Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Rosemary (Ro) McFarlane is a teaching-research academic. She is member of Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) Global Research Centre and Discipline lead of Public Health. She oversees the UC Health Research Institute's Master of Public Health and undergraduate and postgraduate public health teaching across the university. 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 is currently co-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., OKOKON, E., Turner, M. R., McFarlane, R., Matthews, V. & Charlesworth, K.
29/01/24 → 30/06/24
Project: Other
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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 -
Evaluation of a virtual, simulated international public health peer-to-peer exchange learning experience
Ahmad, D., McFarlane, R. A., Smith, J., Saxena, D., Somerset, S. & Mavalankar, D., 13 Apr 2023, In: Frontiers in Public Health. 11, p. 1-13 13 p., 1144716.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile22 Downloads (Pure) -
It takes two to tango: a couples-based lifestyle approach to reducing multigenerational risk of metabolic syndrome
Nizamani, S., McFarlane, R., Knight-Agarwal, C. & Somerset, S., Apr 2023, p. 1-1. 1 p.Research output: Contribution to conference (non-published works) › Abstract › peer-review
Open Access -
A year of hunger: how the Russia-Ukraine War is worsening climate-linked food shortages
McFarlane, R., Naumovski, N. & Somerset, S., 27 Apr 2022, The Conversation, 2022, April, p. 1-4 4 p.Research output: Contribution to Newspaper/Magazine/Bulletin › Article
Open Access -
Couples-based behaviour change interventions to reduce metabolic syndrome risk. A systematic review
Nizamani, S., Somerset, S., Knight-Agarwal, C. & McFarlane, R., Dec 2022, In: Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research and Reviews. 16, 12, p. 1-10 10 p., 102662.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
4 Citations (Scopus)
Activities
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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)
Ro McFarlane (Invited speaker) & Danish Ahmad (Invited speaker)
15 Sept 2023Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Hindsight, Foresight and Frameworks:empowering Public Health graduates to work with transformative change
Ro Mcfarlane (Speaker)
1 Jul 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
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Improving Nutrition and Health Outcomes Through Local Food Systems
Nenad Naumovski (Speaker), Shawn Somerset (Speaker), Ro Mcfarlane (Speaker), Ann Hill (Speaker) & Bethaney Turner (Speaker)
26 May 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Nexus Assessment (Biodiversity, Food, Water, Health, Climate Change) IPBES
Ro Mcfarlane (Participant)
18 Jan 2022 → 31 Dec 2024Activity: Expert Advice and Other › Expert Review
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Win Win Wins for environment and people in the ACT
Ro Mcfarlane (Speaker)
18 Nov 2021Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk