Team

John Shaver is Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Baylor University. He is a biocultural and evolutionary anthropologist. Most of his work to date has focused on understanding cultural variation in solutions to collective action and collective resource problems, and how these solutions may impact health and well-being. 

Further information about John’s research can be found on his Baylor University Profile Page and his personal website.

Professor Patrick Vakaoti is Dean of Te Tumu at the University of Otago. Patrick is interested in sociological and community development work with young people. He researches in Fiji and the Pacific region exploring youth issues like street-frequenting and political participation. His other interests include child protection and indigenous community development. Patrick’s work extends to consultancy research where he has worked with organisations like UNICEF Pacific, Pacific Leadership Programme (DFAT) and the Pacific Community.

More information about Patrick can be found on his University of Otago profile page.

Joseph is interested in what makes life good. This question is relevant to everyone, yet what do we really know? To answer this question, Joseph and his collaborators create purpose-built databases and apply systematic quantitative methods.

More information about Joseph can be found on his profile page at Victoria University of Wellington.

Thomas’ research examines the politics, histories and effects of secularism and secularization in the Pacific. He is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Otago. Before coming to Otago for his PhD studies in 2016, Tom led the Ethics and Governance programme at the Fiji National University.

You can also view Thomas’ personal website to learn more..

Nuzla Ismail is a researcher at the University of Otago. She completed her PhD in Information Science from the University of Otago, New Zealand. She is skilled in data analytics, building machine learning models, and data visualisation. She has a great interest in big data ecosystems. Nuzla has contributed to modelling the Fijian data and visualising them, deriving valuable insights.

You can also view Nuzla’s LinkedIn profile.

Kerian Varaine is an assistant for the research and development of the field work data collection process. An accomplished composer, performer and artist in a parallel life. He works at the University of Otago.

Kerian’s pursuits can be followed at kerianvaraine.github.io/.

Candis lives in Levuka town and has now worked on two rounds of data collection in both 2023 and 2024 for the project as a local research officer.

Teresia is from Tokou (just south down the coast from Levuka town) and has now successfully worked on two rounds of data collection in both 2023 and 2024 for the project as a local research officer

Kasa is lives in Nadevo, Baba and has now successfully worked on two rounds of data collection in both 2023 and 2024 for the project as a local research officer

Emori lives in Nosonoso, Baba, and worked on the 2024 round of data collection for the project as a local research officer

Maria lives in Levuka-Vakaviti and she worked on the 2024 round of data collection for the project as a local research officer

Wallene lives in Korovou, Baba and has worked on the first rounds of data collection for the project in 2023 as a local research officer, and now works with a micro-financing project helping small businesses grow on Ovalau.

Akuila lives in Levuka-Vakaviti and worked as a local research officer undertaking data collection in 2023. He now works for the Methodist Church.

Avikali lives in Korovou, Baba, and is the community health officer for Baba. A crucial on-the-ground contact for the project between data collection periods, Avikali also contributes local knowledge of the community population and its health challenges.

Junior is the turaga ni koro (elected headman) of Baba and lives in Korovou, Baba. Junior is a key cultural broker for the project and plays an important role in faciliating our research officers entry into the villages and settlements for data collection.