Person

Dowling, Robyn M. (1965 - )

Born
5 August 1965
Occupation
Geographer and University Administrator

Summary

Robyn Dowling is a geographer who has made significant contributions to geography in Australia through research, bridging academic disciplines, and mentoring the next generation of geographers. She is a leading researcher in the social and cultural geographies of cities, particularly suburban homes, neighbourhoods and lives. Dowling has received eight ARC grants to support her work. Current research is focused on ways in which urban governance and life are responding to climate change and technological disruption. Internationally recognised for her research, she was invited to be co-editor (with Suzanne Firzpatrick) of volume 4 of the on-line International encyclopedia of housing and home (2012). Dowling was Professor and Head of the Department of Geography and Planning at Macquarie University, where she initiated the Bachelor of Planning program. In 2016 she moved to the University of Sydney where, as Dean and Head of school she led the development of the School of Architecture, Design and Planning 2020 - 2023 strategic plan. In 2024 she was awarded the Griffith Taylor Medal by the Institute of Australian Geographers.

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Chronology

1987
Education - BEc, University of Sydney
1995
Education - PhD, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
2010 -
Award - Fellow, Institute of Australian Geographers
2011 - 2016
Career position - Professor, Department of Geography and Planning, Macquarie University
2015 - 2016
Career position - Head, Department of Geography and Planning, Macquarie University
2016 - 2018
Career position - Associate Dean (Research), School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney
2018 -
Award - Fellow, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
2019 -
Career position - Professor of Urbanism, School of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney
2019 - 2024
Career position - Head of School and Dean of Architecture, Design and Planning, University of Sydney
2024
Award - Griffith Taylor Medal, Institute of Australian Geographers

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Published resources

Books

Resources

  • 'Dowling, Robyn M. (1965 - )', GT [Griffith Taylor] Medal, Institute of Australian Geographers, 2025, https://www.iag.org.au/dowling-griffith-taylor. https://www.iag.org.au/gt-medal. Details

Helen Cohn

Created: 15 July 2025

EOAS ID: biogs/P007770b.htm

This Edition: 2026 February - 1926 Centenaries
Kooyang - Gariwerd calendar - Late summer: late January to late March - season of eels
Reference: https://www.bom.gov.au/resources/indigenous-weather-knowledge/indigenous-seasonal-calendars/gariwerd-calendar#bom-anchor-list__item-kooyang-season-of-eels

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"... the rengitj, as a visible mark or imprint on the land, is characterised as a place of origin, the repository of all names, as well as a kind of mapped visual expression of the connection between people and places which is to be carried out in the temporal sequence of the journey." Fanca Tamisari (1998) 'Body, Vision and Movement: In the footprints of the ancestors'. Oceania 68(4) p260