Researcher biography
Dr Kathy Witt is an internationally-recognised senior social science researcher and currently an Advance Queensland Fellow at the UQ Centre for Natural Gas. Previously working in the areas of environmental and community change for the Queensland Government, Kathy went on to receive her PhD in 2013 before joining UQ-CNG's Social Performance research team in 2014. Kathy specialises in the social dimensions of land use, natural resource management and energy technologies and transition, particularly in relation to sustainable regional development.
With degrees in Environmental Management (Natural and Rural Systems Management)/ Sociology from UQ's Gatton and St Lucia campuses, she is an inter-disciplinary researcher fluent in both environmental and social sciences. She applies 'socio-ecological systems' approaches to her research.
Leading the UQ-CNG Social Performance team, Kathy currently studies the cumulative social and economic effects of energy development for local communities, and non-technical risks. Her recent work focusses on social acceptance and 'social licence' across a range of industries and technologies, including the cattle industries, future fuels, hydrogen, carbon capture, use & storage and utility-scale renewable energy. Through her work Kathy has fostered mutually trusting and enduring relationships with different stakeholders including in the agricultural and energy sectors. She has collated and analysed longitudinal data on town and regional social and economic indicators alongside community members' own interpretations of lived experience.
While currently in a research-focussed position, Kathy has previously lectured in Effective Stakeholder Engagement, Environment and Community, Global Challenges in Agriculture, Non-Technical Risks and Sustainable Energy.
Kathy's excellent understanding of participatory research methods and ability to apply approaches from different academic specialisations, is combined with an ability to engage with diverse stakeholder groups.
Publications
Book Chapters
Witt, Katherine, Cheung, Tracy and Simpson, Jonathan (2023). Towards an integrated approach to community resilience: ten years on. Rural development for sustainable social-ecological systems: putting communities first. (pp. 327-354) edited by Claudia Baldwin and Séverine van Bommel. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-34225-7_17
Ashworth, Peta and Witt, Kathy (2023). “Psychic numbing” and the environment: is this leading to unsustainable energy outcomes in Australia?. Energy democracies for sustainable futures. (pp. 279-283) edited by Majia Nadesan, Martin Pasqualetti and Jennifer Keahey. London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-822796-1.00029-2
Ross, Helen, Rissik, David, Jones, Natalie, Witt, Katherine, Pinner, Breanna and Shaw, Sylvie (2019). Managing for the multiple uses and values of Moreton Bay and its catchments. Moreton Bay Quandamooka and catchment: past, present and future. (pp. 563-578) edited by Ian R. Tibbetts, Peter C. Rothlisberg, David T. Neil, Tamara A. Homburg, David T. Brewer and Angela H. Arthington. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Moreton Bay Foundation.
Pinner, Breanna, Ross, Helen, Jones, Natalie, Babidge, Sally, Shaw, Sylvie, Witt, Katherine and Rissik, David (2019). A custodial ethic: Indigenous values towards water in Moreton Bay and catchments. Moreton Bay Quandamooka and catchment: past, present and future. (pp. 29-44) edited by Ian R. Tibbetts, Peter C. Rothlisberg, David T. Neil, Tamara A. Homburg, David T. Brewer and Angela H. Arthington. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Moreton Bay Foundation.
Jacquet, Jeffrey B., Witt, Katherine, Rifkin, William and Haggerty, Julia H. (2018). A complex adaptive system or just a tangled mess?: property rights and shale gas governance in Australia and the US. Governing shale gas: development, citizen participation and decision making in the US, Canada, Australia and Europe. (pp. 37-50) edited by John Whitton, Matthew Cotton, Ioan M. Charnley-Parry and Kathryn Brasier. New York, NY USA: Taylor & Francis. doi: 10.4324/9781315637280-3
Jacquet, Jeffrey, Witt, Katherine and Rikfin, William (2018). A complex adaptive system or just a tangled mess?. Governing shale gas: development, citizen participation and decision making in the US, Canada, Australia and Europe. (pp. 37-50) edited by John Whitton, Matthew Cotton and Ioan M. Charnley-Parry. London, United Kingdom: Routledge.
