Indigenous voices
Now, more than ever, we believe that research is most impactful when a diverse range of voices is included
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We know academic research has an important role in bringing about a more inclusive society, so we are working towards greater equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in everything we do.
While we can see growing support for EDI in research across the sector, many people are still too often left out of the conversation. As research participants they may be overlooked in research design and as academics they may not have the same opportunities as their counterparts. Understanding the challenges people face and how we can take the right steps to make real change happen is just one of the ways to create a fairer, more inclusive society and better outcomes for us all.
Indigenous voices
So, for 2022 we are focusing on Indigenous communities, commissioning content on issues such as stewardship, health and wellbeing, diversifying the curriculum, and diversity within the boardroom. Through this work, we aspire to promote everybody’s voices, including the voices of Indigenous people, bring new insights, learn from each other, and develop more equitable publisher–researcher relationships.
The power of diverse voices
All individuals deserve and should demand to be equally represented and heard; this is why we are committed to making an impact through equity. Find out more about the work we have been doing to ensure academic research can play a role in creating a fairer, more inclusive society and that no-one is left behind.
The global inclusivity report 2022
In 2020, we commissioned our first global inclusivity report to shine a light on inclusion, the issues facing our communities, and the actions we can take to create a fairer society. Two years on, our world continues to face uncertainty and ongoing challenges. To understand how academic perceptions and experiences around inclusivity have evolved, we commissioned a second global inclusivity report.
Advisory board
Meet our newly established Indigenous peoples advisory board, who are supporting us by providing strategic advice and guidance across our four missions.
See the board members
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Manuela Rösing Agostini, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos), Brazil |
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Karenina Andrade, SOMOS UFMG, Brazil |
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Dr Elena Gregoria Chai Chin Fern, UNIMAS, Malaysia Dr Elena Chai is an academic with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak under the Anthropology and Sociology Program. She was trained in the field of Area Studies and Anthropology. Her research interest is in ritual and beliefs. She has fieldwork experience in Northern Laos, West Kalimantan and East Malaysia (Borneo). |
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Dr Apriani Dorkas Rambu Atahau, Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana, Indonesia Dr Apriani Atahau is a Professor of management at Satya Wacana Christian University. Currently, she is also appointed as the Director of Satya Wacana Pension Fund. Her research interests cover banks and other financial institutions including microfinance of the Indigenous peoples at Sumba Island. |
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Ana Luiza Rossato Facco, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos), Brazil Ana Luíza Rossato Facco is a Faculty Member in the Management Department of Unicruz, Brazil, and a PhD Candidate in Business at the Unisinos Business School, Brazil, focusing on social innovation. Ana Luíza received the Most Impactful Educator Award in Social Business Creation, Montreal, Canada. Read Ana's blog: Why the sector must boost support for those working in Indigenous research |
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Dr Jonathan Kingsley, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia Dr Jonathan Kingsley is a Senior Lecturer in Health Promotion at Swinburne University of Technology. Dr Kingsley worked for nearly two decades in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, government bodies, academic institutes and NGO’s across Australia in the public health and community development sector.. |
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George Gottschalk, University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign), USA George Gottschalk is the Director of Acquisitions at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Library and a Past President of the American Indian Library Association. George has also worked at Rogers State University in Claremore, OKlahoma, as well as the Oklahoma State University Medical Center for Health Sciences Medical Library. |
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Fredy Ochoa, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Mexico |
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Dr Chioma Ohajunwa, Stellenbosch University, South Africa Dr Chioma Ohajunwa is a PostDoctoral fellow in the Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Research areas cover disability studies, inclusive education, Indigenous knowledge systems, spirituality, and critical policy development. She is a member of South Africa and Finnish collaboration on arts, critical disability studies, Indigenous knowledge systems and wellbeing. In addition, she is Chair of the Advancing Disability Research in Africa (ADIRA) PhD Programme. |
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Dr Claudia Andrea Pezoa Fuentes, Catolica del Norte University, Chile Dr Claudia Andrea Pezoa-Fuentes is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Administration in the Faculty of Administration and Economics at Católica del Norte University, Chile. Her research interests include areas of management, innovation, territorial sector agglomerations, engagement, and proximity. |
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Ashley Richard, University of Manitoba, Canada Ashley Richard is a proud Ojibwé and Métis and Filipina woman residing in Winnipeg, Treaty 1 Territory. Her Spirit Name is Forever Woman. She completed her Master’s in Management Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Queen's University. Ashley sits on the Board of Governors at Red River College and is the Chair of the Walking Together Grants at The Winnipeg Foundation. Ashley is Associate Director for the National Indigenous Hub, a project with the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH), focused on building an inclusive innovation ecosystem for Indigenous women entrepreneurs. Read Ashley's blog: Building trust with Indigenous communities |
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Johnnel Smith, Griffith University, Australia Johnnel Smith is a PhD candidate in the Department of Tourism, Sport & Hotel Management, Griffith Business School, Griffith University |
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Professor Tholene Sodi, University of Limpopo, South Africa Professor Tholene Sodi is a Clinical Psychologist and Full Professor of Psychology at the University of Limpopo, South Africa. He has published widely and has presented more than 80 papers at national and international conferences. His key areas of research interest include; culture and mental health; African psychology; behavioural medicine; and, mental health policy. |
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Dr Shaouli Shahid, Curtin University, Australia Dr Shaouli Shahid, originally from Bangladesh, is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies, Curtin University. Shaouli obtained her PhD in International Health from Curtin University in 2011. She won Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Early Career Research Fellowship in 2012 and worked in cancer and palliative care. Shaouli has also got a master’s degree in International Cooperation Studies from Nagoya University in Japan, and completed her Bachelor and another master’s degree from the Department of Sociology, Dhaka University, Bangladesh. She has a strong background in research and published extensively in Aboriginal health. |
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Gohar Rind, Edith Cowan University, Australia Gohar Rind, the Founder and CEO of Yira Yarkiny Group, is an Yamatji (Ya – ma – ji) man from the Badimaya Language group located in the Murchison region of Western Australia. Gohar graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce – Supply Chain Management & Logistics in 2013 from Curtin University, Australia, received a Master of Commercial and Resource Law from University of Western Australia in 2016 and is expected to complete a Master of Cyber Security from Edith Cowan University in 2023. Gohar’s working experience stems from Government and ASX top 50 listed companies in energy and resources sectors. In 2019, Gohar started his own venture Yira Yarkiny Group with the focus of promoting technology education within the Indigenous population. Gohar is a strong advocate for better Indigenous outcomes in education, employment, health and national policy. |
Opening up access to make voices heard
In 2021 we started a new pilot project with The Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries (COPPUL) and the University of Saskatchewan, by providing research content access to a selection of Indigenous post-secondary institutions and communities. This was just one very small step in addressing the barriers to post-secondary education for Indigenous communities and opening up education for all.
Signatory of SDG Publishers Compact
As a founding signatory of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) Publishers Compact, we have a clear commitment to the underlying principles of developing sustainable practices and acting as champion of the SDGs during the Decade of Action (2020–2030), publishing content that will help inform, develop and inspire action in that direction.
We have long sought to challenge the status quo in the market; thinking differently about our content programme and creating new impact barometers that more accurately reflected the modern research era.
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