Dr Bethany Cooper is an Australian Research Council Mid-Career Industry Fellow and an applied economist at UniSA Business.
Her work spans resource economics with a focus on water policy and management, the interface between gender and resources and agriculture for development. For over a decade, Bethany's work has focussed on applied research, particularly in quantifying difficult policy trade-offs in the water sector and improving understanding of the complexity of choice.
Bethany has led research projects for a number of national and international agencies, such as CSIRO, SA Water, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Victoria, the New South Wales Metropolitan Water Directorate and the Australian Centre for... Read more
About me
Dr Bethany Cooper is an Australian Research Council Mid-Career Industry Fellow and an applied economist at UniSA Business.
Her work spans resource economics with a focus on water policy and management, the interface between gender and resources and agriculture for development. For over a decade, Bethany's work has focussed on applied research, particularly in quantifying difficult policy trade-offs in the water sector and improving understanding of the complexity of choice.
Bethany has led research projects for a number of national and international agencies, such as CSIRO, SA Water, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Victoria, the New South Wales Metropolitan Water Directorate and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.
Bethany has published in a number of highly ranked journals and has won several prestigious prizes for her research (e.g. CEDA prize awarded for excellence in economic policy).
Currently, Bethany is an Adjunct with the School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia. She is also leading the economics team working within the CRC SAAFE that looks at managing antimicrobial resistance in partnership with industry.
Prior to joining the University of South Australia in 2016, Bethany was a Research Fellow in the Centre for Water Policy and Management, La Trobe University.
About me
About me
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 10/11/2022 |
Enterprise Magazine, 'Shining a light on the world's hidden pandemic', https://www.unisa.edu.au/connect/enterprise-magazine/articles/2022/story10/ |
| 22/07/2022 |
Water Source, ‘Different farmers have different needs: customising reclaimed water for agricultural use’ , https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/different-farmers-have-different-needs-customising-reclaimed-water-for-agricultural-use? |
| 16/08/2018 |
Radio National, The Money, 'The big dry: how drought affects economies', http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/themoney/the-big-dry/10127992 |
About me
Doctor of Philosophy La Trobe University
Bachelor of Business (Honours) La Trobe University
2024-present Australian Research Council Mid-Career Industry Fellowship, University of South Australia
2024 Senior Lecturer, Economics, UniSA Business, University fo South Australia
2016-2023 Senior Research Fellow, UniSA Business, University of South Australia
2014-2016 Lecturer, School of Business, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, La Trobe University
2012-2013 Research Fellow, Centre for Water Policy and Management, School of Economics, La Trobe University
2008-2011 Associate Lecturer, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, La Trobe University
2005-2007 Teaching Fellow, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, La Trobe University
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Understanding and enumerating water management options at the margin: a blueprint for achieving optimal outcomes in the CLLMM, Goyder Institute for Water Research, 31/07/2024 - 02/03/2026
Water Resilient Rural Communities in South Punjab, Pakistan, Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research, 19/03/2025 - 30/08/2025
Climate-proofing accounting standards: Developing a guidebook of options for Accountants for long-lived and climate-exposed assets, CPA Australia, 07/01/2022 - 30/06/2025
Carbon benefits measurement, verification and accounts for South Australian Blue Carbon Ecosystem Restoration Project, Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, 01/06/2023 - 30/06/2025
Adaptation of the South-Eastern drainage system under a changing climate, Goyder Institute for Water Research, 31/10/2022 - 31/05/2025
Strategies for land improvement districts in Japan: Lessons from Australia, Iwate University, 11/12/2023 - 29/02/2024
Institutions to support intensification, integrated decision making and inclusiveness in agriculture in the East Gangetic Plain, ACIAR-Research and Development Program, 30/06/2018 - 30/09/2021
Efficient participatory irrigation to support productive and sustainable agriculture in south Asia, ACIAR-Research and Development Program, 26/08/2016 - 30/06/2021
Quantifying biophysical and community impacts of improved fish passage in Lao PDR, ACIAR-Research and Development Program, 01/01/2016 - 31/12/2020
The Role of Epistemic Community in developing agri environmental policies, Iwate University, 15/11/2017 - 30/06/2018
Valuing environmental water entitlements owned by Melbourne water, Melbourne Water Corporation, 01/07/2016 - 30/07/2017
Adaptation of the South-Eastern drainage system under a changing climate, Limestone Coast Landscape Board and Goyder Institute for Water Research. 2022/2024
Framing for a decision support tool to identify barriers & drivers for point-source removal of antibiotic microbials, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). 2022/23
Customer aesthetic preferences in rural supply systems in SA, SA Water. 2022/2024
Developing a framework for a water rating system, Department of Environment and Water and Goyder Institute for Water Research. 2022
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
Open access
9
8
7
|
| 2021 |
Open access
14
12
1
|
| 2019 |
Open access
18
15
18
|
| 2019 |
9
9
6
|
| 2017 |
Open access
28
23
3
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2021 |
Open access
|
| 2015 |
14
3
|
| 2014 |
|
| 2012 |
Open access
|
| 2011 |
1
|
| 2011 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2025 |
Open access
1
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
1
2
1
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
3
|
| 2024 |
Open access
4
2
|
| 2024 |
Open access
2
|
| 2023 |
Open access
3
3
3
|
| 2023 |
Open access
3
2
|
| 2023 |
Open access
5
5
1
|
| 2023 |
Open access
|
| 2023 |
Open access
2
2
6
|
| 2023 |
Open access
2
2
1
|
| 2022 |
Open access
9
8
7
|
| 2021 |
Open access
32
8
|
| 2021 |
Open access
14
12
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
4
4
2
|
| 2020 |
Open access
11
9
|
| 2020 |
Open access
16
13
1
|
| 2020 |
3
2
|
| 2020 |
Open access
9
6
2
|
| 2019 |
Open access
18
15
18
|
| 2019 |
9
9
6
|
| 2019 |
|
| 2019 |
Open access
5
5
1
|
| 2019 |
Open access
8
7
2
|
| 2019 |
Open access
10
6
22
|
| 2018 |
Open access
6
6
1
|
| 2018 |
Open access
2
2
|
| 2018 |
Open access
3
3
1
|
| 2017 |
Open access
28
23
3
|
| 2017 |
10
9
|
| 2017 |
Open access
8
8
1
|
| 2017 |
Open access
4
3
2
|
| 2016 |
11
10
1
|
| 2015 |
Open access
10
9
|
| 2014 |
32
29
|
| 2014 |
7
|
| 2012 |
Open access
45
40
|
| 2011 |
Open access
26
22
|
| 2009 |
|
| 2008 |
4
3
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2023 |
Open access
|
| 2022 |
Open access
|
| 2021 |
Open access
|
| 2021 |
Open access
|
| 2020 |
Open access
2
|
| 2013 |
Open access
|
Recent Invited Presentations
Cooper, B. (2024), “Modelling and measuring social license to operate”, Water Research Australia Workshop, OzWater, 30th April, Melbourne.
Cooper, B. (2023), “Maintaining a social license to operate for wastewater-based monitoring” to the Wastewater Based Epidemiology Community of Practice, hosted by Water Research Australia, 22nd November 2023.
Cooper, B. (2023), Roundtable “Measuring, Managing, Mitigating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Water”, National Press Club, Canberra, 14th March 2023.
Cooper, B. (2022) “The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance in food, agriculture and the environment requires new approaches”, Biosecurity Seminar, 16th November, Adelaide.
Cooper, B. (2022) “Integrated water resource management”, Industry and Academia Event, hosted by the Australian Water Association, 14th June, Adelaide, Australia.
Cooper, B. (2022) “Shaping the policy of water markets to manage water use in Australia”, International Symposium of Agri-environmental Policy Formation, hosted by OECD and Iwate University, 11th March, International Webinar.
Cooper, B. (2021) “Gender in agriculture”, hosted by Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), 30th August, International Webinar.
Cooper, B. (2021) “The uptake of reclaimed water: an agricultural enterprise perspective”, SA Water, 4th June, Adelaide, Australia.
Cooper, B. (2019) “Avoiding food insecurity when developing irrigation projects”, Session convened by FAO of the United Nations at the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage: 3rd World Irrigation Forum, 1-7 September, Indonesia.
Cooper, B. (2019) Australian Water Association (AWA) Young Water Professionals Event, 15th August, Adelaide, Australia.
Cooper, B. (2019) Symposium: Economics of managing water in Australia, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Annual Meeting, 21-23 July, Atlanta, Georgia.
Cooper, B. (2019) “Valuing environmental water entitlements”, presented to the Victorian Environmental Water Officer Network, 6th June, Melbourne, Australia.
Cooper, B. & Crase, L. (2019) “What do water customers really want?” presented to the Water Services Association of Australia, 12th June, Adelaide, Australia.
Cooper, B. (2018) “Digital meters and other innovations in urban water”, Intelligent Water Network, 21st November, Melbourne, Australia.
