings from South Pacific contexts. Bingley, United Kingdom. Emerald.

Transitions and Intersections between Communalism and Possessive Individualism in Rural Fiji: Repercussions for Responding to Climate Change

Singh-Peterson, Lila. 2023. "Transitions and Intersections between Communalism and Possessive Individualism in Rural Fiji: Repercussions for Responding to Climate Change." The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology. 24 (2), pp. 116-133. https://doi.org/10.1080/14442213.2022.2146739

Reflections from the South Pacific - navigating intersectionality and customary contexts to progress gender equality and gender equity

Singh-Peterson, Lila, Carnegie, Michelle, Bourke, R. Michael (Mike), Bue, Veronica, Kunatuba, Joanne Lee, Laqeretabua, Ana, Tano Moala, Temaleti, Pamphilon, Barbara and Vilisoni, Marilyn T. J.. 2020. "Reflections from the South Pacific - navigating intersectionality and customary contexts to progress gender equality and gender equity." Singh-Peterson, Lila and Carnegie, Michelle (ed.) Integrating Gender in Agricultural Development: Learnings from South Pacific Contexts. London, United Kingdom. Emerald. pp. 151-162

Insights into community vulnerability and resilience following natural disasters: perspectives with food retailers in Northern NSW, Australia

Singh-Peterson, Lila and Lawrence, Geoffrey. 2014. "Insights into community vulnerability and resilience following natural disasters: perspectives with food retailers in Northern NSW, Australia." Local Environment: the international journal of justice and sustainability. 20 (7), pp. 782-795. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2013.873396

Traditional knowledge for climate resilience in the Pacific Islands

Nunn, P.D., Kumar, R., Barrowman, H.M., Chambers, L.E., Fifita, L., Geogeo, D., Gomese, C., McGree, S., Rarai, A., Cheer, K., Esau, D., Fa'anunu, O., Fong, T., Lomavatu, M., Geraghty, P., Heorake, T., Kekeubata, E., Korovulavula, I., Kubunavanua, E., ..., Waiwai, M.. 2024. "Traditional knowledge for climate resilience in the Pacific Islands." WIREs Climate Change. 15 (4). https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.882

Deconstructing the concept of shared responsibility for disaster resilience: a Sunshine Coast case study, Australia

Singh-Peterson, Lila, Salmon, Paul, Baldwin, Claudia and Goode, Natassia. 2015. "Deconstructing the concept of shared responsibility for disaster resilience: a Sunshine Coast case study, Australia." Natural Hazards. 79 (2), pp. 755-774. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-015-1871-y

Food Pricing, Extreme Weather and the Rural/Urban Divide: A Case Study of Northern NSW, Australia

Singh-Peterson, Lila, Shoebridge, Amanda and Lawrence, Geoffrey. 2013. "Food Pricing, Extreme Weather and the Rural/Urban Divide: A Case Study of Northern NSW, Australia." Journal of Food Security. 1 (2), pp. 42-48. https://doi.org/10.12691/jfs-1-2-5

Learning from cross-border arrangements to support climate change adaptation in Australia

Steele, Wendy, Sporne, Ilva, Dale, Pat, Shearer, Scott, Singh-Peterson, Lila, Serrao-Neumann, Silvia, Crick, Florence, Choy, Darryl Low and Eslami-Andargoli, Leila. 2013. "Learning from cross-border arrangements to support climate change adaptation in Australia." Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 57 (5), pp. 682-703. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2013.763771

Indigenous entrepreneurship in Northern NSW, Australia

Shoebridge, Amanda, Buultjens, Jeremy and Singh-Peterson, Lila. 2012. "Indigenous entrepreneurship in Northern NSW, Australia." Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship. 17 (3), pp. 1-31. https://doi.org/10.1142/s1084946712500173

Translation and evaluation of the Baseline Resilience Indicators for Communities on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland Australia

Singh-Peterson, Lila, Salmon, Paul, Goode, Natassia and Gallina, John. 2014. "Translation and evaluation of the Baseline Resilience Indicators for Communities on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland Australia." International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 10 (Part A), pp. 116-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2014.07.004

Barriers to market for subsistence farmers in Fiji – A gendered perspective

Singh-Peterson, Lila and Iranacolaivalu, Manoa. 2018. "Barriers to market for subsistence farmers in Fiji – A gendered perspective." Journal of Rural Studies. 60, pp. 11-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2018.03.001

Integrating gender in agricultural development initiatives across the South Pacific: customs, values and intersections

Singh-Peterson, Lila and Carnegie, Michelle. 2020. "Integrating gender in agricultural development initiatives across the South Pacific: customs, values and intersections." Singh-Peterson, Lila and Carnegie, Michelle (ed.) Integrating Gender in Agricultural Development: Learnings from South Pacific Contexts. London, United Kingdom. Emerald. pp. 1-12

The changing face of the Mary Valley: considering the fairness, sustainability and resilience of the agricultural system in a peri-urban setting