Journal Articles
Witt, Katherine (2025). Session 9. Oral Presentation for: Queensland’s coal seam gas (CSG) projects – hard won lessons relevant to regional development. Australian Energy Producers Journal, 65 (4) EP24496. doi: 10.1071/ep24496
Witt, Katherine, Dev, Debashish and Kambo, Amrita (2025). Local communities’ responses to CSG salt and brine management options in Queensland’s Surat Basin. Australian Energy Producers Journal, 65 (2) EP24050, 1-4. doi: 10.1071/ep24050
Aleixo, Afonso, Close, David, Witt, Katherine Jane and Heynen, Anthony Paul (2025). Assessing the contribution of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives of the oil and gas sector to sustainable development in Timor-Leste. Australian Energy Producers Journal, 65 (2) EP24083, 1-4. doi: 10.1071/ep24083
Svobodova, Kamila, Everingham, Jo-Anne, Mackenzie, Sarah and Witt, Kathy (2025). Designing Community Participation for Mine Closure and Social Transition. Sustainable Development sd.70176. doi: 10.1002/sd.70176
Shalsi, Sarah, Svobodova, Kamila, Corder, Glen and Witt, Katherine (2024). Values-driven water management in coal seam gas industries. The Extractive Industries and Society, 20 101566. doi: 10.1016/j.exis.2024.101566
Kambo, Amrita, Kannampuzha, Leo, Arratia-Solar, Andrea and Witt, Katherine (2024). Uncovering an emerging policy direction for Australian energy and future fuels using a “participatory decision-making” framework. Frontiers in Sustainable Energy Policy, 3 1400747, 1-15. doi: 10.3389/fsuep.2024.1400747
Wade, Belinda, Bharadwaj, Bishal, Kambo, Amrita, Jensen, Mikayla, Witt, Katherine, Weder, Franzisca, Phelan, Anna (Anya) and Ashworth, Peta (2024). Stakeholder engagement: the role of facilitators and gender in ‘opening up’ conversations and enabling participation. Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 31 (1), 7-39. doi: 10.1080/14486563.2023.2298195
Bharadwaj, Bishal, Kambo, Amrita, Witt, Kathy, Wade, Belinda, Weder, Franzisca and Ashworth, Peta (2024). Shorter message, stronger framing increases societal acceptance for hydrogen. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 59, 880-888. doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.02.024
Verrier, Brunilde, Smith, Carl, Yahyaei, Mohsen, Ziemski, Marcin, Forbes, Gordon, Witt, Kathy and Azadi, Mehdi (2021). Beyond the social license to operate: whole system approaches for a socially responsible mining industry. Energy Research and Social Science, 83 102343, 102343. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2021.102343
Witt, G. B., Althor, G., Colvin, R. M., Witt, K. J., Gillespie, N., McCrea, R., Lacey, J. and Faulkner, T. (2021). How environmental values influence trust and beliefs about societal oversight and need for regulation of the Australian cattle industry. Environmental Research Letters, 16 (3) 034006, 1-8. doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/abe1f7
Witt, Katherine, Ferguson, Michele and Ashworth, Peta (2019). Understanding the public’s response towards ‘enhanced water recovery’ in the Great Artesian Basin (Australia) using the carbon capture and storage process. Hydrogeology Journal, 28 (1), 427-437. doi: 10.1007/s10040-019-02066-0
Ashworth, Peta, Sun, Yan, Ferguson, Michele, Witt, Katherine and She, Shengxiang (2019). Comparing how the public perceive CCS across Australia and China. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 86, 125-133. doi: 10.1016/j.ijggc.2019.04.008
Colvin, R. M., Witt, G. Bradd, Lacey, Justine and Witt, Kathy (2019). The community cost of consultation: Characterising the qualitative social impacts of a wind energy development that failed to proceed in Tasmania, Australia. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 77, 40-48. doi: 10.1016/j.eiar.2019.03.007
Witt, Katherine, Ross, Helen, Shaw, Sylvie, Jones, Natalie, Rissik, David and Pinner, Breanna (2019). How do Local People Value Rural Waterways? A Study in the Upper Catchments of South East Queensland’s Rivers. Society & Natural Resources, 32 (6), 638-656. doi: 10.1080/08941920.2019.1578910
Ross, Helen, Witt, Katherine and Jones, Natalie A (2018). Stephen Kellert’s development and contribution of relational values in social-ecological systems. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 35, 46-53. doi: 10.1016/j.cosust.2018.10.007
Witt, Katherine, Whitton, John and Rifkin, Will (2018). Is the gas industry a good neighbour? A comparison of UK and Australia experiences in terms of procedural fairness and distributive justice. Extractive Industries and Society, 5 (4), 547-556. doi: 10.1016/j.exis.2018.09.010
Witt, Katherine, Kelemen, Stephen, Schultz, Helen and Vivoda, Vlado (2018). Industry and government responses to unconventional gas development in Australia. The Extractive Industries and Society, 5 (4), 422-426. doi: 10.1016/j.exis.2018.09.012
