Careers in Community Development and Environmental Sustainability

This session covers:

• What can you do with your social science studies? 
• What should students studying social science do to enhance their employability during their university studies?
• How are the knowledge and skills gained from your social science studies applicable to real life careers?

You will have the opportunity to ask questions to leading industry professionals working in relevant roles and hear their experiences, stories and advice.

All registered students will receive a recording of the session.

Meet our panel

Hannah is a Graduate Business Designer at ThinkPlace, Australia, based in Ngunnawal Country (Canberra). 

She was a 2020 graduate of UQ, having studied a Bachelor of International Studies, majoring in International Inequality and Spanish. While at UQ, Hannah was involved with Oxfam UQ and UQ GEMS student committees. She also had the opportunity to intern as a research assistant in Yogyakarta, Indonesia studying climate change vulnerability.

At ThinkPlace, Hannah works with government, private and not-for-profit sectors, to co-design solutions to complex challenges and shift the needle on the UN SDGs. She is particularly passionate about co-designing solutions to benefit everyone.

Hannah also volunteers with a grassroots sustainability organisation called SEE-Change, facilitating local climate action and building community resilience in Canberra. 

In 2021, Hannah commenced post-graduate studies in Climate Change Adaptation (Griffith University) and hopes to continue working in (and learning about) sustainability, climate adaptation and community resilience.

Robert (Rob) Arcidiacono is a PhD researcher and international community development practitioner. His current PhD project with CSIRO and UQ is exploring the use of data driven technology and their applications for sustainable transitions in agriculture. Rob started his career as an industrial designer, graduating from QUT before working as a product manager in the toy industry in Hong Kong, overseeing product production with factories in South China. With a goal to use these design skills to address wider global challenges, Rob re-trained with a Masters qualification in Development Practice before going on to undertake research projects with small scale farmers in East Africa and consulting with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in Vienna, Austria.

More recently Rob has worked in the field of energy access in humanitarian and international development contexts. This includes a rural development project related to energy access in the central highlands of Afghanistan, working with a team of Afghan engineers and local tradespeople to design and develop emission reduction technologies for heating and cooking. Rob also recently undertook an eight-month RedR deployment with the United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR) in Jordan, where he led the development of renewable energy impact assessments at Za’atari and Azraq Syrian refugee settlements – the world’s first and largest mass solar energy installations in a refugee setting.

Rebecca is a sociologist whose research intersects the sociologies of health and emotions. She has a particular interest in advancing innovative, video-based methodologies that transcend paradigmatic boundaries within these fields. As an applied researcher, Rebecca works closely with clinicians and clinical educators to inform practical improvements in health(care), education and health professional education. 

Rebecca completed her Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) in America before moving to Australia, where she achieved First Class Honours. She quickly went on to do her PhD in health sociology, while also working as an Assistant Lecturer and Research Assistant, followed by an appointment as a Lecturer in public health before taking on her position at the University of Queensland. 

Her current projects focus on medicinal cannabis in palliative and wellbeing, emotions in interprofessional practice and prioritising emotional and social support in lung cancer screening. Recent books include 'Towards a Sociology of Cancer Caregiving' (Ashgate, 2015) and 'Emotions in Late Modernity' (2019, Routledge with co-editors Patulny, Bellocchi, Khorana, McKenzie and Peterie).