Singh-Peterson, Lila and Lawrence, Geoffrey. 2016. "The changing face of the Mary Valley: considering the fairness, sustainability and resilience of the agricultural system in a peri-urban setting." Local Environment: the international journal of justice and sustainability. 22 (5), pp. 568-580. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2016.1233953

A multi-scalar, mixed methods framework for assessing rural communities’ capacity for resilience, adaptation, and transformation

Singh-Peterson, Lila and Underhill, Steven J. R. 2016. "A multi-scalar, mixed methods framework for assessing rural communities’ capacity for resilience, adaptation, and transformation." Community Development. 48 (1), pp. 127-140. https://doi.org/10.1080/15575330.2016.1250103

Planning for climate change across borders: insights from the Gold Coast (QLD) - Tweed (NSW) region

Singh-Peterson, L., Serrao-Neumann, S., Crick, F. and Sporne, I.. 2013. "Planning for climate change across borders: insights from the Gold Coast (QLD) - Tweed (NSW) region." Australian Planner. 50 (2), pp. 148-156. https://doi.org/10.1080/07293682.2013.776980

South Pacific contexts for gender equity scholarship and practice

Singh-Peterson, Lila. 2020. "South Pacific contexts for gender equity scholarship and practice." Singh-Peterson, Lila and Carnegie, Michelle (ed.) Integrating Gender in Agricultural Development: Learnings from South Pacific Contexts. London, United Kingdom. Emerald. pp. 163-173

Rapid appraisal of a potential community-based citrus project in Fiji

Singh-Peterson, Lila and Iranacolaivalu, Manoa. 2018. Rapid appraisal of a potential community-based citrus project in Fiji. Sunshine Coast, Australia. University of the Sunshine Coast.

Food security, remoteness and consolidation of supermarket distribution centres: Factors contributing to food pricing inequalities across Queensland, Australia

Singh-Peterson, Lila, Lieske, Scott, Underhill, Steven J. R. and Keys, Noni. 2016. "Food security, remoteness and consolidation of supermarket distribution centres: Factors contributing to food pricing inequalities across Queensland, Australia." Australian Geographer. 47 (1), pp. 89-102. https://doi.org/10.1080/00049182.2015.1093700

Positive SOI, negative PDO and spring tides as simple indicators of the potential for extreme coastal erosion in northern NSW

Proudfoot, M. and Singh Peterson, L.. 2011. "Positive SOI, negative PDO and spring tides as simple indicators of the potential for extreme coastal erosion in northern NSW." Australasian Journal of Environmental Management. 18 (3), pp. 170-181. https://doi.org/10.1080/14486563.2011.598257

Understanding Constraints and Enablers of Climate Risk Management Strategies: Evidence from Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Regional South India

Shantharaju, Anupama, Islam, Md Aminul, Kath, Jarrod M., Mushtaq, Shahbaz, Muniyappa, Arun and Singh-Peterson, Lila. 2024. "Understanding Constraints and Enablers of Climate Risk Management Strategies: Evidence from Smallholder Dairy Farmers in Regional South India." Sustainability. 16 (5). https://doi.org/10.3390/su16052018

The international 'gender agenda' in the context of the South Pacific and agricultural livelihoods

Carnegie, Michelle and Singh-Peterson, Lila. 2020. "The international 'gender agenda' in the context of the South Pacific and agricultural livelihoods." Singh-Peterson, Lila and Carnegie, Michelle (ed.) Integrating Gender in Agricultural Development: Learnings from South Pacific Contexts. London, United Kingdom. Emerald. pp. 33-55

An assessment of community disaster resilience for small, high-risk communities on the Sunshine Coast, Qld

Singh-Peterson, Lila, Salmon, Paul, Goode, Natassia and Gallina, John. 2015. "An assessment of community disaster resilience for small, high-risk communities on the Sunshine Coast, Qld." The Australian Journal of Emergency Management. 30 (1), pp. 35-40.

Australian Indigenous Entrepreneurship: Lessons for Success

Shoebridge, A., Buultjens, J. and Singh-Peterson, L.. 2011. "Australian Indigenous Entrepreneurship: Lessons for Success." 34th Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference: Sustainable Futures: Enterprising Landscapes and Communities (ISBE 2011). Sheffield, United Kingdom 09 - 10 Nov 2011 Sheffield, United Kingdom.

