Dr Liz Young

Liz Young is the Research Director of the Queensland Decarbonisation Hub and an applied researcher focused on climate transitions, sectoral decarbonisation, and policy innovation. She brings over 20 years of experience in the Queensland Government, including more than a decade in senior leadership roles shaping environmental and climate policy.

Before transitioning to academia, Liz played a central role in major state-wide initiatives such as the Clean Economy Jobs Bill, which legislated Queensland's 2035 and 2050 emissions reduction targets; the introduction of bioregional planning as part of national environmental reforms; and the development of Queensland's Protected Area Strategy. Her leadership has spanned a broad policy portfolio including climate adaptation, environmental planning, protected areas, First Nations economic transition, and sustainability planning for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Liz holds a PhD in Political Science and an Executive Master of Public Administration (ANZSOG), and was an Australian Parliamentary Fellow. She brings deep expertise in how public policy, institutional settings, and stakeholder dynamics shape environmental outcomes, and is committed to bridging the gap between research and policy through co-production, public sector capability-building, and institutional change.