About the Globalism Institute | Globalism Institute Researchers | Community Reference Group | Students

About the Globalism Institute

The Globalism Institute is a Research Centre at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. At a time of acute sensitivity to questions of social dislocation, economic inequity and political upheaval, the Globalism Institute is committed to rethinking the relationship between the global and the local. Its primary intellectual task is to understand the processes of change and continuity, and to think through cultural-political questions about sustainable living in a globalising world. In particular, it is concerned to facilitate and enhance activities of cultural dialogue across the continuing and positive boundaries of cultural diversity in the world today.

We endeavour to work across the divide between abstract theory and applied research. As such, we seek to develop strong collaborative connections with communities, civil society and state organisations in our research areas.

The Globalism Institute's research is conducted in various sites across the world, linked by thematic research areas. The Globalism Institute began working in Timor-Leste in 2003 with a particular focus on the themes of security and sustainability. These themes have been drawn into the new Global Cities Institute which was inaugurated in 2006 to bring together key researchers at RMIT University to research the complexity of globalizing urban settings. The Global Cities Institute focuses on a number of cities in the Asia-Pacific region, including Dili, and the current Community Security and Sustainability project is an immediate outcome of this new initiative.

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Globalism Institute Researchers - Timor-Leste

Dr Damian Grenfell
www.rmit.edu.au/staff/damiangrenfell

. Postdoctoral Research Fellow
. Research Manager, Human Security Program, Global Cities Institute
. Globalism Institute Site Manager Timor-Leste, 2003-ongoing
. Timor-Leste Program Leader for 'After the Violence? Truth, Reconciliation and National Integration in Timor-Leste' and 'Vota ba Futuru: the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections 2007'.

Research Projects about Timor-Leste include:

. After the Violence? Truth, Reconciliation and National Integration in Timor-Leste (an Australian Research Council research grant);
. Community Security and Sustainability;
. Vota ba Futuru: the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections 2007;
. Mapping the Pursuit of Gender Equality: Non-Government and International Agency Activity in Timor-Leste;
. Policy Options for Oecusse;
. Gender and the Crisis.

Research Areas: Nationalism, Globalization, Social Movements, Identity, Conflict, Reconciliation, Gender and Community.

Publications and Engagement: Please click here for a list of Damian Grenfell's Timor-Leste research-related activities (updated July 2007).

Ms Anna Trembath
www.rmit.edu.au/staff/annatrembath

. Researcher, 2005-ongoing
. PhD candidate, 2007-ongoing
. Timor-Leste Program Leader for Gender

Research Projects about Timor-Leste include:

. Mapping the Pursuit of Gender Equality: Non-Government and International Agency Activity in Timor-Leste;
. Gender and the Crisis;
. PhD thesis: 'Creating the Nation, Reconstituting Gender: Transformations to Social Relations in Contemporary Timor-Leste'.

Research Areas: Gender, Nation-Formation and Nationalism, Security, Identity and Violence, Civil Society Organisations.

Publications and Engagement: Please click here for a list of Anna Trembath's Timor-Leste research-related activities (updated August 2007).

Mr Kym Holthouse

. Dili-based Researcher, 2006-2007

Research Projects about Timor-Leste include:

. Community Security and Sustainability;
. Vota ba Futuru: the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections 2007;
. Policy Options for Oecusse.

Research Areas: Nationalism, Security and Social Conflict, Community Security and Sustainability, Tertiary Education Sector.

Publications and Engagement: Please click here for a list of Kym Holthouse's Timor-Leste research-related activities (updated July 2007).

Ms Mayra Walsh

. Dili-based Researcher, ongoing
. Timor-Leste Program Leader for 'Community Security and Sustainability'

Research Projects about Timor-Leste include:

. Community Security and Sustainability;
. Vota ba Futuru: the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections 2007;
. After the Violence? Truth, Reconciliation and National Integration in Timor-Leste (an ARC research grant).

Research Areas:

Decisionmaking Processes, Community Security and Sustainability, Reconciliation.

Ms Carmenesa Moniz Noronha

. Dili-based Researcher and Project Assistant, ongoing

Research Projects about Timor-Leste include:

. Community Security and Sustainability.

Research Areas:

Community Security and Sustainability.

