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Dr Sophie-May Kerr

Dr Sophie-May Kerr

Lecturer

Doctor of Philosophy (Human Geography), University of Wollongong

Advanced Bachelor of Science (Human Geography) (Class 1 honours), University of Wollongong

Arts, Design & Architecture (ADA)
City Futures Research Centre

Dr Sophie-May Kerr is an urban cultural geographer, who uses social research methods to better understand lived experiences of housing, home and neighbourhood transformation. Sophie-May is particularly interested in socio-material experiences of apartment living. She completed her PhD titled ‘Dwelling in discordant spaces: Material and emotional geographies of parenting in apartments’ at the University of Wollongong in 2020. She joined the City Futures team in 2021. 

Alongside her academic career, Sophie-May has extensive experience in community engagement and project leadership in the non-profit sector. Working in refugee settlement support, Sophie-May has worked across a variety of program areas including employment and training, education, youth leadership and social inclusion. Sophie-May has co-designed cultural capacity training for businesses and schools, and is an advocate for equitable and inclusive communities. 
Phone
+61 2 9348 0751
E-mail
sophiemay.kerr@unsw.edu.au
Location
City Futures Research Center Level 3, Red Centre West Wing (Building H13) UNSW Sydney
  • Book Chapters | 2024
    Easthope H; Kerr S-M, 2024, 'Addressing the unanticipated consequences of compact city policies', in Australian Urban Policy: Prospects and Pathways, ANU Press, pp. 203 - 222, http://dx.doi.org/10.22459/aup.2024.11
    Book Chapters | 2024
    Easthope H; Kerr SM, 2024, 'Condominium living', in Research Handbook on Housing, the Home and Society, pp. 327 - 345, http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781800375970.00029
    Book Chapters | 2017
    Gibson C; Klocker N; Borger E; Kerr SM, 2017, 'Malleable homes and mutual possessions: Caring and sharing in extended family households as a resource for survival', in Sharing Economies in Times of Crisis: Practices, Politics and Possibilities, pp. 35 - 49, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781315660646
  • Journal articles | 2025
    Kerr SM; Easthope H; Sherry C, 2025, 'The regulation of families with children in apartments', Housing Studies, 40, pp. 824 - 844, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2024.2313591
    Journal articles | 2024
    Alkilani S; Loosemore M; Hammad AWA; Kerr SM, 2024, 'Refugees', asylum seekers' and migrants' experiences of finding meaningful work in the Australian construction industry: a Bourdieusean analysis', Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-11-2023-1212
    Journal articles | 2024
    Cook NT; Kerr SM, 2024, 'Assembling high-rise: The uneven agencies of air in suburban densification in the Anthropocene', Urban Studies, 61, pp. 1308 - 1326, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00420980231205026
    Journal articles | 2023
    Cook N; Herath S; Kerr SM, 2023, 'Suburban densification: unpacking the misalignment between resident demand and investor-driven supply of multi-unit housing in Sydney, Australia', Australian Planner, 59, pp. 26 - 38, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07293682.2023.2197604
    Journal articles | 2022
    Easthope H; Crommelin L; Kerr SM; Troy L; van den Nouwelant R; Davison G, 2022, 'Planning for Lower‐Income Households in Privately Developed High‐Density Neighbourhoods in Sydney, Australia', Urban Planning, 7, pp. 213 - 228, http://dx.doi.org/10.17645/up.v7i4.5699
    Journal articles | 2021
    Head L; Klocker N; Dun O; Waitt G; Goodall H; Aguirre-Bielschowsky I; Gopal A; Kerr SM; Nowroozipour F; Spaven T; Toole S, 2021, 'Barriers to and enablers of sustainable practices: insights from ethnic minority migrants', Local Environment, 26, pp. 595 - 614, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2021.1904856
    Journal articles | 2021
    Kerr SM; Klocker N; Gibson C, 2021, 'From backyards to balconies: cultural norms and parents’ experiences of home in higher-density housing', Housing Studies, 36, pp. 421 - 443, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2019.1709625
    Journal articles | 2018
    Kerr SM; Gibson C; Klocker N, 2018, 'Parenting and neighbouring in the consolidating city: The emotional geographies of sound in apartments', Emotion, Space and Society, 26, pp. 1 - 8, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.emospa.2017.11.002
    Journal articles | 2018
    Kerr SM; Klocker N; Waitt G, 2018, 'Diverse driving emotions: Exploring Chinese migrants' mobilities in a car-dependent city', Transfers, 8, pp. 23 - 43, http://dx.doi.org/10.3167/TRANS.2018.080203
    Journal articles | 2016
    Waitt G; Kerr SM; Klocker N, 2016, 'Gender, ethnicity and sustainable mobility: a governmentality analysis of migrant Chinese women’s daily trips in Sydney', Applied Mobilities, 1, pp. 68 - 84, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23800127.2016.1147751
    Journal articles | 2015
    Klocker N; Toole S; Tindale A; Kerr SM, 2015, 'Ethnically Diverse Transport Behaviours: An Australian Perspective', Geographical Research, 53, pp. 393 - 405, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1745-5871.12118
  • Reports | 2024
    Kerr S-M, 2024, Planning for the inclusion of families with children in apartments, James Martin Institute for Public Policy, chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://cityfutures.ada.unsw.edu.au/documents/762/JMI-Policy-Insights-Paper-Planning-for-the-inclusion-of-families-with-children_vmaiiJn.pdf
    Reports | 2023
    Easthope H; Liu E; Kerr S, 2023, My Place Ashmore Community Survey 2023 Final report, http://dx.doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/28616, https://cityfutures.ada.unsw.edu.au/my-place-local-community-survey-2023/
    Reports | 2023
    Easthope H; Liu E; Kerr S, 2023, MyPlace Green Square Community Survey 2023 Final Report, https://cityfutures.ada.unsw.edu.au/my-place-local-community-survey-2023/
    Reports | 2023
    Kerr S-M; Crommelin L; Easthope H, 2023, Housing Suitability Literature Review, UNSW
    Reports | 2023
    Liu E; Ng M; Kerr S; Crommelin L; Debnath R; Lin Y; Pettit C, 2023, Regional NSW Housing Metrics - Consultation report