Stephanie McWhinnie

Dr Stephanie McWhinnie

Senior Lecturer

School of Economics and Public Policy

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Stephanie has been at Adelaide since 2006 following the completion of her postgraduate studies in Canada. Her interest areas are in natural resource and environmental economics with a particular focus on fisheries. There are three main areas of her research: international sharing; productivity analysis; and behavioural responses. In each area she has made a difference in the way in which we think about fisheries economics through developing new datasets to examine unanswered questions; adapting tools to be more applicable to analysing fisheries from an economics perspective; or identifying unexplored aspects of fishing behaviour.

I am an applied microeconomist with primary areas of research interest in natural resource and environmental economics. Most of my work is focused on empirical analysis of fisheries, with particular interest in interjurisdictional sharing and productivity. I also have collaborated on projects examining household energy use, rural poverty, and deforestation.

Fisheries Research and Development Corporation 2022-2024 "Profiling and tracking change in Australia's seafood workforce: Establishing a baseline workforce dataset" with FES and WISA $259,000

Fisheries Research and Development Corporation 2020-2022 "Measuring, Interpreting and Monitoring Economic Productivity in Commercial Fisheries" with CSIRO, BDO EconSearch, ABARES, PIRSA, QDAF $248,000

Fisheries Research and Development Corporation 2009-2015 “Building Economic Capability to Improve the Management of Marine Resources in Australia” with University of Tasmania, Queensland University of Technology and CSIRO $950,000

University of Adelaide, Faculty of the Professions, Women’s Fellowship Scheme 2013 $15,000

University of Adelaide, Faculty of the Professions, Momentum Fund Grant 2012-2013 “Who Makes Fisheries Access Agreements with Whom?” with Tatyana Chesnokova $7,000

University of Adelaide, Faculty of the Professions, Small Research Grant 2008 “What Determines Fish Prices on a Global Scale” $7,000 

Australian Resource and Environmental Economics Society, Heading East Award 2013 $1,000

University of Adelaide, Faculty of the Professions, Learning Development Grant 2017 “The Effect of Grade Feedback on Student Performance” with Ralph Bayer and Mandar Oak $3,000

University of Adelaide, Faculty of the Professions, Whole-Program Blending Grant 2015/2016 “Postgraduate Coursework Programs in Economics” with Florian Ploeckl, Mark Dodd, Paul Kerin, Mandar Oak, Nicholas Sim and Virginie Masson $54,800

University of Adelaide, Faculty of the Professions, Learning Development Grant 2015 “Economics Research Communication” with Florian Ploeckl and Virginie Masson $10,000

University of Adelaide Grant for Technology Enhanced Learning Projects 2014 “Bringing Playconomics to Adelaide” $10,000

University of Adelaide Implementation Grant for Learning and Teaching Enhancements 2010 “Diagnostic Testing and Online Tools in Economics Level 1 Mathematics Courses” with David Butler $5,000

University of Adelaide, School of Economics, Certificate of Recognition for PhD Supervision in 2013

My areas of teaching are in natural resource, environmental and microeconomics.  I have taught: Principles of Microeconomics; Principles of Economics; Consumers, Firms and Markets (Intermediate Micro); Resource and Environmental Economics; and Challenges Facing Economic Policy Makers.

I typically teach Principles of Economics and Resource and Environmental Economics.  All course related information is available on MyUni.

I am an active supervisor of Honours, Masters, and PhD students. 

As the Associate Head - Learning and Teaching in the School of Economics and Public Policy, I have an active engagement in Learning and Teaching policy and practice.

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Principal Supervisor The impact of consumer search behaviour on Australian retail natural gas and electricity prices and the environment Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Xiyu Ni
    2023 Co-Supervisor Essays on International Trade, Development and Demography Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Kumuthini Sivathas
    2022 Co-Supervisor The Role of NGOs as Intermediaries in Informational Lobbying Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Panharidh Kun
    2022 Principal Supervisor Assessing Energy Poverty in a Changing Climate Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Mohammad Razib Hossain
    2022 Co-Supervisor Health Inequalities Among Ethnic Groups: Causes, Drivers and Strategies Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Trang Huyen Dang
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2021 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Labour Market Dynamics in the Twenty-First Century Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Francesco Roncone
    2020 - 2022 Co-Supervisor The Science and Philosophy of Natural Resource Management: Papers on Fisheries, Environmental Philanthropy, and Animal Sentience Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Benjamin Sean Freeling
    2018 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Essays on the Macroeconomic Impact of Monetary Policy, Fiscal Policy and Financial Development: An Empirical Investigation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Ayasha Akter
    2017 - 2021 Co-Supervisor ESSAYS ON THE TWIN DEVELOPMENT CRISES OF PUBLIC DEBT AND CLIMATE DISTRESS: EVIDENCE FROM DEVELOPING ECONOMIES Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Warnakulasooriya Lakmini Priyanthi Fernando
    2010 - 2013 Co-Supervisor Matters of Management, Sustainability, and Efficiency: Essays in Fisheries Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Kofi Otumawu-Apreku
  • Committee Memberships

    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2021 - 2025 Member FRDC Human Dimensions Research Coordination Program Steering Committee Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) Australia
  • Memberships

    Date Role Membership Country
    2022 - ongoing Member Women in Seafood Australasia Australia
    2009 - ongoing Member Australian Fisheries Economics Network Australia
    2007 - ongoing Member Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society - SA Branch Australia
  • Consulting/Advisories

    Date Institution Department Organisation Type Country
    2019 - 2023 South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Panel Assessor Legislative and political Australia
  • Editorial Boards

    Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country
    2023 - ongoing Associate Editor The Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics Wiley Australia
  • Review, Assessment, Editorial and Advice

    Date Title Type Institution Country
    2020 - 2022 Research Integrity Adviser Advice University of Adelaide -

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