Dr Belinda Christie

Biography

Dr Belinda Christie is an Adjunct Research Fellow with the Centre for Urban Transitions, at Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne. Her research and teaching interests lie in the fields of environmental sustainability, urban climate change mitigation and adaption, education for sustainability, and spiritual ecology. Her current research, teaching, and writing, explores mindfulness-based outdoor education, nature connection, decolonisation practices, and the emerging field of 'spiritual ecology'.

Belinda came to Swinburne University to undertake a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship supported by a Co-Operative Research Centre (CRC) for Low Carbon Living project. Her research investigated the social implications around food waste and composting in the urban environment as a way to mitigate climate change and as a nature connection practice (think, composting and worm farming in apartment buildings, hotels, city offices!).

Belinda was previously a Research Fellow and Teacher in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne. She has worked as a teacher within the university sector since 2009, lecturing and tutoring within environmental sustainability, social environmental justice, sustainable cities and building design, environmental impact assessment, research methods, and climate change adaptation. Belinda also has nearly a decade of experience working within the land management and horticulture industry.

Belinda has also undertaken research projects for various industry partners, including investigating student attitudes towards Environmental Management (for Sweeny Research), public attitudes and behaviour towards coastal foreshore management (for the Central Coastal Board), and more recently reporting on food waste management in office and apartment buildings (for the City of Melbourne, City of Stonnington, and City of Port Phillip).

Belinda was awarded her PhD in Environmental Sustainability in 2014 and holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Environmental Management) (Honours) from Deakin University, Melbourne. She also holds an Advanced Diploma of Yoga Teaching from the Australian Yoga Academy, and Trauma-Informed & Embodied Social Change certification from Yoga for Humankind. She is also a licensed Parks Victoria tour operator.

Belinda is also the Founder and Director of Sacred Planet International (to be launched in late 2021), an outdoor and environmental education organisation, combining evidence-based science and contemplative mindfulness practices, to create leaders in sustainability action.