Research
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Aither Consulting | AUSTRALIA |
| Asian Development Bank | PHILIPPINES |
| Australasian Fish Passage Services | AUSTRALIA |
| Australian National University | AUSTRALIA |
| Bangladesh Agricultural University | BANGLADESH |
| Charles Darwin University | AUSTRALIA |
| Charles Sturt University | AUSTRALIA |
| CSIRO Australia (Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research organisation) | AUSTRALIA |
| Fauna and Flora International | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Flinders University | AUSTRALIA |
| Foreign Trade University | VIET NAM |
| Griffith University | AUSTRALIA |
| Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad | INDIA |
| International Food Policy Research Institute | INDIA |
| La Trobe University | AUSTRALIA |
| Living Aquatic Resources Research Center | LAOS |
| Matopos Research Station | ZIMBABWE |
| Mehran University of Engineering and Technology | PAKISTAN |
| Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
| National University of Laos | LAOS |
| Pakistan Agricultural Research Council | PAKISTAN |
| Pakistan Institute of Development Economics | PAKISTAN |
| The Technical University of Lisbon | PORTUGAL |
| United States Department of the Interior | UNITED STATES |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Agriculture Faisalabad | PAKISTAN |
| University of Manchester | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Nebraska–Lincoln | UNITED STATES |
| University of New England | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Technology Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Associate editor for the journal Australian Economic PapersAustralian Economic Papers |
2025 |
Director, National Board, Australasian Agricultural and Resource Economics SocietyAustralasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2025 |
MemberAustralasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2025 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economists |
2025 |
Associate editor for the journal Australian Economic PapersAustralian Economic Papers |
2024 |
Australian Research Council (ARC) Mid-Career Industry FellowshipMelbourne Water |
2024 |
Director, National Board, Australasian Agricultural and Resource Economics SocietyAustralasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2024 |
MemberAustralasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2024 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economists |
2024 |
Associate editor for the journal Australian Economic PapersAustralian Economic Papers |
2023 |
Director, National Board, Australasian Agricultural and Resource Economics SocietyAustralasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2023 |
Executive Committee (South Australia), Australian Water AssociationAustralian Water Association |
2023 |
MemberAustralasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2023 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economists |
2023 |
Appointed Judge Australian Water Association - National Award for Research & Development ExcellenceAustralian Water Association |
2022 |
Associate EditorAustralian Economic Papers |
2022 |
Associate editor for the journal Australian Economic PapersAustralian Economic Papers |
2022 |
Director, National Board, Australasian Agricultural and Resource Economics SocietyAustralasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2022 |
Executive Committee (South Australia), Australian Water AssociationAustralian Water Association |
2022 |
Executive Committee Member (South Australia)Australian Water Association |
2022 |
MemberAustralasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2022 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economists |
2022 |
MentorWomen in Economics Network (WEN) |
2022 |
OzWater Conference, Top PaperAustralian Water Association |
2022 |
Executive Committee (South Australia), Australian Water AssociationAustralian Water Association |
2021 |
Executive Committee Member (South Australia)Australian Water Association |
2021 |
MemberAustralasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2021 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economics |
2021 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economists |
2021 |
MentorWomen in Economics Network (WEN) |
2021 |
Executive Committee (South Australia), Australian Water AssociationAustralian Water Association |
2020 |
Executive Committee Member (South Australia)Australian Water Association |
2020 |
Executive Committee Member (South Australia)Economics Society of Australia |
2020 |
FellowshipSA Government¿s Future Industries Accelerator Mobility Fellowship |
2020 |
Invited Member of National Nominations Committee for Distinguished Fellows and Distinguished Life MembersAustralasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2020 |
MemberAustralasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2020 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economics |
2020 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economists |
2020 |
MentorWomen in Economics Network (WEN) |
2020 |
Executive Committee (South Australia), Australian Water AssociationAustralian Water Association |
2019 |
Executive Committee Member (South Australia)Economics Society of Australia |
2019 |
Executive Committee Member (South Australia)Australian Water Association |
2019 |
Inaugural ChairWomen in Economics Network (WEN) South Australia |
2019 |
Invited Member of National Nominations Committee for Distinguished Fellows and Distinguished Life MembersAustralasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2019 |
Invited to Executive National CommitteeWomen in Economics Network (WEN) |
2019 |
MemberAustralasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2019 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economics |
2019 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economists |
2019 |
MentorWomen in Economics Network (WEN) |
2019 |
Vice President (SA Branch)Australasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2019 |
Executive Committee Member (South Australia)Economics Society of Australia |
2018 |
Inaugural ChairWomen in Economics Network (WEN) South Australia |
2018 |
Invited Member of National Nominations Committee for Distinguished Fellows and Distinguished Life MembersAustralasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2018 |
Invited to Executive National CommitteeWomen in Economics Network (WEN) |
2018 |
MemberAustralasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2018 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economics |
