I am a Research Fellow with a background in sustainable natural resource planning, management, and policy. My work sits at the intersection of marine resource governance, policy, and capacity development, with a focus on strengthening the institutions, decision-making processes, and management approaches that support the sustainable and equitable use of fisheries and aquaculture resources. I am particularly interested in how research can inform policy and practice, and in developing practical solutions to complex marine resource management challenges.

For nearly 20 years, I have had the privilege of working on applied research, policy, and capacity development initiatives in diverse fisheries and aquaculture contexts across the South Pacific Islands, North America and the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. Working closely with government agencies, regional organisations, communities, development partners, and other sectoral stakeholders, I have contributed to efforts to strengthen the skills, knowledge, and institutional capacity needed to address complex and evolving marine resource management challenges. Through these experiences, I have developed a strong appreciation of the diverse socio-political, cultural, economic, and environmental contexts that influence how marine resources are governed around the world.

My research primarily examines how governance arrangements, organisational processes, and institutional capacity influence planning, decision-making, and evaluation in fisheries and aquaculture management. I work primarily in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean region and increasingly in Southeast Asia. A particular focus of my work is identifying practical and equitable approaches to fisheries conservation and management that support food security, livelihoods, and the long-term sustainability of marine and coastal social-ecological systems. My work also explores how research can better inform policy and practice. This includes translating research into management tools, technical guidance, policy processes, and capacity development activities that support governments and other marine resource practitioners.

 

More recently, I have become interested in how information and communications technologies (ICT) and their associated data systems are transforming fisheries management. This includes understanding how these technologies influence the way management problems are defined, how decisions are made and evaluated, and whose knowledge and perspectives are included in these processes.