Researcher new president of regional science body

Charles Darwin University’s Central Australian research leader Professor Rolf Gerritsen has ascended from vice president to president of the Australia New Zealand Regional Science Association International for the next two years.

The Alice Springs based professorial research fellow with CDU’s Northern Institute becomes the first person with a major research focus on remote Australia to lead the organisation.

“We will organise an annual conference for late in the year and publish an edition of the Australasian Journal of Regional Studies,” said Professor Gerritsen, who was elected president at the annual conference in Toowoomba.

Professor Gerritsen presented a paper at the 2017 conference that explained research being undertaken to assess the potential impact of a set of strategies on tourism in Central Australia and western Queensland.

“We may find that these areas can expand tourism revenue by intensifying (or refreshing) their current tourism attractions, or by providing new tourism products, or by forming a cluster of tourism venues.”

Professor Gerritsen also co-facilitated a workshop that explored how regional research centres might develop a collaborative research agenda, and how universities could better support rural and remote regions.

The ANZRSAI draws expertise from economists, public policy professionals and social scientists and others to improve the lives of regional citizens.