Banhalmi-Zakar, Zsuzsa, Gronow, Claire, Wilkinson, Lachlan, Jenkins, Bryan, Pope, Jenny, Squires, Geraldine, Witt, Kathy, Williams, Galina and Womersley, Jon (2018). Evolution or revolution: where next for impact assessment?. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 36 (6), 506-515. doi: 10.1080/14615517.2018.1516846
Lechner, Alex M., McIntyre, Neil, Witt, Katherine, Raymond, Christopher M., Arnold, Sven, Scott, Margaretha and Rifkin, Will (2017). Challenges of integrated modelling in mining regions to address social, environmental and economic impacts. Environmental Modelling and Software, 93, 268-281. doi: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.03.020
Jones, Natalie A., Ross, Helen, Shaw, Sylvie, Witt, Katherine, Pinner, Breanna and Rissik, David (2016). Values towards waterways in south east Queensland: why people care. Marine Policy, 71, 121-131. doi: 10.1016/j.marpol.2016.05.027
Towler, Brian, Firouzi, Mahshid, Underschultz, James, Rifkin, Will, Garnett, Andrew, Schultz, Helen, Esterle, Joan, Tyson, Stephen and Witt, Katherine (2016). An overview of the coal seam gas developments in Queensland. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 31, 249-271. doi: 10.1016/j.jngse.2016.02.040
Jones, Natalie, Shaw, Sylvie, Ross, Helen, Witt, Katherine and Pinner, Breanna (2016). The study of human values in understanding and managing social-ecological systems. Ecology and Society, 21 (1) 15. doi: 10.5751/ES-07977-210115
Rifkin, Will, Everingham, Jo-Anne, Witt, Kathy and Uhlmann, Vikki (2015). Lessons CSG operators can learn from Southern Queensland towns. Gas Today, Autumn (31), 76-79.
Witt, G. B., Witt, K. J., Carter, R. W. and Gordon, A. (2009). Exploring the 'city-bush divide': what do urban people really think of farmers and rural land management?. Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 16 (3), 168-180. doi: 10.1080/14486563.2009.9725233
Conference Papers
Kambo, Amrita and Witt, Kathy (2024). Building a Social License to Operate for Renewable Gas: Reflections and lessons learnt since 2020. State of Energy Research Conference 2024, Perth, WA, Australia, 14-16 February 2024.
Kambo, Amrita, Arratia-Solar, Andrea, Bharadwaj, Bishal, Witt, Katherine, Wade, Belinda, Phelan, Anna (Anya) and Ashworth, Peta (2023). Social acceptance of hydrogen in Australia – key findings from a deliberative engagement process with five citizens’ panels. Australian Hydrogen Research Conference, AHRC2023, Canberra, ACT Australia, 8-10 February 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.4478030
Ashworth, Peta, Wade, Belinda, Witt, Kathy and Clarke, Eliott (2021). A chicken and egg situation: enhancing emergency service workers’ knowledge of hydrogen. International Conference on Hydrogen Safety 2021, Edinburgh, Scotland, 21-24 September 2021.
Witt, Katherine and Garnett, Andrew (2020). Unconventional gas development in Queensland, Australia: How well does it align with the ‘Golden rules’ of gas?. SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition 2020, APOG 2020, Online, 17 - 19 November 2020. Richardson, TX United States: Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/202448-ms
Witt, Katherine and Simpson, Jonathan (2019). Monitoring socio-economic changes in small towns affected by large scale CSG-LNG development. SPE/AAPG/SEG Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 18 – 19 November 2019. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Unconventional Resources Technology Conference (URTEC). doi: 10.15530/AP-URTEC-2019-198314
Ashworth, Peta, Sun, Yan, Ferguson, Michele, Witt, Katherine and She, Shengxiang (2018). Comparing how the public perceive CCS across Australia and China. International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas, IEAGHG.
Witt, Katherine, Rifkin, Will, Mottee, Lara and Everingham, Jo-Anne (2017). Cumulative Impact Assessment is not so SIMPle. IAIA17 Conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment, Montreal, Canada, 4-7 April 2017. Montreal, Canada: International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA).
Rifkin, W., Witt, K., Everingham, J. and Uhlmann, V. (2015). Benefits and burdens for rural towns from Queensland's onshore gas development. SPE Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Conference and Exhibition, Brisbane, Australia, 9-11 November 2015. Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi: 10.2118/176941-ms
Thesis
Witt, Katherine Jane (2012). Understanding responsibility in land ownership and natural resource management. PhD Thesis, School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, The University of Queensland.
