Dr. Milena Kiatkoski Kim

Biography

Milena Kiatkoski Kim is an adjunct research fellow and environmental social scientist whose broad expertise encompasses environmental governance, cross-cultural research, and the integration of science and policy practice. Originally from Brazil, she has worked with Indigenous traditional peoples and evaluated Honours Masters projects focused on marine protected areas aimed at achieving environmental and social goals. In 2006, Milena relocated to Spain and England to pursue an Erasmus Mundus Masters in Water and Coastal Management, and she has been living in Australia since 2009. Her doctoral research at James Cook University investigated the social and political factors influencing the uptake of environmental plans by potential users in Queensland, utilizing in-depth interviews with government officials, Traditional Owners, landholders, and environmentalists. Milena's post-PhD research has included the social and cultural values of dugongs and marine turtles in the Torres Strait, as well as the leadership roles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in managing marine resources in Fijian fishing villages. Currently, she is engaged in NESP Northern Australia projects that focus on participatory scenario planning in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, evaluating transdisciplinary environmental research outcomes. Her work is closely aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing contributions toward sustainable development.

Research Interests

Experience