Prior to becoming an academic, I worked as an economic development consultant and Japanese/English interpreter. I have lived in Australia, USA, Indonesia and Japan. Currently employed as a senior research fellow at UWA, I played a lead role in an industry-funded research agenda examining globalisation and economic development in Perth, Western Australia. This work balances fundamental research with applied outputs to inform strategic policy and decision making for local and state government. I am currently funded by two competitive Australian Research Council (ARC) grants which seek to innovate on current methods of urban network analysis.

My work is grounded in its multi-scale spatial focus on the uneven distribution of resources (mining, energy, innovation, wealth) as well as an understanding of the urban and socio-economic factors that increase economic competitiveness and mitigate uneven development. I employ social network analysis (SNA) and econometric statistical analysis to unpack flows and interactions between local economic agents (both labour and corporate) and understand how cities connect at the global scale. My research seeks to bridge disciplines of economic geography and urban studies primarily through SNA examining city competitiveness at two levels – its comparative advantage in the global economy as well as specific industry-based competitiveness. This two-scale global/local approach is novel and challenging, but I believe most likely to generate new insights and better understandings on the dynamics of Australian competitiveness within the global system.

Australian Academy of Sciences, National Committee for Geographical Sciences, Committee Member

Geographical Research, Editorial Board Member

Dr Kirsten Martinus 2018, 'Labour and network proximity for innovation in outer metropolitan areas', UWA Fellowship Support Scheme.
Dr Sharon Biermann, Associate Professor Rachel Cardell-Oliver, Mr Brett Smith, Associate Professor Doina Olaru, Dr Kirsten Martinus, Mr Yuchao Sun, Professor Craig Standing, Associate Professor Ferry Jie 2017, 'RailSmart Wanneroo Planning Support System', Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Smart Cities and Suburbs Program.
Dr Kirsten Martinus, Dr Paul Maginn 2017, 'Transformational Projects in the Growing Outer Suburbs', RMIT ex City of Whittlesea.
Professor Matthew Tonts, Dr Ben Derudder, Dr Thomas Sigler, Dr Kirsten Martinus, Associate Professor Glen Searle (2016) 'The Globalisation of the Resources Sector(s) in Australian Cities', ARC Discovery Projects.
Dr Kirsten Martinus (2016) 'Labour and network proximity for innovation in outer metropolitan areas', ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards.
Martinus, K. (2016) Ward Boundary Review Research Project, Shire of Dandaragan.
Martinus, K (2015) Bentley Tech Park: Future of Technology Parks. Brief for the Minister. Department of Commerce and Technology and Industry Advisory Council (TIAC).
Sigler, T. & Martinus, K. (2015) Brisbane as Globally Connected City. University of Queensland and University of Western Australia collaborative project from Brisbane Marketing.
Sigler, T., Martinus, K., Tonts, M. & Searle, G. (2013) UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award,for project title ‘The Australian Urban Network: Understanding the Dynamics of Cities by Industries’.

1. Corporate Geographies
2. Innovation precincts, Science Parks
3. Resource Economies and uneven development

PLNG5411- Urban and Regional Analysis
PLNG1101 - Geographies of Global Cities
GEOG1102 - Globalisation, Environment and Development

Economic and human geography; Regional development and planning; Urban planning and economic development; Social capital, network economies and innovation systems; Globalisation and world systems; International comparative studies

English
Japanese