Ben Christie-Johnson
Scholar
A passion for design and storytelling led Ben into studying architecture in the late 1990’s, before immersing himself in a decade long career as an expedition guide, developing and leading tours throughout Australia and abroad. Understanding and interpreting landscapes and cultures in this role evolved into a degree in planning with a strong focus on ecotourism and regional planning. Through his later work on the strategic framework of the Hinchinbrook Shire Planning Scheme his career segued back into story telling with a strong focus on rural economic development. Ben’s passion for researching, developing and promoting alternative approaches to rural economic development inspires him to now seek a larger canvas, surround himself with talented like-minded colleagues and contribute to the knowledge base reshaping approaches to rural communities in decline.