Associate ProfessorJo Gillespie

Jo's research unpacks how regulatory frameworks both enable and disable environmental protection solutions. Her research examines various environmental law, policy and governance regimes, often relating to biodiversity, conservation and climate change challenges.

Jo works on research about:

• The role of environmental litigation in advancing protective regimes;
• The role of ENGOs in conservation programs;
• Exploring ideas about 'wilderness', classical protected area approaches, and emergent OECMs (other effective conservation measures);
• Assessing conservation regimes, especially critiquing global/local governance of World Heritage and Ramsar wetlands;
• Environmental (human) rights, Rights of Nature, multispecies justice and environmental ethics.

Jo uses a range of disciplinary and methodological approaches, situated within environmental, ecological and multispecies justice, and political ecology traditions. She is a leading legal geography scholar.

Jo's research aligns with the Faculty of Science Research Strengths - Sustainability, Decision-Making for a Sustainable Future, Biodiversity Conservation, Climate and Environmental Change.