Dr Daniela Medina Hidalgo | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

Dr Medina Hidalgo is a Research Fellow with the Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research (ACPIR). She holds a BSc in agricultural engineering from EARTH University in Costa Rica, an MSc in environment with a specialisation in climate change adaptation, from Griffith University in Australia, and a PhD in human geography from the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia. Daniela has over 10 years of experience in international agricultural development projects. She worked for the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture as climate change and agriculture specialist for over 6 years. Her work allowed her to engage with policymakers and governments in the development, implementation and evaluation of climate change strategies for the agricultural sector in the Americas and the Caribbean regions, and support capacity building, knowledge and information management strategies.

Daniela also has practical and technical experience working with farmers’ organisations, community groups and the tourism sector on sustainable agriculture practices, agroforestry, payment for environmental services programs, waste management and environmental education. She has work and travel experience in more than 20 countries in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific Regions. Daniela’s current research aims to assess the capacities of rural communities in the Pacific to adapt to climate change, placing emphasis on smallholder food systems and the potential to implement strategies targeted at increasing food and nutrition security. She is fluent in English and Spanish, and has experience designing and managing development projects with multiple partners, funding sources and stakeholders.