2018 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economists |
2018 |
Vice President (SA Branch)Australasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2018 |
Best Paper Prize - Economic PapersWiley Publisher |
2017 |
Co-FounderWomen in Economics Network (National) |
2017 |
Executive Committee Member (South Australia)Economics Society of Australia |
2017 |
Inaugural ChairWomen in Economics Network (WEN) South Australia |
2017 |
Invited Member of National Nominations Committee for Distinguished Fellows and Distinguished Life MembersAustralasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2017 |
Invited to Executive National CommitteeWomen in Economics Network (WEN) |
2017 |
MemberAustralasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2017 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economics |
2017 |
MemberAustralian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2017 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economists |
2017 |
Vice President (SA Branch)Australasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2017 |
MemberAustralasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2016 |
MemberAmerican Agricultural and Applied Economics Association |
2016 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economists |
2016 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economics |
2016 |
MemberAustralian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2016 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economists |
2016 |
MemberAmerican Agricultural and Applied Economics Association |
2015 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economists |
2015 |
MemberAustralian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2015 |
MemberAmerican Agricultural and Applied Economics Association |
2014 |
MemberAustralian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2014 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economists |
2014 |
Heading North Award (Early Careers Researcher)Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2013 |
MemberAmerican Agricultural and Applied Economics Association |
2013 |
MemberAustralian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2013 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economists |
2013 |
MemberEuropean Association of Environmental and Resource Economists |
2012 |
MemberAustralian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2012 |
Awarded for excellence in researchFaculty of Law and Management, La Trobe University |
2011 |
MemberAustralian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2011 |
Award for excellence in economics and economic policyCommittee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) |
2010 |
MemberAustralian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2010 |
Heading East Award (Early Career Researcher)Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2009 |
MemberAustralian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2009 |
MemberAustralian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society |
2008 |
2022-2024, Director, Australasian Agricultural and Resource Economics National Board
2021-2023, Stream Leader Resource Allocation and Management Stream: Centre for Markets, Values and Inclusion, UniSA.
2022, “Integrated water resource management”, Industry and Academia Event, hosted by the Australian Water Association, 14th June, Adelaide, Australia.
2022, “Shaping the policy of water markets to manage water use in Australia”, International Symposium of Agri-environmental Policy Formation, hosted by OECD and Iwate University, 11th March, International Webinar.
2022, “Shaping the policy of water markets to manage water use in Australia”, International Symposium of Agri-environmental Policy Formation, hosted by OECD and Iwate University, 11th March, International Webinar.
2021, “Gender in agriculture”, hosted by Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), 30th August, International Webinar.
2021, “The uptake of reclaimed water: an agricultural enterprise perspective”, SA Water, 4th June, Adelaide, Australia.
2019, “Avoiding food insecurity when developing irrigation projects”, Session convened by FAO of the United Nations at the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage: 3rd World Irrigation Forum, 1-7 September, Indonesia.
2019, Australian Water Association (AWA) Young Water Professionals Event, 15th August, Adelaide, Australia.
2019, Symposium: Economics of managing water in Australia, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Annual Meeting, 21-23 July, Atlanta, Georgia.
2019, Convenor of the National Water Forum, Adelaide, Australia, November 2019.
2019, “Valuing environmental water entitlements”, presented to the Victorian Environmental Water Officer Network, 6th June, Melbourne, Australia.
2017-2018, Executive Member, Resources Committee, Centre for Sustainability Governance, UniSA.
2018, Convenor, Reserve Bank of Australian and Women in Economics Network Secondary Student Event, “Careers in Economics: Understand the World Around You”, Adelaide, 15 August 2018.
2017, MCR Representative, Business School’s Research Management Committee, UniSA.
2017, Convenor of the Payment for Ecosystem Services Symposium, Adelaide, November 2017.
2016, Co-Convenor of the National Water Forum, Adelaide, Australia, November 2016.
2017 - 2018, Co-Chair of the Local Organising Committee for the Annual Australasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society Conference (National), Adelaide Convention Centre, February 2018.
2015 - 2016, Director, Albury-Wodonga Parklands Board, New South Wales.
2015 - 2016, Scientific Committee of the International Conference ‘Adapting to Climate Change – Water, Waste and Other Local Infrastructure’, Lisbon, Portugal.
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| Aligning water resource management and policies with Indigenous Peoples' vision of sustainable development: a case study of the Martuwarra (Fitzroy) River catchment, West Kimberley, WA | Current |
| Women's Empowerment in Agriculture in South Asia: Improving Measurement to Raise Welfare | Current |
| `Pick me, pick me!' Standing out in e-commerce. Uncovering insights regarding successful methods for brand prominence online | Completed |
| Assessing the welfare impacts of alternative strategies targeting farmer households in Bangladesh: possible strategies for better governance | Completed |
| Loosening the ties that bind: institutional analysis of young people's livelihoods on smallholder irrigation schemes in Zimbabwe | Completed |
| Technology, groundwater and gender: insights into smallholders¿ access and preferences in West Bengal, India | Completed |
