Our Team
Chief Investigators
Leading the research design team for the Finding a Voice project our Chief Investigators bring expertise from diverse backgrounds and their respective institutions.
Jo Tacchi specializes in research on radio and new media. Trained as a social anthropologist, with a Masters degree from the University of Sussex and a PhD from University College London, Jo has contributed to a growing field of media anthropology and media ethnography. Jo is the Director of Research and Innovation in the Design & Social Context office at Royal Melbourne Insitute of Technology (RMIT). Currently Jo splits her time between Melbourne and the RMIT Europe office in Barcelona where she is developing research collaborations across Europe, as well as providing support and assistance for others in the College.
Andrew Skuse specialises in health communication, conflict reduction, and ICT for poverty reduction. He holds a BA with First Class Honours in Social Anthropology and Development Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies, and a PhD in Anthropology from University College London. He is a Lecturer at the University of Adelaide.
Associate Professor Jerry Watkins is Director of the News & Media Research Centre, University of Canberra. He has 20 years’ high-profile international experience in communication, media and interaction. Jerry researches the impact of mobile/social content, platforms and technologies on organisations and systems. He has served as Chief Investigator, Co-Principal Investigator or Senior Researcher on six major research projects and has delivered digital media and communication programs in Australia, India, Indonesia, Nepal and the Solomon Islands.
Stuart Cunningham is well known for his contributions to media, communications and cultural studies and highlighting their relevance to industry practice and government policy. He is Professor of Media and Communications at Queensland University of Technology, and Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation.
Hitendra Pillay has expertise in macro and micro aspects of social sector reform in developing countries. He is Professor in the School of Learning and Professional Studies at Queensland University of Technology.
Senior Researchers
Under supervision from the Chief Investigators the Senior Research team provided ongoing and in-country support to the local research team.
Emma Baulch researches Indonesian media, particularly the music and advertising industries. She was awarded a PhD in 2004 for her dissertation about rock music subcultures and masculinity in Bali. Between 2003 and 2005 she was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Leiden University (Netherlands), where she undertook research on the music industry in post-authoritarian Indonesia. She is a Senior Research Associate at Queensland University of Technology.
Joann Fildes is interested in development, participation and organizations. She has implemented participatory research into housing trusts for the King's Fund, a UK-based health initiative. Joann has published on housing in London, and poverty and participation in South Asia. She holds a PhD in Development Studies from the Open University, and lectures in Development Studies at the University of Adelaide.
Kirsty Martin’s extensive ethnographic work has focused on exploring the economic, social and political meanings associated with local women’s participation in community organizations. Kirsty is currently researching the potential of local engagement with ICT for poverty reduction in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Kirsty holds a PhD in Anthropology from University of New South Wales and is a Research Associate at Queensland University of Technology.
M.S. Kiran has expertise in the fields of journalism, teaching and research. He has worked on various education and technological literacy programs with Intel Corporation. He holds both a BA (Political Science, English Literature and Sociology) and MA (English Literature) from Bangalore University; and a Masters in Development Studies from Uppsala University.
Research Team
Local researchers are embedded within target communities, and their findings are fed into the development of local initiatives in an ongoing cycle.
Govinda Prasad Acharya is a researcher at Tansen Community Multimedia Centre, and Madanpokhara Community Radio and CMC, Nepal. Previously he was a computer teacher at Padma Public Model Higher Secondary School. He also worked as a proof reader and designer for the Palpa Times newspaper. Govinda holds a Bachelor degree in Management.
Sita Adhikari is a researcher at both the Jhuwani and the Agyauli community libraries, Nepal. She is president of Jhuwani community saving and credit cooperative, and women’s section coordinator of Jhuwani community library. Sita holds a master’s degree in economics and has worked as an economics and maths teacher.
Srinivas Bangaru is associated with the Byrraju Foundation, Andhra Pradesh, India. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Osmania University. Srinivas started his career as an intern at the well-known Telugu news channel TV9, before becoming project manager with Hyderabad-based advertising agency Zorek Technologies.
Jancy Francis is associated with the Akshaya Project in Kannur District, Kerala, India. She holds a MSc and MPhil (1989) in Anthropology from Poona University and Madras University respectively. She had served as a guest lecturer in the Department of Anthropology, Kannur University and has published in various journals and in edited volumes. Jancy has presented research papers at both national and international levels.
Kosala Keerthirathne has been involved with the Kothmale Community Radio and Multimedia Centre (Sri Lanka) since 1999 as a student, trainer and researcher. In 2001 he was selected as the Computer Trainer for the Kothmale CMC project funded by HIVOS and became UNESCO Program Coordinator in 2006.
Deepak Koirala is a researcher at Radio Lumbini fm, Community Multimedia Centre and Community Learning Centre (Nepal). Previously he was a coordinator at Manigram CMC (Radio Lumbini).
Seema B. Nair has worked in journalism, communication development and action research. Since 2006 she has consulted for UNESCO New Delhi on community media, ICT, and communication research in South Asia. Seema manages the Global Pilot Project for Community Multimedia Centres in Asia. She has three years' field experience in community radio in India, and researches the emergence and nature of local information networks.
Rupa Pandey is a researcher at the Lumbini Information and Communication Cooperative Ltd. at Lumbini Community Radio Station, Nepal. She has completed training in radio presentation and production, journalism, and ethnographic action research.
Atul Kumar Sharma is a researcher at Ideosync Media Combine, Utarrakhand, India. He coordinates initiatives with community radio groups Samudayik Radio Hevalvaani and Samudayik Radio Mandaakini Ki Awaaz. Atul previously worked with the World Health Organization, and holds a Masters degree in Social Science.
Karma Tshering has over four years of field and project development experience in the field of ICT. He worked as the Coordinator for the CMC project and Finding a Voice in Nepal.
Aseem Asha Usman is a researcher at Datamation Foundation, Delhi, India. He has experience in creative writing and journalism, and has made a photo-feature on visually challenged children from Ahmadi School for the Blind. Aseem holds a BSc in Chemistry and a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Communication from Jamia Millia Islamia University.