Kate D'Ambrosio

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2009 Fulbright Postgraduate U.S. Alumni Scholar

Media profile

“Each year, wildfires threaten Australian and American homes, communities and lives. While the threat is the same, each country employs different risk management philosophies in response to wildfire.”

Kate D’Ambrosio, a program specialist with the National Headquarters, Fire and Aviation Management staff, United States Forest Service, has won a Fulbright Postgraduate Scholarship from the Australian-American Fulbright Commission to undertake 12 months research at RMIT University in Melbourne and the Bushfire CRC. Kate’s research will look at wildfire (bushfire) risk management.

Her project will analyse the structure that supports the Australian stay-and-defend policy in the event of a bushfire. Her research aims to provide a framework for considering the utility of the strategy’s implementation in the U.S.

Kate said that Australia’s stay and defend policy is regarded with growing interest among public land management agencies in the U.S. as a credible way to improve community and fire fighter safety and manage the enormous wildfire suppression costs.

“Australian researchers have produced significant work on the community dynamics of the stay-and-defend policy.”

Through her research, Kate will analyse the role of the collaborative relationships between Australian government agencies and the communities they serve with a view to establishing a framework for considering if the policy could be implemented in the U.S.

Kate has a B.A in Political Science and History from Willamette University, Oregon and has studied international environment and development at American University, Washington DC. She has received numerous scholarships and fellowships including a Truman Scholarship in 2005, and a professional fellowship with Senator Max Baucus in 2006.

Kate is one of 19 American Fulbright Scholars travelling to Australia in 2009/2010.