Interests

Social dimensions of energy change, responsible innovation, energy democracy, transdisciplinarity.

Research

Dr Wendy Russell contributes expertise in social research and transdisciplinarity to projects at ACES and has worked on neighbourhood batteries, micro-grids and apartment electrification. She is also interested in the orchestration of Consumer Energy Resources, which she predicts will be the next big social licence issue in energy transition. Wendy is contributing to the understanding and development of a STEEP (socio-, techno-, econo-, enviro-, politico-) approach to energy transition, with a recent focus on integrating social research with energy modelling. She is particularly interested in energy system change in relation to socio-technical imaginaries, energy practices, equity and justice, and democracy. 
 

Praxis

Wendy identifies as a transdisciplinary pracademic. She is interested in the skills, processes and dispositions that contribute to effective transdisciplinarity and research impact. As well as helping to build a STEEP approach within ACES, she has been an organiser of a Knowledge to Action network at ANU for 5 years, and has contributed to research impact assessment and strategy at a university level.

Wendy is currently also a fellow of the newly-formed ANU McCusker Institute (link: https://mccuskerinstitute.anu.edu.au) where she is contributing to curriculum development in relation to Active Citizenship.

Wendy is also a process designer and facilitator, a dialogue and deliberation practitioner, and a community engagement professional.

Biography

Wendy joined ACES (then the Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program) in 2021. She has worked on neighbourhood batteries, microgrids and apartment electrification. Previously, she was a sessional academic and a research fellow in the Centre for the Public Awareness of Science at ANU, where she convened a course in Science Dialogue, and conducted research on responsible innovation, particularly in relation to synthetic biology. She has been an associate of the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance at the University of Canberra since its early days. From 2013 – 2023, Wendy was Director of Double Arrow Consulting, a Canberra business specialising in deliberative engagement. Wendy previously worked in the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education, managing the award-winning Science & Technology Engagement Pathways (STEP) program. Before this, she was senior lecturer in Biological Sciences at the University of Wollongong, where she researched social aspects of biotechnology, transdisciplinary inquiry, and technology assessment.

Activities and awards

Member, EvoEnergy Energy Regulatory Advisory Panel (ERAP), 2024-2026
Organiser, Knowledge-to-Action Network, ANU, since 2020
Co-organiser, Future of Neighbourhood Batteries national conference, 2022, 2023
Coordinator, ANU STS Network, 2019-2021
International Association for Public Participation, member 2010-2018; ACT Coordinator, 2013 – 2016; Australasian Certificate in Engagement, IAP2, 2014; Certificate in Effective Public Participation, International Association for Public Participation, 2010
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, YWCA Canberra, 2014
Organiser and facilitator, Crossing the Divide: deliberative democracy theory and practice workshop, University of Canberra, 2015; Beyond the Vote: democratic innovation in Australia, Adelaide, 2016
Training in Research Impact Assessment, Facilitation, Dialogue, Deliberative Democracy, Science writing & editing
Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, The Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, Australia, 2006; Outstanding Contribution to Teaching and Learning Faculty Award, University of Wollongong, 2006; Outstanding Achievement in Education, Aus College of Education, 2001