Who is the Oceania Institute?

The Oceania Institute exists to enhance collaboration, support communities, strengthen relationships and develop communities of learning across the Oceania region. Meet the people committed to making that happen.

Advisory Committee

Profile picture of Debra McDougall

A/Prof Debra McDougall

Oceania Institute Co-Director , Associate Professor in Anthropology, School of Social and Political Sciences, Faculty of Arts
debra.mcdougall@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Jon Barnett

Prof Jon Barnett

Oceania Institute Co-Director , Professor, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science
jbarn@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Rita Seumanutafa-Palala

Rita Seumanutafa-Palala

Oceania Institute Research Fellow
rita.sp@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Ellen Tunumafono

Ellen Tunumafono

Senior Co-ordinator, Indigenous STEM outreach programs & Indigenous student support, Faculty of Science
ellen.tunumafono@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Koto Qalo

Koto Qalo

President, Pacific Islands Student Association of University of Melbourne
koto@dreamers-media.com
Profile picture of Lau Dr. Viliamu Iese (Vili)

Lau Dr. Viliamu Iese (Vili)

Senior Lecturer, School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science
viliamu.iese@unimelb.edu.au
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Michael Wesley

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Global Culture & Engagement
michael.wesley@unimelb.edu.au

Research Fellows

Profile picture of Rita Seumanutafa-Palala

Rita Seumanutafa-Palala

Oceania Institute Research Fellow
rita.sp@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Jeff Noro

Jeff Noro

Oceania Institute Research Fellow
jeff.noro@unimelb.edu.au

Graduate researchers whose research focuses on Oceania

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Annie Douglas

PhD candidate, School of Social and Political Sciences, Faculty of Arts
annied2@student.unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Antonina Lee Vegar

Antonina Lee Vegar

PhD candidate, School of Global and Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
aleevegar@student.unimelb.edu.au 
Profile picture of Autumn Bordner

Autumn Bordner

PhD candidate, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science
abordner@student.unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Bateteba Aselu

Bateteba Aselu

PhD candidate, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science
baselu@student.unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Chethna Ben

Chethna Ben

PhD candidate, Melbourne School of Design, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning
chethna.ben@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Chris Paul

Chris Paul

PhD candidate, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science
chris.paul@student.unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Dorothy Foliaki

Dorothy Foliaki

PhD candidate, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science
e.foliaki@student.unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Dylan Asafo

Dylan Asafo

PhD candidate, Melbourne Centre for Law and the Environment, Melbourne Law School
dasafo@student.unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Eroni Batikawai

Eroni Batikawai

PhD candidate
e.batikawai@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Jason Titifanue

Jason Titifanue

Associate Research Fellow - Specialist , PhD candidate, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science
jasonwesleyravai.titifanue@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Juliette Hakwa

Juliette Hakwa

PhD candidate, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science
juliette.hakwa@student.unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Gemma Tarpey-Brown

Gemma Tarpey-Brown

Research Assistant , PhD candidate, Nossal Institute for Global Health, School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
g.tarpeybrown@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Rebecca Spratt

Rebecca Spratt

Research Assistant , PhD candidate, Faculty of Education
rebecca.spratt@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Tracey Young

Tracey Young

PhD candidate, Doherty Institute, School of Biomedical Science
tracey.young@student.unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Tearinaki Tanielu

Tearinaki Tanielu

PhD candidate, School of Geography, Earth and Atmostpheric Sciences, Faculty of Science
tanielut@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Rev. Dr. Inoke Veamatahau

Rev. Dr. Inoke Veamatahau

PhD candidate, School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
iveamatahau@student.unimelb.edu.au

More research and partnerships

The Melbourne Oceania Institute leverages the expertise of researchers across the entire University of Melbourne and government and community groups across Oceania – visit our research areas to see everyone we work with.