An internationally recognised researcher with expertise in climate change, disasters, and domestic and family violence, Professor Jennifer Boddy is Dean (Sustainable Development Goals Performance). In this role she is responsible for driving our staff and student engagement with, and performance against, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Find out about her journey into academia, her commitment to social and environmental justice, and what drives her passion to transform lives and create a future that benefits all.
What path led you to academia?
It was accidental. I always enjoyed studying and did well. After I graduated from my social work degree, and was working in the field, an opportunity arose to complete a PhD as part of a government funded study. Professors from my undergraduate studies reached out to me to see if I’d be interested in joining the research team as a PhD candidate. I was always keen to take on new opportunities, so I said yes. I loved working in a university and so when there was a vacancy in the team, I applied for a lecturing position. I’ve worked in universities ever since.
‘Griffith Sustainability is a team of six… whose sole responsibility is to advance sustainable development and enable the sustainability… ambitions of the University’
Can you tell us a bit about your role as Dean (Sustainable Development Goals Performance)?
I thoroughly enjoy my role as Dean (Sustainable Development Goals Performance). I’m conscious it is a privilege to be in such a position and consequently, I hope to make a meaningful difference while in this position. In my role, I lead Griffith Sustainability. Griffith Sustainability is a team of six full time staff whose sole responsibility is to advance sustainable development and enable the sustainability agenda and ambitions of the University. We do this through:
- Strategy, planning, implementation and reporting: This includes developing, coordinating implementation of, and reporting against the Sustainability Strategy 2023-2030, the Sustainability Operating Framework, and the associated plans, policies and systems. At the moment, we’re working on a climate action plan and an integrated water management plan. Last year, we published our university-wide strategy.
- Communications and engagement: This includes implementing initiatives and activities, including behaviour change programs, that promote community and whole-of-university engagement with, and awareness of, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our team runs Green Impact, Green Bites, SDG Files, SDG Games and more.
- Rankings: This includes supporting high performance in global sustainability rankings (including QS World University Rankings for Sustainability and the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings). In 2023, we ranked 72nd in the world in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings and 40th in the world in the QS World University Rankings Sustainability.
Image courtesy of the United Nations
Are there any research areas you’re keen to explore but haven’t had the opportunity yet?
My research focuses on climate change, disasters and domestic and family violence. I’d like to better understand, through research, how disasters arising from climate change exacerbate domestic and family violence and how we can intervene through communities to address this issue.
‘I… found it useful to search Griffith Experts to find others interested in research in similar topic areas. I’d reach out, arrange to have coffee, and hear more about their work’
What advice would you give to researchers just starting out?
One of the things I’ve found most helpful in my career is mentoring. I have always had more senior academics fulfil this role. At times I needed to initiate mentoring and be persistent in my requests for advice, but in my experience senior colleagues were always happy to help. I also found it useful to search Griffith Experts to find others interested in research in similar topic areas. I’d reach out, arrange to have coffee, and hear more about their work. And, I would reach out to people whose work I admired throughout my studies. These connections have resulted in publications and grant opportunities that might not otherwise have occurred had I not made time to meet. It has also helped ensure my career has been purposeful, interesting and rewarding.
Griffith is proud to produce world-class research contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals
