DrElianor Gerrard

Dr Elianor Gerrard is a Senior Research Consultant with the Institute for Sustainable Futures in the Energy Futures team. She has a background in applied social research, international and community development, communications and engagement, working for NGOs and universities in Australia and overseas. Most recently Elianor worked as Engagement Coordinator for Community Power Agency (CPA). At CPA, she led community engagement activities and supported advocacy processes to ensure that regional host communities are able to participate in and benefit from the transition to renewable energy. Elianor is particularly interested in the community-energy transition intersection and how the shift towards renewables can create a more equal and thriving society and environment. 

Elianor’s research practice is multidisciplinary, with expertise in qualitative methodologies, just transitions, energy transition, environmental justice, regional and community development. Her PhD thesis explored the experience and participation of community in the “just” transition of their region. The study focused on two Australian coal-power producing communities, Port Augusta, SA and the Latrobe Valley, in regional Victoria, as they faced the closing of a power station. Elianor identified six principles to drive transitions that are community and place-based, fair and just.

Additionally, Elianor has worked in the space of applied social research both as a research assistant at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and as an independent consultant. Specifically, Elianor’s work and project contributions have focused on the evaluation of social service and community development interventions and programs. She has also worked as a sessional academic with QUT lecturing and coordinating the unit, Community and Place-Based Practice. Elianor has co-authored book chapters and research reports and presented at numerous conferences.

Prior to venturing into academia and research, Elianor worked both in Australia and abroad, in education, communications and engagement, and as a development practitioner. She has worked with NGOs such as CARE Australia, International Women's Development Agency, CareerTrackers and Yayasan Tunas Cerdas Gemilang.