Peta Ashworth

As Chair in Sustainable Energy Futures at University of Queensland, Professor Peta Ashworth has responsibility for the Master of Energy Studies. She is also tasked with the role of building energy literacy more broadly and continuing her research around public perceptions of climate and energy technologies.

Peta Ashworth brings over thirty years’ experience working in a range of senior management and research roles. Peta is well known for her expertise in the energy field, communication and stakeholder engagement and technology assessment. Peta has been researching public attitudes to climate and energy technologies (wind, CCS, solar PV, geothermal) for the past ten years with a particular focus on CCS.

She currently Co-Chairs the Independent Advisory Panel for the Radioactive Waste Management Facility project for the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. She has also been Chair of the IEA GHG Social Research Network since its inception in 2009. Previously, Peta conceptualised and led the Science into Society Group (SISG) within CSIRO’s Division of Earth Science and Resource Engineering, which specialised in interdisciplinary research at the interface between science and society. Peta has an interest in designing a range of dialogic processes for engaging around complex issues.