Dona Toyesha Padukkage

Dona Toyesha Padukkage joined the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at UNSW Canberra in May 2023 as a PhD Research Scholar in International and Political Studies. Her PhD project focuses on examining climate vulnerability and insecurity in the Pacific region. This discussion on climate vulnerability and insecurity would entail analyses of Pacific perceptions of climate vulnerability and insecurity, climate governance structures, and geopolitical players in the Pacific. This research aims to present a pragmatic approach to regional climate policy and governance for effectively addressing climate vulnerability and insecurity. Toyesha’s research project would make a key contribution to the scholarship on climate security and earth system governance. Supervisors of this PhD project are Professor Anthony Burke (Primary Supervisor) and Professor Shirley Scott (Secondary Supervisor).

Toyesha holds a Master of Arts (International Relations) degree from Deakin University of Australia, and a Bachelor of Laws degree with honours from the University of London UK. Prior to joining UNSW Canberra, she worked as a Research Assistant at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies affiliated with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9471-1403