Cecily Maller

Cecily Maller is a human geographer specialising in more-than-human approaches and working with relational theories, particularly theories of social practice. Her research focuses on everyday human-environment interactions in urban settings. She is particularly interested in the affective, health and wellbeing dimensions of multi-species interactions in homes, workplaces and neighbourhoods, and how to make cities healthier, climate adapted, and more equitable places.

From 2018-2023 she was Lead Editor of the journal ‘People and Nature’ and she is the author of ‘Healthy urban environments: More-than-human theories’ (Routledge, 2018). Her other books include two edited collections, 'Social Practices, Intervention and Sustainability: Beyond Behaviour Change' (Routledge, 2012) and 'Social Practices and Dynamic Non-Humans: Nature, Materials and Technologies' (Palgrave, 2019).

A Professor at RMIT University’s School of Global, Urban and Social Studies in Melbourne, Australia her research is based in the Centre for Urban Research where she co-led the Beyond Behaviour Change (2012-2019) and People and Environment (2019-2023) research programs.

Cecily has an interdisciplinary background comprising a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Australian Environmental Studies and a PhD in health and social development, and she enjoys working across disciplines to address complex social and environmental challenges.

Before joining RMIT, Cecily was a social scientist for the Australian Department of Agriculture where she managed research projects commissioned by policymakers on change in rural industries and communities. She has conducted social and environmental research for Australian universities and governments since 1998. Cecily has a BSc Hons in Environmental Studies (Behavioural Ecology) and a PhD in Health Promotion on contact with nature and children’s mental, emotional and social health (funded by VicHealth).