Karin Gerhardt Email & Phone Number

My work background includes a mix of natural resource management roles, evaluation of Indigenous programs and participatory research. My current position at the Great Barrier Reef Foundation utilizes all of the skills and experience I have gained over my life time and applies them to an amazing program that is situated in co-design (with Traditional Owners). I spent 13 years at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority working with stakeholders, communities and Traditional Owners to help manage the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. This was an opportunity to learn and upskill in different management areas including environmental impact assessments for tourist operations, research permits and working with Traditional Owner groups on sea country management issues. I was also fortunate enough to be involved in the great work that the Indigenous Compliance Unit (ICU) do in partnership with Traditional Owner groups and Indigenous rangers. I have a specific interest in understanding the connections and values that people have with their country (especially sea country). The ways that knowledge (e.g. local, fisher, Indigenous, organisational) sits within different knowledge systems is important and I am actively working with First Nation peoples to articulate (or promote) its place in natural resource management, research and conservation practices. I enjoy doing research at the community level that fosters participation and ownership of projects. This also includes adopting more contemporary, participatory social science methods which are often used in pro-social research or human centered design. These interests and experiences have led me to pursue a PhD, where I have worked with the Yuku Baja Muliku Traditional Owners to develop the methods that can be used to describe the use and cultural values they have for sharks and rays and explore how, or what Indigenous knowledge of these species (including their uses and values) could be better recognised in science and management.