Dr Phil Morley

Phil Morley is a geographer with diverse research interests primarily focused on land use change, future scenario modelling, regional planning and disaster resilience. Working on a variety of projects has required varying levels of research in the fields of landscape ecology (ecological patterns and processes), human geography (demographics, rural to urban migration, urbanisation and growth modelling), probabilistic, exploratory and alternative future scenario modelling, urban and regional planning, hydrological modelling, climate change adaptation and statistical downscaling, natural hazards (social and community vulnerability, resilience, risk mapping and risk reduction) as well environmental and agricultural planning.

He is currently the co-lead researcher on the Australian Natural Disaster Resilience Index project funded by the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC. Based on the characteristics of disaster resilience specified in the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience this project which will develop an Australia wide index of resilience to natural hazards for Australian Communities. Previous projects have included Past, Present and Future Landscapes: Understanding Alternative Futures for Climate Change Adaptation of Coastal Settlements and Communities and Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment: Hunter & Central Coasts.

Phil was awarded his PhD.in 2010 which researched the impacts of future population growth in northern NSW using future scenario modelling. Previously he completed a Master of Environmental Studies at Adelaide University with a dissertation component that considered the social and economic dimensions of planning for Marine Protected Areas. He has also completed a BSc in software development and has been employed in various roles within the IT industry.