Lauren Rickards

Background

About Lauren Rickards

Lauren is an expert in complex climate change impacts and adaptation. Through research, advisory and service roles, she is helping improve and accelerate climate change policies and programs in the public and not-for-profit sectors. She is an invited member of an expert group within the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change working on how to measure and monitor both the varied impacts of climate change and our efforts to avoid or manage them. Lauren initiated and leads the @La Trobe Climate Change Adaptation Lab, based in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at La Trobe University, Melbourne. She also helped establish and now chairs the board of The Climate Change Exchange, a not-for-profit organisation working with @Regen Melbourne to connect and uplift adaptation researchers and practitioners.Lauren's background is in physical and human geography. She was recently ranked Australia's top Geographer by The Australian Research Magazine, based on the academic impact of her publications 2020-2025.Lauren is also involved in many interdisciplinary collaborations. Current international projects and partnerships involve the Universities of Freiburg, Helsinki and Durham and the Indian Institute of Human Settlements. Lauren does both applied and basic research. A recent example that combines both is the large study of Governance Risk she led for Australia's recent, inaugural National Climate Risk Assessment. This analysis involved a novel conceptualisation of governance risk under climate change and has led to direct policy impact.The high quality and impact of Lauren's work has been recognised through numerous awards and accolades, including a Rhodes Scholarship. She is committed to public engagement and is a sought after public speaker.