Emeritus Professor Anna Littleboy

For more than 35 years, Emeritus Professor Anna Littleboy has led multidisciplinary and collaborative research understanding the role of minerals in global sustainability challenges and its adaptation to the widespread changes arising from climate change, mine closure and the energy transition. With a background in earth and environmental science and an interest in innovation, Anna integrates strategy and technologists with social and environmental scientists to drive better environmental and social performance from the minerals sector in the interests of human development.

Anna has been the architect of several multi-million dollar applied research initiatives to inform major transitions as the resources industry, governments and society transition to new energy systems and evolved expectations of social and environmental justice. She led The University of Queensland's Sustainable Minerals Institute’s research to transform the minelifecycle and shaped its contribution to the $130M Critical Minerals and Resources Technology Trailblazer. She was the inaugural Research Director of a Cooperative Research Centre for Transitions in Mining Economies (CRC TiME).  From 2012 – 2018, she built and led the Australian Commonwealth Science and Industry Organisation’s research program on Resources and Sustainability.

Anna is experienced at working directly with industry, State and Federal Governments and International Institutions to enable social change. She serves on editorial, advisory and management Boards and advises on Federal and State Government growth initiatives. She is a recipient of a CSIRO medal for Business Excellence and has experience with commercialisation through licensing and spin-outs.  Anna has a lived experience of disability in the workplace and is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion as a key ingredient for innovation.