Research Overview

My research focuses on understanding the interlinkages between security and development at sea and coastal regions in Southeast Asia. It pays special attention to Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines's approaches to ocean security and governance, blue economy, local vulnerability assessment and sustainable development of coastal and island communities and the environment.

Drawing from my research I have contributed to the co-development of Fiji's first national ocean policy, particularly, its security pillar. My research has also contributed to the 1.5 track dialogue on security in the South China Sea convened by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the development of the Addendum to the New York Memorandum on Good Practices for Interdicting Terrorist Travel 2021, led by the United States Department of State. The United Nations (UN) has recently appointed me as a member of the UN Pool of Experts for the World Ocean Assessment III (UN Regular Process).

I have written three single-authored books, 80 blogposts and over 20 written evidence and policy briefs for the UK Parliament, UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and UN bodies. Books that I have written include Maritime Security and Indonesia (2017, Routledge), Indonesia and the Indo-Pacific (2023, Routledge) and Port Security and Preman Organizations in Indonesia (2023, ISEAS). My research has also been published in Asian Survey, Asian Politics & Policy, British Journal of Chinese Studies, Conservation Letters and Frontiers in Marine Science.