Associate Professor Anna Powles staff profile picture

Contact details +6449793080

Associate Professor Anna Powles PhD

Associate Professor in Security Studies

Doctoral Co-Supervisor
School of People, Environment and Planning

Dr Anna Powles is a Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Defence and Security Studies. Her research focusses on (1) the geopolitics, security and conflict in the Pacific Islands region; specifically, how state and non-state actors are shaping regional security, strategic competition and the intersection of geopolitics and local security dynamics; and (2) New Zealand foreign and defence policy in the Pacific. She is currently an investigator on several research projects analysing security dynamics in the Pacific including influence and interference activities in the Pacific; private security governance in the Pacific; the operation of the Australia-New Zealand alliance in the Pacific Islands; and mapping security cooperation in the Pacific.  

She holds or has held fellowships and honourary positions at:

- Non-Resident Fellow, National Bureau for Asian Research (2022-2026).

- Expert Associate, National Security College, Australian National University (2023-current).

- Associate Scholar, MacMillan Brown Center for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury. (2018-current).

- Visiting Scholar, East-West Center, Honolulu (2019).

- Visiting Scholar, DKI Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, Honolulu, (2014.). 

Anna has been commissioned to write and speak on Pacific security issues by leading global thinktanks including the Royal Institute for International Affairs (Chatham House), RUSI, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Hudson Institute, Wilton Park, United States Institute for Peace, and the Lowy Institute. She is a frequent speaker at international strategic dialogues and regularly briefs governments and media. 

Anna sits on the advisory group to the International Code of Conduct Association (the governance and oversight mechanism of the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers). She has previously been engaged by the United Nations Development Programme Pacific as a subject matter expert on private security sector governance in the Pacific and as a security sector reform specialist in Timor-Leste. Anna has also served on the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs Standing Committee, as the New Zealand representative on the NATO Core Group on Women, Peace and Security (2016-18), as a member of the Pacific Advisory Group (an independent advisory body to the New Zealand Government), and in 2014 founded the New Zealand chapter of Women In International Security. 

Anna has worked extensively in conflict and humanitarian emergencies in Southeast Asia and the Pacific and has previously held positions with the International Crisis Group, the United Nations Development Programme, the Australian Civil-Military Centre, as well as with international humanitarian agencies including Oxfam, Action Aid, World Vision and the Norwegian Refugee Council. 

Anna holds a PhD from the Australian National University and is an alumni of the East West Center and the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, Honolulu. 

Dr Anna Powles is a Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Defence and Security Studies. Her research focusses on (1) the geopolitics, security and conflict in the Pacific Islands region; specifically, how state and non-state actors are shaping regional security, strategic competition and the intersection of geopolitics and local security dynamics; and (2) New Zealand foreign and defence policy in the Pacific. 

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Professional

Contact details

  • Ph: +64 979 3080
    Location: Block 7, Level D, Mt Cook
    Campus: Wellington

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy - Australian National University (2010)

Prizes and Awards

  • 2017 Massey University Research Fund (MURF) Award of $12,000. 1.Terms of Engagement (Massey-Lead). This project seeks to ascertain the appropriateness and utility of academic / military engagement. Drawing on debates in Anthropology about the ethics of working with military forces, military sociological literature on civil-military relations, NGO and think tank guidelines on civil-military-police-NGO cooperation, and policy discussions on military roles, interagency and external engagements, this foundational project seeks to identify boundaries in and around academic engagement with militaries and vice versa. Outputs: -Working paper on issues raised in academic discourse about engagement. -Working paper on issues from military perspective. -Set of TOE for future projects between Massey researchers and NZDF. Likely contributors: Nina Harding (Anthropological debates on ethical issues and cultural view on organisations). B Greener and A Powles (civil-military relations, military sociology). Gerard Prinsen (Development Studies perspectives on harm). 2.Southern Katipo 2017 (NZDF Lead) Planning for next major military exercise in 2017. Academics to bring expertise to comment on / engage with military planners to note areas of concern, overlap, limitations, opportunities. Outputs: -Planning and execution of exercise itself. -Post exercise analysis by NZDF and academic team. -Publications on procedural and conceptual - Massey University (2017)

Research Expertise

Research Interests

Dr Anna Powles' research interests are::

  • Geopolitics and strategic competition in the Pacific Islands 
  • Security sector governance and cooperation
  • Private Military Security Companies
  • Pacific Islands regional security, conflict and politics
  • New Zealand defence and foreign policy
  • Foreign interference

Thematics

21st Century Citizenship

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
Defence Studies (160604): International Relations (160607): Political Science (160600): Studies In Human Society (160000)

Keywords

  • Pacific Islands security, politics and conflict 
  • Private military and security companies
  • United Nations peace operations and peacekeeping; stabilisation operations
  • New Zealand defence and foreign policy; New Zealand on the UN Security Council
  • Regional peacekeeping
  • Security Sector Governance
  • Southeast Asia (Timor Leste, West Papua)
  • Women, Peace and Security (UNSCR 1325)

Research Outputs

Journal

Powles, A. (2023). How Aotearoa New Zealand is Responding to Strategic Competition in the Pacific Islands Region. Georgetown Journal of Asian Affairs. 9, 32-42 Retrieved from https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/handle/10822/1084984
[Journal article]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Wallis, J., McNeill, H., Batley, J., & Powles, A. (2023). Security cooperation in the Pacific Islands: architecture, complex, community, or something else?. International Relations of the Asia-Pacific. 23(2), 263-296 Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/irap/article/23/2/263/6609199
[Journal article]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Powles, A., & Szadziewski, H. (2023). The Question from the Pacific Islands: Will the United States Be a Credible and Consistent Indo-Pacific Partner?. Asia Policy. 18(3), 56-68 Retrieved from https://www.nbr.org/publication/one-region-multiple-strategies-how-countries-are-approaching-the-indo-pacific/
[Journal article]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Powles, A., & Wallis, J. (2021). Burden-sharing: the US, Australia and New Zealand alliances in the Pacific islands. International Affairs. 97(4), 1045-1065 Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/ia/article/97/4/1045/6299308
[Journal article]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Powles, A., & Noakes, S. (2021). What we Have (and Have not) Learned from Early Research on China’s Engagement in the Pacific. Ekistics and the New Habitat. 81(3)
[Journal article]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Powles, A. (2021). Identity, national security and influence: The Pacific Reset and shaping New Zealand's relations with the Pacific Islands. Development Bulletin. (82), 32-36 Retrieved from http://crawford.anu.edu.au/rmap/devnet/dev-bulletin.php
[Journal article]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Powles, AR., & Powles, MJ. (2017). New Zealand's Pacific policies: Time for a reset?. New Zealand International Review. 42(2), 16-21
[Journal article]Authored by: Powles, A.Contributed to by: Powles, A.
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Book

Azizian, R., Choi, S., Belgrave, D., Greener, B., Harding, N., Hoverd, W., . . . Prinsen, .(2018). The 2018 Strategic Defence Statement: Ten Different Views from Massey Scholars.
[Discussion Paper]Authored by: Choi, S., Greener, B., Harding, N., Powles, A., Prinsen, J.Edited by: Greener, B.
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Powles, AR. (2018). New Zealand’s strategic influence and interests in an increasingly Global Pacific. In RG. Patman, I. Iati, & B. Kiglics (Eds.) New Zealand And The World: Past, Present And Future. (pp. 169 - 185). : World Scientific
[Chapter]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Powles, AR. (2017). New Zealand and the Pacific Islands Region: Change, challenges and new ideas. In New Zealand National Security Challenges, Trends and Issues. (pp. 90 - 108). : Massey University Press
[Chapter]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Powles, AR. (2015). Finding common ground: New Zealand and regional security cooperation in the Pacific. In Regionalism, Security and Cooperation in Oceania. (pp. 79 - 95). United States of America: Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
[Chapter]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Powles, AR. (2015). Beyond Reforming the Sector: Security Sector Development in Timor Leste and the Solomon Islands. In United Nations Peacekeeping Challenge The Importance of the Integrated Approach. (pp. 203 - 215). : Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.
[Chapter]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Gardner, D., Hopner, V., McNaught, A., Nelson, NRP., & Chamberlain, K. (2015). Processes to support psychological well-being in deployed personnel. In A. Powles, N. Partow, & N. Nelson (Eds.) United Nations Peacekeeping Challenge: The Importance of the Integrated Approach. (pp. 131 - 148). Farnham, England: Ashgate
[Chapter]Authored by: Gardner, D., Hopner, V., Nelson, N.Edited by: Nelson, N., Powles, A.
Powles, AR., Partow, N., & Nelson, N. (Eds.) (2015). United nations peacekeeping challenge: The importance of the integrated approach. Farnham, United Kingdon: Ashgate
[Edited Book]Edited by: Nelson, N., Powles, A.
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1
Zoller, HM., & Dutta, MJ. (2011). Introduction. In Emerging Perspectives in Health Communication: Meaning, Culture, and Power. (pp. 358 - 364).
[Chapter]Authored by: Dutta, M., Powles, A.Contributed to by: Powles, A.
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Report

Powles, A., & Wallis, J. (2023). Smooth sailing? Australia, New Zealand and the United States partnering in–and with–the Pacific islands. Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Powles, A.
Powles, A., & Movono, A. (2021). UK Positioning in the Pacific Ahead of COP26.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Powles, A.Edited by: Greener, B.
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Powles, AR. (2016). Australia in the South Pacific. Australian Strategic Policy Instutute.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Powles, AR. (2016). Mapping the privates security in the Pacific Islands Region.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Powles, A.
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powles, AR., & Sousa-Santos, JL. (2016). Principled Re-engagement: Rebuilding defence ties with Fiji. ( Report No. Analysis). Lowy Institute of International Affairs.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Powles, A.Contributed to by: Powles, A.
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Powles, AR., & Cox, B. (2014). Protecting civilians in an urban conflict lessons learned from Australia’s deployment following the Timor Leste crisis 2006-2007. Australian Civil Military Centre.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Powles, A.Contributed to by: Powles, A.
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Powles, AR. (2013). The private sector, the Solomon Islands and the peace-economic dividend. Australian Civil Military Centre.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Conference

Powles, A. (2018). Pacific Climate Change and Security Wananga. Pacific Climate Change and Security Wananga Report. : Pacific Climate Change and Security Wananga
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Powles, AR.The dynamics of private security companies in post-conflict Solomon Islands. . Brisbane, Australia
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Powles, A.
Powles, AR.(2015, May). New Zealand National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2015 – 2019. .
[Conference]Authored by: Powles, A.Contributed to by: Powles, A.Edited by: Powles, A.
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Powles, AR., & Powles, AR.NZ Perspectives on Regional Security Cooperation Mechanisms: What do effective and resilient regional security practices and cooperation mechanisms look like? Paper presented at the "Regional Security Governance and Architecture in the Pacific Islands Region: Priorities For A Resilient Future"Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies Workshop, Port Vila, 4-8 August 2014. . Vanuatu
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Powles, AR., & Greener, B.After the Missions Symposium: A Less Operational World?. . Centre for Strategic Studies, Victoria University, Wellington
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Greener, B., Powles, A.Contributed to by: Powles, A.
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Powles, AR.Protection of Civilians. Presented at Council for International Development Civil Miltary Forum 2013
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Powles, A.

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Other

Powles, A., Wallis, J., McNeill, H., & Batley, J. (2023). Navigating ‘Flexible, Responsive and Respectful’Security Cooperation in the Pacific Islands: A 2022 Workshop Report.
[Working Paper]Authored by: Powles, A.
Powles, A., Wallis, J., McNeill, H., & Batley, J. (2021). Mapping security cooperation in the Pacific Islands.
[Working Paper]Authored by: Powles, A.
Greener, B., Prinsen, G., Powles, A., & Harding, N. (2018). Terms of Engagement: When Academe meets Military. In SPDN Working Papers(pp. 1 - 21). In Massey University: Security Politics Development Network Massey University
[Working Paper]Authored by: Greener, B., Harding, N., Powles, A.
Read article at Massey Research Online: MRO icon
Powles, A., Wallis, J., & Newton-Cain, T. (2018). Chinese Whispers and Pacific Agency. : Lowy Interpreter
[Internet publication]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Powles, A., & Wallis, J. (2018). Australia and New Zealand in the Pacific Islands: Ambiguous Allies?. In Centre of GravityIn Canberra: Australian National University
[Working Paper]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Powles, A., & Powles, M. (2018). Taking New Zealand's Pacific Reset to the Pacific Islands Forum. : Incline
[Internet publication]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Powles, A., & Wallis, J. (2018). Chinese Whispers and the Geopolitics of the Pacific Islands. Asia Global Institute University of Hong Kong
[Other]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Greener, BK., & Powles, AR. (2015). The 'sons - and daughters - of ANZAC?'.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Greener, B., Powles, A.
Greener, BK., & Powles, AR. (2015). Building natural disaster capacity in the Pacific. : ASPI Strategist
[Internet publication]Authored by: Greener, B., Powles, A.
Powles, AR. (2015). What is New Zealand's mission in Iraq?. : Lowy Interpreter
[Internet publication]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Powles, AR., & Powles, AR. (2014). What will New Zealand do with its UN Security Council seat?. : Lowy Interpreter
[Internet publication]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Powles, AR., Powles, AR., & True, J. (2014). What Can New Zealand Do on the United Nations Security Council to Advance the Women, Peace and Security Agenda?. : Women, Peace and Security Academic Collective
[Internet publication]Authored by: Powles, A.Contributed to by: Powles, A.
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Powles, AR., Powles, AR., & Greener, B. (2014). NZ must leave trenches if serious about UN role. : The New Zealand Herald
[Internet publication]Authored by: Greener, B., Powles, A.Contributed to by: Powles, A.
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Powles, AR., & Powles, AR. (2013). Xanana Gusmao-Mauk Moruk: Timor struggles with its past and future. : Lowy Interpreter
[Internet publication]Authored by: Powles, A.Contributed to by: Powles, A.
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Powles, AR., & Powles, AR. (2013). Future NZ: A Seat at the Top Table. : The New Zealand Herald
[Internet publication]Authored by: Powles, A.
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Consultancy and Languages

