Dr Leif Petersen is a global south community resilience specialist with an extensive background in sustainable development, environmental practice, and not-for-profit leadership. His expertise focuses on climate change adaptation, indigenous cultures, livelihoods, and local economic development across more than 20 countries.
Professional Background and Expertise
Dr Petersen’s career spans over 25 years, marked by a deep commitment to translating global frameworks like the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme into local, community-driven action.
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Not-for-Profit Leadership: He co-founded and served as Founding Board Chairman and Co-Director of the Sustainable Livelihoods Foundation (SLF) non-profit company in Cape Town, South Africa, for over 15 years (2010–December 2022). In this role, he directed fundraising, staffing, and project management for over 100 multidisciplinary projects with budgets up to AUD $2 million, covering economic inclusion, public health, and resilience building. Leif and colleagues became industry leaders in applied development research and community engagement in marginalized contexts, with its work informing policies at local, regional, and national government levels, including policy advisory on informal market dynamics and grey economies.
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Applied Resilience and Health: Most recently in Queensland, Leif has provided technical support for Community Resilience to agencies including the Country to Coast Queensland Primary Healthcare Network (PHN). His work involves leading a social-sciences driven enterprise focused on disaster resilience, community health, and community engagement.Â
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Research & Policy: Dr. Petersen holds a PhD in Integrative Systems (University of Queensland) and was a Post-Doctoral fellowship on Informal Food Systems with the South African Centre of Excellence in Food Security. His academic and research work on biodiversity economies, informal livelihoods, and policy innovation is evidenced by over 40 peer-reviewed publications, two books, and over 50 policy briefings. He is also an Adjunct Fellow at the University of the Sunshine Coast School of Law and Society, Stellenbosch University, and the University of the Western Cape.
Dr Petersen is currently based in Tewantin, and spends time on the river, raising teenagers and is a weekly volunteer presenter with Noosa FM. His approach is collaborative, data-informed, and grounded in lived experience, making him a strategic leader for the NBRF’s multi-stakeholder mandate.
