QUT - Academic profiles - Dr Annah Piggott-McKellar

Biography

I am a human geographer by training. My research interests centre on human-environment interactions, specifically how populations are impacted by, and adapting to a changing climate, specifically through planned relocation and (im)mobilities. I have experience working on projects in the Asia-Pacific region including Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, and Maldives on a range of topics spanning climate change adaptation, planned relocation, sustainable livelihoods, immobility, and tourism. Throughout my research and work, I employ a range of both qualitative and quantitative social science data collection and analysis methods.

I am currently a Research Fellow currently working in the School of Architecture and Built Environment at Queensland University of Technology. I completed my PhD at the University of Queensland in March 2020 where I received a Deans Award for Outstanding Higher Degree Theses. Prior to my doctorate studies, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management, majoring in Sustainable Development, at the University of Queensland, where I attained first class honours.

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):

a.piggottmckellar@qut.edu.au

View location details(QUT staff and student access only)

Centre for the Environment

Personal details

Positions

Research Fellow
Faculty of Engineering,
School of Architecture & Built Environment

Keywords

Climate adaptation, (Im)mobility, Planned relocation, Sustainable livelihoods, Vulnerability, Resilience, Great Barrier Reef, Engagement

Research field

Human geography, Environmental management

Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2020

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy (University of Queensland)

Teaching

Current

PhD Advisor: Merewalesi Yee, The University of Queensland, Project Title: Community Resilience and Planned Relocation in Fiji

Guest Lecturer: PUN453- Disaster Response & Recovery

Past Experience

Demonstrator, The University of Queensland

ENVM2000 - Sustainable Development (2016 - 2019)
ENMV7003/PLAN3001 - Applied Research Methods (2019 - 2020)

Experience

Peer Review, continuing

Contributed through peer-reviewing several articles for reputable Human Geography and Social Science journals including:

Journal of Sustainable Tourism (IF (2022) 9.5)
Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability (IF (2022) 7.9)
Climate Risk Management (IF (2022) 5.2)
Climatic Change (IF (2022) 5.2)
Climate and Development (IF (2022) 4.6)
Sustainability (IF (2022) 3.9)
Island Studies Journal (IF (2022) 1.5).

Awards and Scholarships

Deans Award for Outstanding Higher Degree Research Theses, The University of Queensland
Research Training Program Scholarship, The University of Queensland
Summer Research Scholarship, The University of Queensland
Deans Commendation for High Achievement, The University of Queensland
Deans Commendation for Academic Excellence, The University of Queensland

Publications

Piggott-McKellar, A. & McMichael, C. (2021). The immobility-relocation continuum: Diverse responses to coastal change in a small island state. Environmental Science and Policy, 125, 105–115. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/234810
McNamara, K., Clissold, R., Westoby, R., Piggott-McKellar, A., Kumar, R., Clarke, T., Namoumou, F., Areki, F., Joseph, E., Warrick, O. & Nunn, P. (2020). An assessment of community-based adaptation initiatives in the Pacific Islands. Nature Climate Change, 10(7), 628–639. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/234792
Piggott-McKellar, A., McNamara, K., Nunn, P. & Sekinini, S. (2019). Moving people in a changing climate: Lessons from two case studies in Fiji. Social Sciences, 8(5). https://eprints.qut.edu.au/234813
McMichael, C., Farbotko, C., Piggott-McKellar, A., Powell, T. & Kitara, M. (2021). Rising seas, immobilities, and translocality in small island states: case studies from Fiji and Tuvalu. Population and Environment, 43(1), 82–107. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/234790
Piggott-McKellar, A., Pearson, J., McNamara, K. & Nunn, P. (2020). A livelihood analysis of resettlement outcomes: Lessons for climate-induced relocations. Ambio, 49(9), 1474–1489. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/234795
Yee, M., Piggott-Mckellar, A., McMichael, C. & McNamara, K. (2022). Climate Change, Voluntary Immobility, and Place-Belongingness: Insights from Togoru, Fiji. Climate, 10(3). https://eprints.qut.edu.au/233925
Piggott-McKellar, A., McMichael, C. & Powell, T. (2021). Generational retreat: locally driven adaption to coastal hazard risk in two Indigenous communities in Fiji. Regional Environmental Change, 21(2). https://eprints.qut.edu.au/234812
Piggott-McKellar, A., McNamara, K., Nunn, P. & Watson, J. (2019). What are the barriers to successful community-based climate change adaptation? A review of grey literature. Local Environment, 24(4), 374–390. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/234816
Piggott-McKellar, A., Nunn, P., McNamara, K. & Sekinini, S. (2020). Dam(n) Seawalls: A Case of Climate Change Maladaptation in Fiji. In WL. Filho (Ed.), Managing Climate Change Adaptation in the Pacific Region (pp. 69–84). Springer. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/234794
Piggott-McKellar, A. & McNamara, K. (2017). Last chance tourism and the Great Barrier Reef. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 25(3), 397–415. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/234815

QUT ePrints

For more publications by Annah, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).

