King's College London

What is my research?

My research aims to understand the extreme weather recovery experiences of individuals living in highly flood prone areas in Australia, exploring which resources people turn to in recovery and how they plan to prepare for similar events in the future. In particular, I ask whether market-based institutions such as insurance remain appropriate and sufficient, and if not, what alternative or emerging institutions might affect people’s recovery actions and choices.

Research context as reality

When I began my PhD at the University of Queensland in 2023, almost exactly a year had passed since the 2022 floods. The floods were a salient empirical case for my research around recovery from extreme weather events as the costliest disaster in Australian history and, at the time, the most recent.

In the three years since my PhD began, Queensland has been affected by many more catastrophes including storms, floods, and in early 2025, Brisbane – the state capital and my home – was warned to brace for the first tropical cyclone in fifty-one years, Cyclone Alfred. Suddenly, my research became my reality as I rushed to prepare, gathering batteries and candles, nailing windows shut, stocking up on tinned food, and filling empty bottles from the tap for access to clean drinking water.

My own embodied experience of this event fundamentally shaped my approach to research, centralising empathy and lived experience of disasters, and underscored the importance of conducting research which is impactful and responsive to this grand challenge.

Why visit the Centre for Sustainable Business?

The opportunity to undertake a research stay at the Centre for Sustainable Business, which brings together scholars committed to addressing complex environmental and social challenges, was invaluable. Being immersed in the Centre introduced me to an academic community who share common concerns and dedications, resulting in the feeling of a collective purpose that extends beyond individual research.

Throughout the visit, I have benefited from multiple opportunities to present my work, including during seminars and at the King’s Business School Doctoral Research Symposium, receiving thoughtful and developmental feedback which has helped refine my research. As well as presenting, I also enjoyed the chance to hear from colleagues about their ongoing projects at meetings, business salons, and over lunch.

Equally important, though, were the informal conversations, chances to test emerging ideas and ask research related or theoretical questions for open discussion in a supportive environment. I particularly enjoy Thought Tapas – a sort of roundtable, quick fire opportunity to dip into different concepts for fast feedback and thought sharing with the whole team.

Hearing about others’ work during my stay has deepened my understanding of sustainability research in a broader academic sense and allowed me to contribute feedback to others. Collectively, these interactions have strengthened my existing relationships and fostered new connections within a community which works towards addressing salient sustainability issues.

Thank you!

My research stay at the CSB comes at a critical point in my academic journey as I work toward the submission of my thesis, making the opportunity to be engaged in such a stimulating atmosphere, and connect with leading scholars in the field, especially valuable. This visit has not only supported my immediate academic development but has also contributed to my future career through the chance to embrace a different research environment. The experience has been significantly beneficial to my professional and personal growth, and I am fortunate to have built meaningful relationships during my visit which I look forward to continuing through future collaborations.

I am incredibly grateful for the generosity, openness, and thoughtful engagement the Centre has offered me and my work, and particularly grateful to Professor Jonatan Pinkse for hosting me. My research stay at the CSB has been wholly enriching, and of course, it is wonderful to be in London during spring.

Rhianna Gallagher Rodgers is a final-year PhD candidate at the University of Queensland, Australia, and a visiting PhD student at the Centre for Sustainable Business.