Department Technical Report
Research Reports
Witt, Kathy and Dev, Debashish (2025). Leveraging the lessons from the development of the Queensland onshore gas industry. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Gas and Energy Transition Research Centre, The University of Queensland.
Witt, Katherine and Kambo, Amrita (2024). A social licence and acceptance of future fuels. Wollongong, NSW, Australia: Future Fuels CRC.
Kambo, Amrita, Arratia-Solar, Andrea and Witt, Katherine (2023). Assessing public and end-user perceptions: risks of renewable gases such as hydrogen. Wollongong, NSW, Australia: Future Fuels CRC.
Kambo, Amrita, Bharadwaj, Bishal, Arratia-Solar, Andrea, Witt, Katherine, Phelan, Anya (Anna) and Ashworth, Peta (2023). Citizens’ panels on the role of future fuels in a low carbon future energy mix in Australia: WA and National Youth. Wollongong, NSW, Australia: Future Fuels CRC.
Kambo, Amrita, Arratia-Solar, Andrea, Bharadwaj, Bishal, Witt, Katherine and Ashworth, Peta (2023). Final report: Citizens’ panels on the role of future fuels in a low-carbon future energy mix in Australia . Wollongong, NSW, Australia: Future Fuels CRC.
Witt, K, Keenan, J, Lewis, G, Fredericks, B, Holcombe, S, Jezierski, P, Jessup, L and Zhang, H (2023). Social, Cultural and Economic (SCE) studies of the Strategic Regional Environment and Baseline Assessment (SREBA) for the Beetaloo Sub-basin
https://territorystories.nt.gov.au/10070/903893. Darwin, NT, Australia: Northern Territory Government.
Kambo, Amrita , Witt, Kathy , Wade, Belinda , Bharadwaj, Bishal and Ashworth, Peta (2022). Report on engagement and workshops with policy makers. Windang, NSW, Australia: Future Fuels CRC.
Ashworth, Peta, Petrova, Svetla, Witt, Kathy, Wade, Belinda, Bharadwaj, Bishal, Clarke, Elliot, Meissner, Katie and Kambo, Amrita (2021). Citizens’ panels on the role of future fuels in a low-carbon future energy mix in Australia. Wollongong, NSW Australia: Future Fuels CRC.
Martin, Victoria, Ashworth, Peta, Petrova, Svetla, Wade, Belinda and Witt, Kathy (2021). Public perceptions of hydrogen: 2021 National Survey results. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Future Fuels CRC.
Ashworth, Peta, Wade, Belinda and Witt, Kathy (2020). Emergency Services Workers and Future Fuels: Knowledge and information requirements. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Future Fuels CRC.
Witt, Bradd, Sauvage, Claire, Witt, Katherine, Gillespie, Nicole and Ariyawardana, Anoma (2020). Evaluating the impact and effectiveness of the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework. North Sydney, NSW, Australia: Meat and Livestock Australia .
Ashworth, P., Witt, K., Ferguson, M. and Sehic, S. (2019). Developing community trust in
hydrogen. Canberra, ACT Australia: Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.
Nisa, Claudia, Witt, Katherine, Ferguson, Michele, Hodson, Amy and Ashworth, Peta (2019). Australian Energy Preferences and the place of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) within the energy mix. The University of Queensland Surat Deep Aquifer Appraisal Project (UQ-SDAAP) Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Ferguson, Michele, Witt, Katherine, Nisa, Claudia and Ashworth, Peta (2019). Effects of message framing on the support for carbon capture and storage (CCS) and alternative energy technologies. The University of Queensland Surat Deep Aquifer Appraisal Project (UQ-SDAAP) Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Ferguson, Michele, Witt, Katherine and Ashworth, Peta (2019). Managed aquifer recharge focus groups. The University of Queensland Surat Deep Aquifer Appraisal Project (UQ-SDAAP) Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Ferguson, Michele, Witt, Katherine and Ashworth, Peta (2019). Five country survey. The University of Queensland Surat Deep Aquifer Appraisal Project (UQ-SDAAP) Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.
Witt, Katherine, Vivoda, Vlado, Everingham, Jo-Anne and Bainton, Nick (2018). A framework for Social Impact Assessment of shale gas development in the Northern Territory. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland.
Keywood, Melita, Grant, Sharon, Walton, Andrea, Aylward, Lesa, Rifkin, Will, Witt, Kathy, Kumar, Anu and Williams, Mike (2018). Human health effects of coal seam gas activity – a study design framework. Canberra: CSIRO.