ProfRoc Shi

Xunpeng (Roc) Shi is a Professor of Energy and Environmental Economics and Sustainability and a Research Principal at the Australia-China Relations Institute, UTS. He is also the President of the International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS) and a Council Member (President, 2016-2018) of the Chinese Economics Society Australia (CESA). His research interests encompass the full spectrum of energy, climate change, and other environmental issues in economics, policy, and sustainable development, with regional focuses on Australia, China, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), and Northeast Asia.

He was recognised as Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers (2025), Australia's leading researcher in the field of Environmental Law and Policy (2020), the top 2% of the world’s top scientists in the energy field (2020-), and the top 0.3% of authors in the world’s largest database of economists based on publications over the past 10 years (RePEc).  Roc has secured research grants from the National Natural Science Fund of China (NSFC), the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, and the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.

He serves as a co-Editor of the Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy (SSCI), an associate editor of China and World Economy (SSCI), Energy Economics (SSCI, A*), Energy Engineering (EI), Journal of Environmental Economics (in Chinese), and holds other editorial roles for more than 10 journals. He serves as an editor for the ISETS–Springer Book Series on Climate Change and Energy Transition (https://link.springer.com/series/17226).

With over 25 years of experience in the energy sector, Roc has worked across industry, government, and research institutes in Australia, Brunei, China, Indonesia, Singapore, and an international organisation. He holded/holds honorary positions at Nanjing University, Shanghai University, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, and the Center of Hubei Cooperative Innovation for Emissions Trading System. He has also advised organizations such as ADB, Ember, the Global Gas Center, APEC Sustainable Energy Center (APSEC) and UN ESCAP with some roles ongoing.

Roc is a recipient of the British Chevening Scholarship, the Rio Tinto-ANU Graduate Scholarship, and the Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad. He holds a Master of Laws from the University of Dundee, a Master of Environmental and Resource Economics (MERE), and a PhD in Economics from ANU.

Driven by his work, Roc’s ultimate aim is to promote a cost-efficient transition to a low-carbon future while protecting vulnerable stakeholders through research, service, and global leadership.