Annelise Austin

Dr Anneliese Austin is a postdoctoral researcher with Bees for Sustainable Livelihoods at Southern Cross University. Her work is positioned at the crossroads of social science and agriculture, with a particular focus on international development, social inclusion, value-addition and the transformation of agricultural extension practices. Anneliese’s research, supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), spans Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Fiji.

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Driven by a commitment to gender-inclusive development, Anneliese explores how empowerment in agriculture can be grounded in context to create opportunities for women as trainers, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers, moving beyond technical skills to foster genuine agency, voice, and opportunity. Her fieldwork in Fiji and Papua New Guinea provides practical insights into measuring meaningful indicators of transformative empowerment, highlighting the value of locally informed approaches.

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At the heart of Anneliese’s work is a belief in resilient, inclusive agricultural systems led by empowered communities. She brings both academic expertise and real-world experience, sharing lessons learned and stories of change from the communities she works with.