Biography
I have a background in urban and regional planning, with an MPhil in Planning, Growth, and Regeneration from the University of Cambridge (UK) and a BSc in Human Settlement Planning from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana). I earned my PhD from the University of Adelaide (Australia), where my research focused on governance frameworks for implementing green infrastructure to address freshwater challenges. My thesis, Governance of Waterways and Flood Adaptation: Implementing Sustainable Green Stormwater Infrastructure in Ghana, explored innovative solutions for urban flood resilience.
Since 2021, I have been part of the Environmental Governance Group within the Social and Geographical Sciences Department at the James Hutton Institute. I am currently working on the H2020 MERLIN project, which focuses on mainstreaming aquatic nature-based solutions across Europe by collaborating with industry and policy stakeholders. Additionally, I contribute to the Scottish Government’s RESAS-funded project, assessing community awareness and support for nature-based solutions in Scotland.
Looking ahead, I aim to integrate socio-ecological research with practical policy tools and foster mechanisms that galvanize stakeholder support for adopting nature-based solutions to address climate challenges and promote sustainable development.
Research
My primary research focuses on developing governance and transformation frameworks for restoring freshwater ecosystems through the implementation of nature-based solutions (NbS). The overarching questions driving my work include:
- How can governance frameworks be reimagined to integrate NbS into policy and practice, enhancing climate resilience while ensuring environmental justice across diverse socio-political contexts?
- What socio-economic, institutional, and cultural drivers influence the adoption of NbS, and how can barriers be transformed into enablers by learning from past examples and applying global standards?
- What transformative shifts are necessary in policy, finance, and land-use sectors to mainstream NbS in freshwater ecosystems, and how can cross-sectoral collaboration and justice-based approaches accelerate this transformation?
- How can NbS be designed to deliver equitable socio-economic benefits while maintaining robust biodiversity outcomes, and what frameworks ensure justice in balancing human and ecological needs?
- How can global standards for NbS be applied to learn from past successes and failures, ensuring that future projects achieve both environmental justice and long-term sustainability?
H2020 MERLIN Project
In the MERLIN project, my research focuses on innovative approaches to mainstreaming NbS across Europe, with a particular emphasis on how key economic sectors can adopt these solutions to address both climate and freshwater challenges. As a research leader in the project, I have undertaken several crucial roles:
Trends in EU Economic Sectors: I lead the exploration of how the peat extraction sector is affected by freshwater ecosystem degradation and its potential contribution to mainstreaming NbS as the sector phases out peat extraction. This includes a value chain analysis of horticultural peat to assess the sector’s environmental footprint and how industry standards can be strengthened to promote the adoption of NbS.
Stakeholder Engagement: I am responsible for designing and implementing stakeholder engagement frameworks, including questionnaires, virtual and face-to-face roundtables, to capture stakeholder motivations for integrating NbS. As the lead for the peat extraction sector roundtable, I facilitate discussions and guide the sector toward more sustainable practices, ensuring inclusive and effective NbS implementation.
Policy Analysis: I conducted in-depth policy analysis of the EU Climate Law and relevant Member State policies to assess their strengths and weaknesses. This research informs policy recommendations aimed at improving coherence and supporting NbS in European policy reform.
Frameworks for Transformative Change and Just Transitions: I developed a comprehensive framework highlighting the political, personal, and practical elements needed to transform EU economic sectors. This framework serves as a crucial guide for future research and practice in transforming socio-ecological systems through NbS.
Global Standards for NbS Implementation: I lead the development of reports and guidelines for applying the IUCN global standards for NbS, ensuring that policies and practices align with international best practices for the effective deployment of NbS.
AiM NbS Project
In the AiM NbS project, I lead research focused on understanding the factors influencing public awareness and support for scaling NbS. My roles include:
Understanding Public Perceptions: I design and analyze questionnaires to gauge public awareness of NbS and identify barriers that may prevent broader community involvement in these initiatives.
Providing Policy Recommendations: Based on the research findings, I will provide policy recommendations to the Scottish Government on how to enhance public engagement and foster community support for the scaling of NbS.
Global Wetlands Project
As the Principal Investigator at the James Hutton Institute for the Global Wetlands Project, my research focuses on the socio-economic and ecological roles of wetlands in poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation. The key research questions I explore include:
- Who are the communities living in and around wetlands, and how do wetlands contribute to reducing inequalities within these communities?
- What is the potential of wetlands to reduce poverty, and how many people in high-poverty regions rely on wetlands for their livelihoods?
- Which wetlands have the greatest potential for supporting poverty alleviation while promoting biodiversity and climate stability?
- What is the direct and indirect value of wetlands for poverty reduction, including ecosystem services such as flood protection, water quality improvement, and climate change mitigation?
- How do trade-offs between poverty reduction and biodiversity conservation manifest, and how can these trade-offs be managed?
Methods
In my research, I primarily employ qualitative methods to gain deeper insights into the socio-ecological dynamics and governance frameworks for nature-based solutions (NbS). My methods include:
Stakeholder interviews and roundtable discussions: I engage with policymakers, industry leaders, and community representatives to gather diverse perspectives on NbS implementation, motivations, and barriers. These interviews are crucial for understanding the practical challenges and opportunities in mainstreaming NbS.
Case study analysis: I conduct in-depth case studies to learn from past NbS implementations, exploring what has worked, what hasn’t, and how socio-ecological systems have been transformed. These case studies help to extract actionable lessons for future policy and practice.
Participatory research: I facilitate participatory workshops and focus groups, engaging stakeholders in co-developing strategies for implementing NbS. This approach ensures that the solutions proposed are grounded in local realities and stakeholder insights.
Policy analysis and document review: I undertake comprehensive reviews of policy frameworks, analyzing how they align with or hinder NbS goals. This includes examining EU policies and Member State regulations to identify gaps and propose reforms.
Questionnaire design and analysis: While I use questionnaires to complement qualitative data, my focus is on exploring attitudes and perceptions rather than statistical analysis. These questionnaires are designed to capture nuanced views on community and stakeholder engagement with NbS.
Past research
Before assuming my current role, I conducted applied and empirical research about water resources governance, green infrastructure planning and socio-ecological systems. I also worked as a Planning Consultant at Training, Research and Networking for Development Group in Ghana:
- Baseline studies for community water supply project. In this collaborative project funded by the Ghana Water Company Limited, mixed methods involving spatial mapping, desktop review, interviews and surveys were undertaken to provide reliable baseline indicators to improve water accessibility in low-income communities.
- Beneficiary assessment of Urban Water Projects. This project assessed the outcomes and expected socio-economic impacts of urban water projects across Ghana. The assessment was based on household surveys, focused group discussions and interviews.
- Assessment of community water supply and sanitation needs under Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) Water and Sanitation Project. Through policy analysis, spatial mapping and desktop review, water supply and sanitation needs of low-income urban areas were assessed. Thematic issues analysed include housing patterns, drainage and flooding, governance and socio-demographic structures.
I also have a passion for imparting knowledge to others. Consequently, I held casual tutoring positions in several subjects at the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia, Australia. Courses tutored include Research Dissertation, Designing research and Project appraisal.
