The People Behind ESRA

Amanda Thomas is a lecturer in Environmental Studies at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington. Her research is largely grounded with communities, and examines democracy and the ways that environmental politics interact with social justice. more

Anna-Maria is Senior Lecturer at Auckland University of Technology where she teaches global political economy. Her research focuses on cultural studies of capitalism and the contestation of commodification. more

Ben is an activist, researcher and union official with NZEI based in Tāmaki Makaurau. His research to date has focused on revolutionary strategy, the place of sovereignty in relation to other models of political organisation, and contemporary critical theory. more

Catherine (Ngāti Ranginui/ Pākehā) is a researcher and master’s graduate of the University of Auckland, Tāmaki Makaurau. Grounded in historical materialism and critical theory, her mahi is centrally interested in intersections of finance and colonisation, and possibilities for their overcoming. Catherine is based in London where she works as an editor in left publishing. more

Campbell is convenor of the sociology programme at the University of Auckland and the University of Auckland Critical Theory Network. His research focuses on questions of work, finance, economic policy and political organisation. more

Dylan is a lecturer in sociology at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington, and is a member of the Counterfutures journal editorial board. His research interests include extra-parliamentary politics and political sociology. more

Gabi is an artist, graphic designer, and researcher based in Auckland. As one of the co-founders of Pipi Press, she has recently released a beautiful book titled In Common, which brings together poetic, artistic, and academic responses to the idea of the commons. more

Jack is a PhD candidate at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington and editor of Counterfutures journal. His research interests include political economy, political theory, and public policy. more

James is a PhD candidate and activist in Tāmaki Makaurau. He currently works and studies at the University of Auckland. James principally locates his research interests in Marxist politics, economic planning, and continental philosophy. more

Jonathan’s research is concerned with philosophy and political economy. He has taught Sociology at Massey University, and Political Studies, International Relations, and Business at the University of Auckland. more

Marcela is a lecturer in human geography and development studies at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington. Marcela’s work is located in the intersection between development studies, human geography and political ecology, with special emphasis on Indigenous issues. more

Nathalie is a researcher at FIRST Union, a PhD candidate and member of teaching staff in sociology at the University of Auckland and a community activist. Her work involves primary research in tactics of activist and industrial leverage, critique of capitalist economics, radical political strategy and critical theory. more

Neil is a member of the Centre for Global Migrations at the University of Otago, where he teaches in the Schools of Arts and Social Sciences. His research interests include the political economy of neoliberalism, post-capitalism, borders, and displacement. He is the author of Futilitarianism: Neoliberalism and the Production of Uselessness (Goldsmiths Press, 2021). more

Dr Peter King is a sociologist with Parallax Research. He researches in the areas of poverty measurement, income distribution, and material deprivation.  He is experienced in research design and management, and the analysis of quantitative survey and economic data. Peter was prominently involved in the calculation and reporting of the now popularised living wage threshold for Aotearoa. more

Shannon is a PhD candidate and teaching fellow in sociology at the University of Auckland. He is interested in political economy, Marxian economics and critical research methods. more

Kāi Tahu, Pākehā. Te Tomokanga fellow in sociology at the University of Auckland. In addition to ESRA, Simon remains a member of Plan C and Black Study Group. His work is interested in indigenous thought and politics, Marxian and critical theory, black studies, communism and conjunctions thereof. more

Vanessa is a researcher and activist specialising in housing and urban planning in Aotearoa. She is an active supporter of the state housing struggle. Vanessa has previously served as the co-ordinator for Auckland Action Against Poverty, and remains the co-chair. more