BA MCom PGDipTour PGCertTertT PhD(Otago)
Professor
Head of Department
Room: OBS 709
Tel: +64 3 479 5108
Email: sara.walton@otago.ac.nz
I teach and research in the area of sustainability, climate change and business. My key areas of expertise include: carbon footprints, industry readiness for climate change, innovation for environmental sustainability, sustainable and low carbon transitions, analysing and understanding environmental conflicts and researching work in changing futures. I have published widely in academic journals as well as media - Newsroom and The Conversation - and have a regular column on sustainable business in the local newspaper (ODT).
I enjoy applied research and have been involved in externally funded inter-disciplinary projects for many years. I have been involved in:
- The Energy Cultures programme responsible for understanding energy cultures of SME s and business in NZ
- Leading a team of researchers on an Australian Aid funded project to Vanuatu to understand energy transitions
- Contracted by OceanaGold to explore land use and 'common grounds' surrounding the Macraes Gold Mine
- Working with BRANZ on a get Ready for Climate Change project with construction companies
- Part of the Building NZ 's Innovation Culture team with the Science for Technological Innovation National Science Challenge (NSC)
- Working with MOTU on a Just Transitions Guide for MBIE . Working with a team on a MPI / FMAG funded project to understand company decisions around offsetting or abatement of GHG emissions.
- Collaborating with Stuff to producing the Climate Action Report Card
Visit the Stuff website to find out more about the Climate Action Report Card
My current projects include:
- Developing an online Climate Action Tracker for Aotearoa New Zealand
Visit the Whats the score? website to find out more about the CCATA - Being science leader on an Endeavour project called Āmiomio Aotearoa a circular economy for the wellbeing of NZ
- Investigator on a project with the XRB examining the effectiveness of Climate Risk Disclosures
Teaching responsibilities
Sara is passionate about developing future sustainability professionals and developed the Master of Sustainable Business.
Sara's current teaching responsibilities include:
Research interests
- Business responses to climate change and understanding climate action, climate risk and net zero
- Examining ecopreneurial businesses in New Zealand
- Understanding natural resource based conflicts
- Constructions of sustainability
Other responsibilities
Sara is President-Elect of Academy of Management Australia and New Zealand and has been involved with the board for the past 6 years.
Sara has been involved in co-developing the theme He Kaupapa Hononga, Otago’s Climate Change Network and still sits on the Steering Committee.