DrRachael Wakefield-Rann

Rachael is a social scientist with an interdisciplinary background in sustainability science, geography and political science. Her research across academia, government and industry is focused on systemic approaches to creating more sustainable resource futures that support human health as part of broader ecological health. In particular she specialises in whole-of-system approaches to the circular economy, including the redesign of product service systems to improve product stewardship, reuse and repair, and ways of addressing toxicants and pollutants in circular supply chains.

Rachael has applied this systemic approach to diverse problems, including: improving circular supply chains for plastics, batteries, renewable energy technologies and textiles; the social and material drivers of microbial and chemical ecologies of buildings; the role of design and "smart" technologies in future water practices in homes; and ensuring that a more circular built environment is socially just and reduces the circulation of toxicants and other pollutants.

Rachael's interdisciplinary PhD research focused on the intersection of health and sustainability in the urban built environment and the role of infrastructures, ecologies, products, political settings and everyday social practices in creating healthy and sustainable indoor living environments.

Prior to joining ISF, Rachael worked as a Waste Project Officer in local government, responsible for social change programs and policy to improve waste reduction and recycling. Before this, Rachael worked on international research projects examining global food flows, urban food security, and the drivers of food waste in Australia at the Australian National University and University of Canberra.