Peppi Iovanella

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About

Peppi Iovanella is a leading voice in community-based environmental governance, with a research focus on participatory adaptation and resilience-building in complex socio-ecological systems. Her most cited work, "Power to the People, Power to the Reef: Harnessing Community Capital to Scale Adaption Delivery in the Great Barrier Reef" (2025), challenges the institutional dominance in resilience scholarship by centering community perspectives as active drivers of change. This paper demonstrates how local knowledge and social capital can be leveraged to scale adaptation efforts in the Great Barrier Reef, offering a critical counterpoint to top-down scientific narratives. By reframing communities not merely as informants but as co-creators of adaptation strategies, Iovanella’s work has significant implications for environmental policy and grassroots conservation. Her research bridges the gap between academic theory and on-the-ground action, making her a key figure in the push for more inclusive, community-led environmental management. With growing recognition for her innovative approach, Iovanella is shaping the future of participatory resilience research.