Dr Ann Peterson is a leading academic specialising in environmental planning at The University of Queensland, where she lectures in courses in coastal planning, NRM planning and coral reef field studies. She has an extensive practical experience of regional planning frameworks within Australia (and especially Queensland) and internationally. Dr Peterson has concentrated on advancing outcomes for regional nature conservation planning, management and governance. She has been instrumental in developing a strategic framework for regional nature conservation plans within Queensland.
Dr Peterson has well grounded experience in evaluation research in the field of natural resource management (NRM) planning and policy development at national, State/ Territory, regional and local levels. She has undertaken research into the effectiveness of Australia's regional NRM bodies and their related NRM planning instruments and regional investment strategies to provide strategic policy direction for national and state governments. Other evaluations include: the Qld government's State Investment Program (SIP) in NRM within the state's NAP regions; an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection Plan; a census of Regional Body wetland activities to better understand their alignment with the Queensland Wetlands Programme; and an assessment of the effectiveness and needs of Indigenous Land and Sea Management Centres in Cape York. She has specialist expertise in the fields of integrated buffer planning, coastal and wetlands evaluation and planning.
Dr. Peterson is an experienced and award recognized researcher and writer of planning and management guidelines and manuals, reports, books and other publications.
