Nick Roberts

I am a practicing anthropologist and archaeologist with over 15 years experience working in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Southeast Asia as a consultant, researcher, team leader, and advisor to a variety of programs and projects within Higher Education & Research; Government; Mining, Oil and Gas; and the Development sectors.

I hold a PhD in Social Science and my research thesis evaluated the application of international heritage discourses and practices in the management of cultural heritage within the MMG-LXML Sepon Gold & Copper Mine, Lao PDR. My research was supported by 12 years working as a Cultural Heritage and Native Title consultant within large-scale economic development and linear infrastructure projects in Australia and Southeast Asia. 

I currently work with the Queensland Department of Transport & Main Roads (TMR) as Cultural Heritage Officer (Team Lead) for the Cairns, Cape York and Torres Strait regions, managing and coordinating cultural heritage activities and staff, provision of specialist cultural heritage advice and support, and community engagement and consultation as part of the safeguarding and management of cultural heritage assets in the delivery of transport infrastructure projects. 

Previously with TMR, I worked as Senior Advisor (Capability and Learning) with a State-wide Indigenous Strategy Team. In this role I provide strategic advice and data analysis to evaluation and improve workplace cultural safety, staff cultural capability, and to generate positive socio-economic outcomes in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, businesses, and communities.

Prior to my role as an adjunct James Cook University (JCU), Queensland, I held various academic and professional positions at JCU as a researcher, undergraduate sessional teacher, and program manager for teaching, learning, training and capacity development within the Department of Learning, Teaching & Student Engagement (LTSE); the College of Arts, Society & Education (CASE); the College of Business, Law & Governance (CBLG); The Cairns Institute (TCI), and the Office of Vice Chancellor & President. 

I retain an Adjunct Research Fellow position at JCU, within the Cairns Institute, where I promote industry-research collaboration to meet the challenges of sustainable and justice-driven development with Cape York and the Torres Strait, development of academic ‘twinning’ projects to support academic scholarship and institutional capacity in the global south, and the study of Buddhist and Hindu rock-cut architecture and sacred caves.