Simon’s research explores the role of knowledge and knowledge politics in environmental science, policy and practice. He has engaged in qualitative, interpretive and participatory studies of biodiversity conservation and Indigenous land management, including the use of tools and approaches such as adaptive management, monitoring and evaluation, and evidence-based policy. Currently he is exploring the role of gender identities in conservation and the value of diverse relational philosophies and practices for pursuing transformations in ecosystem management.

Specific interests include:

(i) Indigenous land and sea management. Simon has been a participant in two ongoing collaborative projects led by the Arafura Swamp Rangers Aboriginal Corporation (ASRAC) around their Healthy Country Plan, including the development of an intercultural monitoring and evaluation system and cultural mapping work.

(ii) Gender in conservation. This is the subject of ongoing collaborative research with Dr Vanessa Masterson and colleagues at the Stockholm Resilience Centre (Sweden) exploring the performance of masculinities and femininities in biodiversity conservation in the Global South and how gender identities shape and are shaped by conservation practices.

(iii) Relational philosophies. As part of an international team Simon is currently co-editing a special issue in the journal Ecosystems and People exploring the value of diverse relational philosophies and ways of knowing, doing and being for contributing to transformations towards sustainability.

(iv) Interpretive methodologies. Simon is interested in how critical, interpretive and practice-based methodologies can contribute productively in transdisciplinary environmental research projects, science-policy interfaces, and in the everyday practice of environmental management and policy (this has resulted in publications with Professor Lorrae van Kerkhoff at ANU, Professor Hendrik Wagenaar, and Dr Caroline Schill at the Beijer Institute at the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences).