Dr. Ruth O Connor

Biography

Ruth O’Connor is an engagement evaluation specialist at the Institute for Infrastructure Society, where she collaborates with industry partners to develop indicators for practical infrastructure engagement. Her research focuses on participatory processes aimed at addressing complex problems, with a keen interest in evaluating these processes to meaningfully capture diverse values that enable learning and improvement. Ruth is driven by the belief that complex problems can be solved by harnessing people’s knowledge and experience through collaborative work. Her PhD research at the Australian National University (ANU) Centre for the Public Awareness of Science examined national engagement programs through two case studies: one related to environmental managers integrating climate change research into regional planning in Australia, and another involving the co-production of national river conservation plans at various government levels in South Africa. Before joining the Crawford School, Ruth contributed to the development of research impact indicators at ANU’s Fenner School of Environment & Society and served as a Knowledge Exchange Specialist at the ANU Climate Change Institute. Ruth began her career as a freshwater scientist for Sydney Water, where she engaged with water utilities, governments, and communities as a researcher and practitioner in engagement.

Research Interests