Understanding Poverty

All are welcome to attend our free event, presented by The University of Queensland School of Social Science during UQ's Research and Innovation week. Join us in-person or online.

"Understanding Poverty" distils decades of UN research into actionable insights that could reshape how we tackle humanity's greatest challenge.

About the seminar

Three decades of unprecedented global growth. Trillions in wealth created. Yet 4 billion people still survive on less than $6.85 a day. Half the planet remains trapped below the poverty line while economies soar. This global imperative has prompted the United Nations to designate poverty alleviation as the primary Sustainable Development Goal for 2015-2030. Economic growth becomes meaningless when it fails to address the fundamental needs of half the world's population.

Australia isn't immune to this crisis, as 1 in 8 people struggle below the poverty line. For children, it's even worse—1 in 6 face poverty in one of the world's wealthiest nations.

The need for action is urgent. We must decode poverty's complexities and forge real solutions—for distant shores, and in our own backyard. Understanding poverty isn't academic luxury; it's survival strategy for a world that's prosperous yet broken.

About our speakers

In 2010, Adjunct Professor M. Adil Khan brought decades of frontline experience from the United Nations to UQ’s School of Social Science. As former Chief of Socio-Economic Governance and Management at UN Headquarters in New York, he has exercised significant influence on global development policy. In recognition of his pioneering work at the UN in participatory governance and for his principal authorship of the 2008 UN World Public Sector Report, “People Matter: Civic Engagement in Public Governance” the UN honoured Prof. Khan with a Plaque of Recognition in 2008. Currently, Professor Khan is reshaping the next generation of leaders. Prof. Khan mentors RHD students while driving cutting-edge research and forging strategic partnerships that connect UN initiatives directly to groundbreaking projects of the School of Social Science. In 2024, the prestigious Oxford-based faculty.net named Prof. Khan a global impact author—proof that his work continues to shape how we understand governance and development worldwide.

Discussants:

Professor Kristen Lyons has over twenty years of research experience in delivering national and international impacts on issues at the intersection of sustainability and development. At UQ, Prof. Lyons works in transdisciplinary teams to deliver socially just outcomes for vulnerable communities, with her research spanning Uganda, Solomon Islands and Australia.

Associate Professor Elske van de Fliert is the Director of the Centre for Communication and Social Change at UQ. Her research expertise spans participatory development communication, facilitation of transdisciplinary research for sustainable development, and impact assessment of social change processes, with current projects in Indonesia, Timor Leste and Mongolia.

Professor Greg Marston is the Director of the Centre for Policy Futures at UQ. With over 25 years of experience spanning academia and the non-profit sector at state, national, and international levels, he specialises in addressing critical social and economic challenges, including poverty, unemployment, climate justice, and economic security. His research focuses on amplifying the voices of ordinary Australians and driving meaningful change to foster a more equitable society.

Chair:

Professor Lynda Cheshire, Head of UQ's School of Social Science is recognised as an internationally renowned sociologist. Professor Cheshire’s extensive research portfolio encompasses critical areas of community, neighbourhood and housing studies.

Event Details:

Registration: 12:45pm for a 1pm start

Seminar: 1–2:15pm

Afternoon Tea: 2:15–3pm (light refreshments provided)

Location: Room 273, Global Change Institute Building (20), UQ St Lucia or online via Zoom (a Zoom link will be sent upon registration)