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2025

Baresi, U., Baum, C. M., Fischer, T. B., Lockie, S., Piggott-McKellar, A., Graham, V., Bohensky, E., Fritz, L. B., Shumway, N., Harrison, D. P., Foster, R., Sovacool, B. K., Vella, K. & Ristovski, Z. (2025). A call for strategic assessments of regional applications of solar radiation management: Exploring the challenges and opportunities from marine cloud brightening and albedo surface modification. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Article 107701, 110. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/253665
Yee, M., Piggott-McKellar, A., McMichael, C. & McNamara, K. E. (2025). Framing locally led adaptation in a planned relocation in Fiji. Geoforum, Article 104196, 159. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/254911
McMichael, C., Powell, T., Piggott-McKellar, A. E. & Yee, M. (2025). Climate change and the planned relocation of people: A longitudinal analysis of Vunidogoloa, Fiji. Ambio. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/255775
Baresi, U., Eberhard, R., Vella, K., Gooch, M., Piggott-McKellar, A., Calibeo, D. L., Lockie, S., Taylor, B., Bohensky, E., Brooksbank, L., Curnock, M., Graham, V., Kong, T., Lyons, I., Maclean, K., Paxton, G., Schmitt, K., Siehoyono Sie, L. & Stone-Jovicich, S. (2025). Community Engagement for Novel Ecosystem Restoration and Assisted Adaptation Interventions: Observations and Lessons from the Australian Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program. Society and Natural Resources. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/256036

2024

Yee, M., McMichael, C., McNamara, K. E. & Piggott-McKellar, A. (2024). Partial planned relocation and livelihoods: Learnings from Narikoso, Fiji. Asia Pacific Viewpoint, 65(3), 290–307. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/248274
Gini, G., Piggott-McKellar, A., Wiegel, H., Neu, F., Link, A. C., Fry, C., Tabe, T., Adegun, O., Wade, C. T., Bower, E. R., Koeltzow, S., Harrington-Abrams, R., Jacobs, C., van der Geest, K., Zivdar, N., Alaniz, R., Cherop, C., Durand-Delacre, D., Pill, M., Shekhar, H., Yates, O., Khan, M. A. A., Nansam-Aggrey, F. K., Grant, L., Nizar, D. A., Owusu-Daaku, K. N., Preato, A., Stefancu, O. & Yee, M. (2024). Navigating tensions in climate change-related planned relocation. Ambio, 53(9), 1262–1266. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/249135
Bergin, G. & Piggott-McKellar, A. (2024). Project team experiences of working with disaster affected communities, psychological hazards and well-being. QUT Centre for Justice Briefing Papers, 55, QUT Centre for Justice. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/251171
Gini, G., Piggott-McKellar, A., Wiegel, H., Neu, F. N., Link, A. C., Fry, C., Tabe, T., Adegun, O., Wade, C. T., Bower, E. R., Koeltzow, S., Harrington-Abrams, R., Jacobs, C., van der Geest, K., Zivdar, N., Alaniz, R., Cherop, C., Durand-Delacre, D., Pill, M., Shekhar, H., Yates, O., Khan, M. A. A., Nansam-Aggrey, F. K., Grant, L., Nizar, D. A., Owusu-Daaku, K. N., Preato, A., Stefancu, O. & Yee, M. (2024). Correction to: Navigating tensions in climate change-related planned relocation (Ambio, (2024), 53, 9, (1262-1266), 10.1007/s13280-024-02035-2). Ambio, 53(9), 1267–1268.
Piggott-McKellar, A., Pearson, J., McMichael, C. & Vella, K. (2024). Climate and disaster-related planned relocation: Wellbeing outcomes and justice implications. QUT Centre for Justice Briefing Papers, 63, QUT Centre for Justice. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/252950

2023

Piggott-McKellar, A. & Vella, K. (2023). Lessons learned and policy implications from climate-related planned relocation in Fiji and Australia. Frontiers in Climate, Article 1032547, 5. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/238880
Yee, M., McNamara, K. E., Piggott-McKellar, A. E. & McMichael, C. (2023). Corrigendum: The role of Vanua in climate-related voluntary immobility in Fiji (Front. Clim., (2022), 4, 1034765, 10.3389/fclim.2022.1034765). Frontiers in Climate, 5.

2022

Yee, M., Piggott-Mckellar, A. E., McMichael, C. & McNamara, K. E. (2022). Climate Change, Voluntary Immobility, and Place-Belongingness: Insights from Togoru, Fiji. Climate, Article 46, 10(3). https://eprints.qut.edu.au/233925
Yee, M., McNamara, K. E., Piggott-McKellar, A. E. & McMichael, C. (2022). The role of Vanua in climate-related voluntary immobility in Fiji. Frontiers in Climate, Article 1034765, 4. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/237169

2021

Piggott-McKellar, A. E. & McMichael, C. (2021). The immobility-relocation continuum: Diverse responses to coastal change in a small island state. Environmental Science and Policy, 125, 105–115. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/234810
Piggott-McKellar, A., McMichael, C. & Powell, T. (2021). Generational retreat: locally driven adaption to coastal hazard risk in two Indigenous communities in Fiji. Regional Environmental Change, Article 49, 21(2). https://eprints.qut.edu.au/234812

A complete list of publications is available at: https://www.qut.edu.au/about/our-people/academic-profiles/a.piggottmckellar

Dr Annah Piggott-McKellar