Kirsty O'Connell

Kirsty O’Connell is co-founder of the world’s only research institute studying social licence and engagement in the infrastructure and energy sectors - the ANU Institute for Infrastructure in Society (I2S). I2S has assembled 8 years of evidence proving the importance of engagement to project success, has worked with 7000+ Australian community members and >150 infrastructure proponents and is currently applying its evidence-based social tools on a variety of multi-billion dollar projects with industry partners. In addition to this ground-breaking work, Kirsty has led engagement for the delivery of more than $30B in major infrastructure projects, is a Council Member of the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) and is a fifth generation farmer, running a beef and lucerne farm with her husband, daughters and and a menagerie of animals in the Hunter Valley.