Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Rosemary (Ro) McFarlane is a teaching-research academic in the Discipline of Public Health. She is member of Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) Global Research Centre and is colead of the ACT HEAL Community of Practice. Her expertise is in the intersection of human, animal and environmental health. She has significant professional experience and expertise at the interface between health, biodiversity, environmental sustainability and food production. Her unique perspectives derive in part from her initial training as a Veterinarian, and direct hands-on experience in primary production and natural resource management in marginal climatic and agronomic regions. Her PhD training was with the late Professor Tony McMichael and his team of experts in the area of the health impacts of climate and broader ecological change.
Ro works extensively with community groups and government to develop landscape-level health solutions. She facilitated the declaration of the 9.8 million ha Ngaanyatjarra Indigenous Protected Area, W.A., and was an instigator of Australian Antarctic Division’s biosecurity measures to protect Antarctic wildlife from human and livestock diseases. She has a long association with Landcare in NSW, ACT and NT, Catchment Management Associations and local food producers.
Ro also works on collaborative projects with WHO, IUFRO, IUCN, and other international organisations. She isco-ordinating lead author on the Health chapter of the Nexus Assessment (Biodiversity Water, Food Health and Climate ) for the Intergovernmental Panel of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Her current research explores health linkages in ecosystem service frameworks and translating global environmental sustainability policy to local solutions. This includes local food system resilience, quality of parks and greenspace on health and wellbeing and zoonotic disease ecology.
Research interests
HEAL Global Research Centre
Climate Change Adaptation Resilience and Recovery Network
Future of Food in the Capital Region research group
Co-ordinating lead author/Health - Nexus Assessment/ Intergovernmental Panel of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, PhD, Australian National University
… → 2014
Award Date: 1 Jul 2014
Master, Master of Resource Science (Ecostystem Management), University of New England
… → 2005
Award Date: 1 Nov 2005
Bachelor, B>VSc., University of Sydney
… → 1989
Award Date: 1 Nov 1989
External positions
Fellow, Frank Fenner Foundation
1 Sept 2017 → 1 Sept 2019
Visiting Fellow, Australian National University
1 Nov 2015 → 1 Nov 2016
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Climate and Health Policy Expertise
VARDOULAKIS, S. (CI), OKOKON, E. (CoI), Turner, M. R. (CoI), McFarlane, R. (CoI), Charlesworth, K. (CoI), WANGDI, K. (CoI), VYAS, A. (CoI), GOODMAN, N. (CoI), KAZDA, L. (CoI), INDU, G. (CoI), Matthews, V. (CoI), Hanigan, I. (CoI), Haddock, R. (CoI), Tong, M. (CoI) & Williams, C. (CoI)
29/01/24 → 31/10/25
Project: Other
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Nutrition, soil organic carbon and sustainability: Multiple benefits of agriculture regeneration
Alders, R., Wingett, K., McFarlane, R. A., Sutherland, S., Borevitz, J. & Covic, N., 23 Aug 2024, Climate Change and Global Health: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Effects. Butler, C. & Higgs, K. (eds.). 2 ed. United Kingdom: CABI, p. 342-351 10 p.Research output: A Conference proceeding or a Chapter in Book › Chapter › peer-review
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One health: From rinderpest to the threat of a four-degree world
Butler, C. D. & McFarlane, R. A., Aug 2024, Climate Change and Global Health: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Effects. Butler, C. & Higgs, K. (eds.). 2 ed. CABI, p. 55-66 12 p.Research output: A Conference proceeding or a Chapter in Book › Chapter › peer-review
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Summary for policymakers of the thematic assessment of the interlinkages among biodiversity, water, food and health (nexus assessment) of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Nexus Assessment
McElwee, P. D., A. Harrison, P., van Huysen, T. L., Alonso Roldán, V., Barrios, E., Dasgupta, P., DeClerck, F., Harmáčková, Z. V., Hayman, D. T. S., Herrero, M., Kumar, R., Ley, D., Mangalagiu, D., McFarlane, R. A., Paukert, C., Pengue, W. A., Prist, P. R., Ricketts, T. R., Rounsevell, M. D. A. & Saito, O. & 9 others, , 18 Dec 2024, Germany: IPBES Secretariat. 57 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report › peer-review
Open Access -
Together we win! Narratives of couples pursuing a healthy diet and physical activity: A qualitative study
Nizamani, S., Agarwal, C. R. K., Somerset, S. & McFarlane, R. A., Sept 2024, In: Health Science Reports. 7, 9, p. 1-10 10 p., e70022.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Conservation and ecology: critical for Public Health in the 21st century
McFarlane, R., 7 Sept 2023, Ecological Society of Australia Bulletin, p. 1-3 3 p.Research output: Contribution to Newspaper/Magazine/Bulletin › Article
Open Access
Activities
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Solutions for the Planet's Interlinked Challenges No. 2 Health
McFarlane, R. (Speaker)
25 Feb 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Nexus thinking: food, soil , water, climate and health
McFarlane, R. (Speaker)
27 Nov 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Ecosystems -a conversation
McFarlane, R. (Speaker) & Lawrence, J. (Speaker)
18 Oct 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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More droughts and flooding rains - the impact of extreme weather on food, soil and water security
McFarlane, R. (Speaker)
18 Sept 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Overview of virtual, simulated peer-to-peer exchange in public global health(I-PELICAN: International Peer Exchange Learning Innovation, University of Canberra)
McFarlane, R. (Invited speaker) & Ahmad, D. (Invited speaker)
15 Sept 2023Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation