Contact details +6449793080
Associate Professor Anna Powles PhD
Associate Professor in Security Studies
Doctoral Co-Supervisor School of People, Environment and PlanningAnna Powles is an Associate Professor in the Centre for Defence and Security Studies, Massey University. She has been with Massey University since 2013. Her research focusses on geopolitical dynamics in the Pacific, Pacific security architecture, and security cooperation in the Pacific; and New Zealand foreign and defence policy.
Her current projects include:
- Co-lead of the Defence Diplomacy in the Pacific project which is the first study to map and evaluate defence activities across five Pacific countries over a five year period (website link: https://www.griffith.edu.au/research/business/asia-institute/pacific-hub/defence-diplomacy-in-the-pacific)
- Pacific Partners? The Australia-New Zealand alliance in the Pacific Islands - an Australian Research Council Discovery Project
- Mapping private military and security companies in Pacific and Asia.
Her research has appeared in journals including International Affairs, Asia Policy, International Relations of the Asia-Pacific and Georgetown Journal of Asian Affairs; she has edited several books and authored multiple book chapters and commissioned policy research for the Lowy Institute for International Affairs, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, RAND, the National Bureau for Asian Research and RUSI. She is on the Steering Committee for The Pacific Dialogue on Security and Geopolitics hosted by the University of the South Pacific; and the Research and Policy Advisory Group for the International Code of Conduct Association for private military security companies.
She is a non-resident fellow with the National Bureau of Asian Research, and an expert associate of the National Security College at the Australian National University. She has previously held visiting fellowships at East West Center and the Australia War College.
Before joining academia, Assoc. Professor Powles worked in complex humanitarian emergencies and security sector reform with the United Nations, INGOs, and the International Crisis Group.
Anna Powles is an Associate Professor in the Centre for Defence and Security Studies, Massey University. Her research focusses on geopolitical dynamics in the Pacific, Pacific security architecture, and security cooperation in the Pacific; and New Zealand foreign and defence policy.
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
Associate Professor 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
[Journal article]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Journal article]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Journal article]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Journal article]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Journal article]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Journal article]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Journal article]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Journal article]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Journal article]Authored by: Powles, A.Contributed to by: Powles, A.
Book
[Discussion Paper]Authored by: Choi, S., Greener, B., Harding, N., Powles, A., Prinsen, J.Edited by: Greener, B.
[Chapter]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Chapter]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Chapter]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Chapter]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Chapter]Authored by: Gardner, D., Hopner, V., Nelson, N.Edited by: Nelson, N., Powles, A.
[Edited Book]Edited by: Nelson, N., Powles, A.
[Chapter]Authored by: Dutta, M., Powles, A.Contributed to by: Powles, A.
Report
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Powles, A.Edited by: Greener, B.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Powles, A.Contributed to by: Powles, A.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Powles, A.Contributed to by: Powles, A.
[Commissioned Report]Authored by: Powles, A.
Conference
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Conference]Authored by: Powles, A.Contributed to by: Powles, A.Edited by: Powles, A.
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Greener, B., Powles, A.Contributed to by: Powles, A.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Powles, A.
Other
[Working Paper]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Working Paper]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Working Paper]Authored by: Greener, B., Harding, N., Powles, A.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Working Paper]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Other]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Greener, B., Powles, A.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Greener, B., Powles, A.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Powles, A.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Powles, A.Contributed to by: Powles, A.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Greener, B., Powles, A.Contributed to by: Powles, A.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Powles, A.Contributed to by: Powles, A.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Powles, A.
Consultancy and Languages
Consultancy
-
Jan - April 2023
- RUSI
Maritime security in the Pacific: the role of the European Union -
2021-2022
- Australian Civil Military Centre
New Zealand's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic -
Dec 2021-March 2022
- British High Commission New Zealand
UK and Climate Change in the Pacific report -
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
Summary of Doctoral Supervision
Position | Current | Completed |
---|---|---|
Co-supervisor | 3 | 3 |
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 -
Vanessa Bramwell
-
Doctor of Philosophy
Child protection in armed conflict: Norm transfer in the UN
Completed Doctoral Supervision
Co-supervisor of:
-
2024
-
Amy Brosnan
-
Doctor of Philosophy
On the Battlefield: Exploring Gendered Experiences of Being Infantry in the New Zealand Army -
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