Researcher

Dr Timothy Heffernan

Keywords

Fields of Research (FoR)

Anthropology, Humanitarian disasters, conflict and peacebuilding

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Biography

I am an anthropologist living and working on Gadigal Country. I work with communities in Australia and Europe affected by event-based hardship, such as environmental disasters and political and economic crises. Informed by ethnographic fieldwork, my research examines the connection between a community's experience of crisis or disaster and the ways they set about building recovery, noting this is never straightforward.

Currently, I am a...view more

I am an anthropologist living and working on Gadigal Country. I work with communities in Australia and Europe affected by event-based hardship, such as environmental disasters and political and economic crises. Informed by ethnographic fieldwork, my research examines the connection between a community's experience of crisis or disaster and the ways they set about building recovery, noting this is never straightforward.

Currently, I am a Postdoctoral Fellow in the UNSW School of Built Environment and a visiting researcher (2022-2024) at the ANU School of Psychology and Medicine. My research has been funded by the Canadian, Australian and NSW Governments and UACES: University Association for Contemporary European Studies.

I am co-editor of The Anthropology of Ambiguity (Manchester UP, 2024) and the author of the draft manuscript Compassionate Solidarity: Crisis, recovery and the making of kincentric politics in Iceland. In addition, I have published in several leading peer-reviewed journals including Social Anthropology, History and Anthropology, Conflict and Society and The Australian Journal of Emergency Management.

Inaugural network lead: UNSW Interdisciplinary Ethnography Network (UNSW IEN)


My Grants

Transforming Vulnerability into Resilience: Assessing and Addressing Vulnerability in Climate Displaced Populations through the Housing Eco-system. Funded by the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC, 110245-001) (2024-2026)

Enhancing Housing Recovery Policy and Practice for Improving Community Resilience to Future Disasters.
Funded by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI, 23/PRO/71332) (2023-2024)


My Qualifications

Ph.D. in Social Science (Anthropology); B. Arts & Social Sciences (Hons, Class 1)


My Awards

2023 Finalist, NSW Resilience Australia Award (Community) in recognition of the Resilient Towns Initiative, Snowy Valleys

2020 Fellow, Academic Association for Contemporary European Studies


My Engagement

Professional memberships:

    Fellow of the Australian Anthropological Society

    University Association for Contemporary European Studies (UACES), Ordinary Member 2019-2022

Other affiliations:

    Visiting Research Fellow (2022-23). College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University.

University Service

    LGBTIQ+ Co-Champion, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, 2024-
 
    Australian Anthropological Society University Representative, 2022-present

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Location

Room 3030, Anita B. Lawrence Centre


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