Overview
Kerrie Robertson brings nearly two decades of fisheries governance experience to her doctoral research at the University of Wollongong, where she’s examining the historical development of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, and the way coastal States participated in it. Her PhD builds on master’s degrees in International Law (and Fisheries Policy.
Her career has spanned senior positions across two governments—including Director of Cook Islands Offshore Fisheries Division and leadership roles in the Australian Government. This dual perspective, moving between well-resourced and resource-constrained environments, shapes her understanding of how international law actually works when it meets implementation realities.
Kerrie previously chaired the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA) and two subsidiary committees of the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO). She represented governments in multilateral negotiations spanning UN frameworks and many RFMOs. Her consultancy work through Adira Consulting focuses on translating complex legal instruments into workable governance arrangements, particularly for Pacific Island nations. She has spent her career working at the intersection of international law, fisheries science, and cross-cultural collaboration—convinced that effective ocean governance comes from dialogue, commitment to progress and ensuring that all voices are genuinely heard at the table.