Consultancy

  • Nov 2016 - Jan 2017 - United Nations Development Programme
    Private Security Sector Governance in the Pacific Specialist
  • Oct 2014 - Oxfam Australia
    Reviewed Pacific Small Arms Action Group report on "Arms, Gender and Security in the Pacific"
  • April-May 2013 - Kings College Humanitarian Future's Programme
    Multi-country study into the role of the private sector in post-conflict recovery. Undertook Solomon Islands and Regional Assistance to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) country study.
  • Aug 2011-Jan 2012 - Australian Civil Military Centre
    Commissioned by the Australian Civil Military Centre to conduct lessons learned policy research analysing Australia’s engagement in Timor Leste in response to the 2006 crisis
  • May 2011 - Oxfam Australia
    Commissioned by Oxfam Australia to conduct research on conflict, security, and development trends in Timor Leste to inform Oxfam’s five-year strategic planning in Timor Leste.
  • Nov 2010-Jan 2011 - United Nations Development Programme
    Commissioned by UNDP to independently evaluate the European Union-funded United Nations Security Sector Review project in Timor Leste
  • April-Sept 2009 - Norwegian Refugee Council
    Member of independent evaluation team commissioned to evaluate the Norwegian Refugee Council’s emergency humanitarian response programs in Timor-Leste

Languages

  • Tetum
    Last used: 2013
    Spoken ability: Average
    Written ability: Average

Teaching and Supervision

Contact Supervisor

Summary of Doctoral Supervision

Position Current Completed
Co-supervisor 4 2

Current Doctoral Supervision

Co-supervisor of:

  • Gav Koroaha - Doctor of Philosophy
    NATO in the Indo-Pacific: a response to emerging global threats or exceptionalist behaviour?
  • Steven MacBeth - Doctor of Philosophy
    New Wars-Old Platforms;Comparing AUSCANZ Defence Innovation in the Grey Zone 2000-2022
  • Amy Brosnan - Doctor of Philosophy
    On the Battlefield: Exploring Gendered Experiences of Being Infantry in the New Zealand Army
  • Vanessa Bramwell - Doctor of Philosophy
    Child protection in armed conflict: Norm transfer in the UN

Completed Doctoral Supervision

Co-supervisor of:

  • 2023 - Hafza Tahira - Doctor of Philosophy
    Democratic Transition and Civil Military Relations in Pakistan A constructivist account of military’s political legitimacy
  • 2023 - Brian Nelson - Doctor of Philosophy
    Mass Atrocities and Military Intervention: A Ripeness-based Approach to the Decision Moment

Media and Links

Media

  • 26 Feb 2015 - Online
    What is New Zealand's mission in Iraq?
    Analysis of New Zealand's Building Partner Capacity non-combat deployment to Iraq published in the Lowy Interpreter
  • 24 Oct 2015 - Magazine
    NZ gains UNSC seat but questions remain
    Interview with the National Business Review on NZ's win at the United Nations Security Council
  • 19 Oct 2014 - Television
    NZ gains seat on the UN Security Council
    Interview with TV3 Three60 on New Zealand's successful win of a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council
  • 02 Mar 2105 - Radio
    Iraq-bound troops given option to withdraw
    Radio New Zealand Morning Report interview on New Zealand deployment to Iraq