An evaluation of the Community Disaster Resilience Scorecard Toolkit by small, high-risk communities on the Sunshine Coast

Singh-Peterson, Lila, Salmon, Paul, Goode, Natassia and Gallina, John. 2016. "An evaluation of the Community Disaster Resilience Scorecard Toolkit by small, high-risk communities on the Sunshine Coast." Natural Hazards. 84 (1), pp. 489-505. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-016-2435-5

Quantifying Postharvest Loss and the Implication of Market-Based Decisions: A Case Study of Two Commercial Domestic Tomato Supply Chains in Queensland, Australia

McKenzie, Tara J., Singh-Peterson, Lila and Underhill, Steven J. R.. 2017. "Quantifying Postharvest Loss and the Implication of Market-Based Decisions: A Case Study of Two Commercial Domestic Tomato Supply Chains in Queensland, Australia." Horticulturae. 3 (3), pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae3030044

Horticultural postharvest loss in municipal fruit and vegetable markets in Samoa

Underhill, Steven J. R., Zhou, Yuchan, Sherzad, Shukrullah, Singh-Peterson, Lila and Tagoai, Semua Militini. 2017. "Horticultural postharvest loss in municipal fruit and vegetable markets in Samoa." Food Security: the science, sociology and economics of food production and access to food. 9 (6), pp. 1373-1383. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-017-0734-7

Improving non-communicable disease remediation outcomes in Tonga: the importance of domestic fruit production systems: an analysis

Underhill, Steven J. R. and Singh-Peterson, Lila. 2017. "Improving non-communicable disease remediation outcomes in Tonga: the importance of domestic fruit production systems: an analysis." Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics. 118 (1), pp. 91-103.

Modelling secondary organic aerosol formation: from chemical mechanistic modelling to empirical modelling

Singh-Peterson, Lila. 2007. Modelling secondary organic aerosol formation: from chemical mechanistic modelling to empirical modelling. PhD Thesis Doctor of Philosophy. University of New South Wales.

Upward reflections of top-down gendered institutions - a community development case study from Tonga

Singh-Peterson, Lila, Tano Moala, Temaleti and Hamani, Luhia Kanumi (Louna). 2020. "Upward reflections of top-down gendered institutions - a community development case study from Tonga." Singh-Peterson, Lila and Carnegie, Michelle (ed.) Integrating Gender in Agricultural Development: Learnings from South Pacific Contexts. London, United Kingdom. Emerald. pp. 91-104

Supporting a Diverse and Sustainable Fruit Industry in Tonga

Singh-Peterson, Lila, Halavatau, Siosiua and Underhill, Steven. 2015. Supporting a Diverse and Sustainable Fruit Industry in Tonga. Sunshine Coast, Australia. University of the Sunshine Coast.

ACIAR Final Report Supporting a diverse and sustainable fruit tree industry in Tonga HORT/2014/090

Underhill, Steven, Singh-Peterson, Lila, Na'ati, Elisiva and Halavatau, Siosiua. 2014. ACIAR Final Report Supporting a diverse and sustainable fruit tree industry in Tonga HORT/2014/090. Sunshine Coast, Australia. University of the Sunshine Coast.

Re-framing community disaster resilience: from a systems perspective: Sunshine Coast case study report

Singh-Peterson, L., Baldwin, C., Dickinson, M, Bohnen, S., Woolcock, G., Malcom, F., Salmon, P., Goode, N. and Gallina, J.. 2014. Re-framing community disaster resilience: from a systems perspective: Sunshine Coast case study report. Sippy downs, Australia. University of the Sunshine Coast.

Controversies in Local Economic Development: Stories, Strategies, Solutions by Martin Perry

Singh-Peterson, Lila. 2011. "Controversies in Local Economic Development: Stories, Strategies, Solutions by Martin Perry." Journal of Economic and Social Policy. 14 (3).

Learning from cross-border mechanisms to support climate change adaptation in Australia: final report

Steele, Wendy, Eslami-Andargoli, Leila, Crick, Florence, Serrao-Neumann, Silvia, Singh-Peterson, Lila, Dale, Pat, Choy, Darryl Low, Sporne, Ilva, Shearer, Scott and Lotti, Anne-Sophie. 2013. Learning from cross-border mechanisms to support climate change adaptation in Australia: final report. Gold Coast, Australia. National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility.

Diversifying rural economies: Identifying factors that incentivise or discourage primary producers from engaging in emerging carbon and environmental offsetting markets in Queensland, Australia

Singh-Peterson, Lila, Drysdale, Andrew, De Daunton, Fynn, Ham, Saleena and Lyons, Ben. 2024. "Diversifying rural economies: Identifying factors that incentivise or discourage primary producers from engaging in emerging carbon and environmental offsetting markets in Queensland, Australia." Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand 2024 Impact Assessment Symposium. Brisbane, Australia 26 - 27 Aug 2024 Australia.

Prediction of Sea Level Using Double Data Decomposition and Hybrid Deep Learning Model for Northern Territory, Australia

Raj, Nawin, Murali, Jaishukh, Singh-Peterson, Lila and Downs, Nathan. 2024. "Prediction of Sea Level Using Double Data Decomposition and Hybrid Deep Learning Model for Northern Territory, Australia." Mathematics. 12 (15). https://doi.org/10.3390/math12152376

From conceptualization to practice: enhancing economic resilience at the local government level in Australia

Singh-Peterson, Lila, Kassulke, Anna and Raj, Nawin. 2024. "From conceptualization to practice: enhancing economic resilience at the local government level in Australia." Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning. 26 (3), pp. 295-310. https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2024.2334709