Researcher biography
Shakiah is a Social Science (Hons I) graduate from The University of Queensland with a passion for understanding how people connect with and care for the environments they inhabit. Her Honours research explored local perspectives of sense of place in Mangaia, Cook Islands, emphasising the importance of community voices and culturally grounded approaches to environmental change.
Currently, Shakiah is working under the supervision of Dr Claudia Benham on a project exploring how local communities in the Great Barrier Reef region use and value the environment, and how they can continue to survive and thrive over the long term. The project aims to inform future reef management by centring community perspectives and highlighting pathways for more resilient and sustainable coastal futures.