Professor Paul James
www.rmit.edu.au/staff/pauljames

. Professor of Globalization
. Director, the Globalism Institute
. Director, the Global Cities Institute

Research Projects about Timor-Leste include:

. preparing the manuscript for Millennial Nation: Violence, Identity and National Formation in Timor-Leste, (Damian Grenfell and Paul James) Pluto, London, forthcoming 2007.

Research Areas: Nation-Formation, Globalism, Nationalism and Localism, War and Violence, Social Theory and Social Change.

Publications and Engagement: Please click here for a list of Paul James' Timor-Leste research-related activities (updated September 2007).

Ms Vanessa Whitehead

Student Intern, Globalism Institute, 2006
Bachelor of International Studies, RMIT University

Responsibilities: In 2006 Vanessa worked with Globalism Institute researchers to undertake community consultation about the proposed Globalism Institute 'Timor-Leste Research' site and to begin preliminary design and content development.

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Community Reference Group - Timor-Leste

The Globalism Institute's Community Reference Group in Timor-Leste is comprised of individuals who have associations with our research in Timor-Leste and who represent different fields of expertise within civil society organisations and governance institutions. The objective of the Community Reference Group is to critically review, evaluate and provide guidance for the Globalism Institute's research activities in Timor-Leste. The group formally meets twice a year and is in frequent contact with Globalism Institute researchers otherwise.

Ms Teresa Araujo Verdial (Alita)

Advocacy Program Manager, the Alola Foundation, Dili

Alita Verdial works with the Alola Foundation, a high-profile East Timorese NGO committed to supporting the needs of women and children. Currently she is Alola's Advocacy Program Manager. Alita attended the Globalism Institute's 2005 international forum, Challenges and Possibilities: International Organisations and Women in Timor-Leste, and in February 2007 completed an intensive English course in Melbourne with support from RMIT English Worldwide and the Globalism Institute (see here for further details of Alita's involvement in this program).

Mr Marito de Araujo (Mario)

National Program Manager, Oxfam Australia in Timor-Leste
Founding Member of East Timorese NGO AMKV (Asosiasaun Mane Kontra Violensia, or the Men's Association Against Violence)

Mario de Araujo works with Oxfam Australia in Timor-Leste as National Program Manager. He has a particular commitment to the ending of discrimination and violence against women, and is active in AMKV, undertaking research and community education about these practices. Mario attended the Globalism Institute's 2005 international forum, Challenges and Possibilities: International Organisations and Women in Timor-Leste. In 2005 Mario completed an intensive English course in Melbourne with support from RMIT English Worldwide, Oxfam Australia and the Globalism Institute.

Ms Isabel Guterres

Director, Red Cross Timor-Leste
Former National Commissioner, the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation in East Timor (CAVR)

Isabel Guterres is the Director of Red Cross Timor-Leste and also worked as a National Commissioner with CAVR. She represented Timor-Leste perspectives at the Globalism Institute's Pathways to Reconciliation and Human Rights, held in Sarajevo, 2005, as well as launching CAVR's report Chega! at RMIT University in Melbourne, 2006.

Mr Joaquim da Fonseca

Human Right Advisor to the East Timorese Prime Minister, 2006-2007
Founding member of the East Timorese NGO Yayasan HAK

Joaquim da Fonseca is a human rights activist and helped to found Yayasan HAK (the HAK Association - Law, Basic Rights and Justice) in 1996. Joaquim was appointed Human Rights Advisor to the East Timorese Prime Minister in 2006 and continues to work closely with civil society human rights advocates. He was a keynote speaker at the Globalism Institute's 2005 seminar, Human Rights, Development and National Reconstruction: Timor-Leste's Independence in a Global Context.

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Students

The Globalism Institute offers supervision to students wishing to undertake honours and post-graduate research about Timor-Leste, particularly in regard to the themes of gender, nation-building, justice and security and community, or identity more generally. Please see Student Program for further details.

Current Timor-Leste-oriented research students who are receiving supervision and scholarship support from the Globalism Institute are studying diverse topics including:

. Gender and Nation-Formation (Anna Trembath, PhD candidate)
. Histories of the Resistance Movement (Zelda Grimshaw, PhD candidate)
. Gender and Peacebuilding Following the 2006 Crisis (Melissa Cockcroft, Honours completed 2007)
. Electoral Decision-making in the 2007 Parliamentary Elections (Jessica Korteman, Honours completed 2007)
. The Construction of Masculinities and Violence (Ruth Streicher, Honours candidate).  



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