About

Ecologist. Linguist. Communication scientist.

I’m Dr Trudi Ryan, Principal of Words for Change, with more than 30 years’ experience across environmental research, education and communication.

I hold a BSc (Hons) and PhD in Ecology, a Master of Linguistics and postgraduate qualifications in Behavioural Neurobiology and Marketing Communication. For the past 20 years, through NRM Communication and now Words for Change, I have worked with government agencies, research organisations and practitioners across conservation, Landcare, natural resource management and water. This has included research translation, communication strategy, writing and editing, workshops, language analysis and communication resource development.

My work has also extended into community resilience, social connection and values-based communication, particularly in rural and regional contexts.

Prior to establishing my consultancy, I worked in environmental research, education and communication roles with organisations including CSIRO, Land & Water Australia, Deakin University and Victorian government conservation and natural resource management agencies.

Through this interdisciplinary academic background and professional experience, I developed Language Unearthed, an applied ecolinguistics framework for exploring how language shapes our relationship and responsibility to the natural world. Its water-specific application, Language Untapped, examines how language shapes the way we understand, value and manage water.

My current work focuses on workshops, language analysis, research and communication, drawing particularly on ecolinguistics, cognitive linguistics, values research and social neuroscience.

Roles & Affiliations

Adjunct Lecturer in Linguistics, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of New England
Deputy Chair, Country Universities Centre Ovens–Murray
Member, Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal Expertise Pool
Accredited Professional Editor (IPEd)
Coach in the Schwartz Values System
Member, International Ecolinguistics Association
Member, International Cognitive Linguistics Association
Member, Association for Researching and Applying Metaphor

image: Rebecca Westcott, Bush Heritage