Cathy Robinson is a geographer based at CSIRO and shares the Northern Institute's interest in the design of scientifically rigorous and socially robust decision-support frameworks that are capable of translating scientific and local knowledge into environmental policy decision­ making in addition to the barriers and opportunities facing Indigenous people in their efforts to contribute to environmental  planning objectives and receive co-benefits from the delivery of carbon and water management projects.

Professor Robinson has led a highly successful program of research focused on the integration of knowledge and governance systems into environmental decision-making and management with a particular focus on Northern Australia. She is well known and accepted in many Northern Australian Indigenous and industry based communities. This body of work has had substantial scientific impact and has been funded by the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, the Tropical Savannas Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), the Desert Knowledge CRC, and the National Heritage Trust (II) program.