Rifaee (Rify) is a PhD candidate with the Resources, Environment and Development Group at the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy. Rify’s research focuses on the social sciences aspect of environmental sustainability, and natural resource management – particularly in the context of communities in marine and coastal settings. In her PhD, she examines the relationship between marine protected areas and human well-being with a focus on identifying ways to shape marine conservation strategies as optimal management tools that can contribute towards sustaining human well-being.

Prior to joining the ANU, she worked as social science researcher with the International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN) on implementing various marine management and climate change projects. She also worked as a marine biologist in the Maldives and has varied experiences in marine conservation education and community mobilisation events. Rify is the founder of the ‘Moodhu Maa-Kan’du Fest” - an annual marine conservation-educational festival held in the Maldives. She also the co-founder of the Maldives branch of the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP).

Rify holds a BSc in Marine Biology and Aquaculture from the James Cook University (JCU), and a Masters in Environmental Management and Development from the Australian National University (ANU). Currently, Rify is the Managing Editor for the Journal The Anthropocene Review. She is also a part-time tutor at Crawford School of Public Policy.

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