Research Interests

Seán has a background in applied anthropology. His research interests are community-based management of natural resources, common property rights, common property resource institutions, subsistence, political economy, wildlife utilisation and community development.

Prior to coming to CAEPR Seán managed the Northern Land Council's Caring for Country Unit based in Darwin. Here, he worked with Aboriginal traditional land owner groups in the tropical savannas of the Northern Territory developing land and sea management plans, enterprises based on wildlife utilisation, brokering resources and training opportunities, community capacity building and lobbying. Seán has experience in working on sea rights issues where he worked for 8 years as a senior policy advisor to Te Ohu Kai Moana (The Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission) in New Zealand implementing the Treaty of Waitangi (Fisheries Claims) Settlement Act 1992. Seán's PhD research focussed on whaling in the Faroes (Northeast Atlantic) where he examined the development and performance of the Grindadráp (the 1000-year-old Faroese community-based whaling institution).

Seán is currently working on the 'People on Country - Healthy Landscapes and Indigenous Economic Futures research project.

Resumé

2007             Research Fellow, CAEPR.

2002-2007    Executive Officer, Caring for Country Unit, Northern Land Council, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

2001-2002    PhD Fieldwork, Faroe Islands.

2001-2001    Advisor, High North Alliance, Lofoton Islands, Norway.

1997-1999    Treaty Settlement Negotiator, Ngati Tama, Ngati Mutunga, Te Atiawa, Aotearoa/New Zealand.

1997             Advisor, Whanganui River Maori Trust Board, Aotearoa/New Zealand.

1993-2001    Senior Policy Advisory, Te Ohu Kai Moana (Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission), Aotearoa/New Zealand.

1992-1993    Policy Analyst, Te Puni Kōkiri (Ministry of Maori Development), Aotearoa/New Zealand.

1991             Consultant, Local Government Reform, Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (Te Kaitiaki Taiao a Te Whare Pâremata)