Profile

Professor Daniel Robinson

• Researcher
• University of New South Wales

Dr Daniel Robinson has a background in human geography, environmental science and environmental law. Daniel’s research focuses on the regulation of nature and knowledge. His papers and books cover themes including ‘biopiracy’, access and benefit-sharing relating to biological resources, appropriation and regulation of Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous/customary laws and biocultural protocols, ethical biotrade, political ecology, environmental policy and management. Daniel also has an interest in the environmental and social implications of multilateral, regional and bilateral IP and trade rules and negotiations, and has several papers/chapters on the negotiation politics of these forums.

On these issues, Daniel has acted as a researcher and policy advisor on projects for the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and with their joint project with UNCTAD, The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF), the German development implementation agency (GIZ), DFAT, AusAid and Department of Environment, Natural Justice, the Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT), The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, amongst others. He was a Research Fellow, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), Geneva (2014 – 2018); and a Visiting Fellow with the Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University in NYC (October 2018).

Daniel was the Academic Lead for the Pacific, for the UNSW Institute for Global Development, a university-wide strategic initiative (2018-mid-2025). He maintains a strong interest in Pacific collaborations, engagement and research.

Daniel is currently serving on the Australian Research Council (ARC) College of Experts, 2024-2026.

Additional extensive media relating to Kakadu Plum and bush foods and medicines, for example on ABC radio national, ABC TV Landline, as well as ABC Radio Local/Regional, SBS Radio World News, SBS TV The Feed, Print media such as SMH, le monde diplomatique. Check out this 2022 interview on YouTube by Deutche Welle. See also 2022 contributions to British Council funded contributions to a GROW art activity on biopiracy.