Dr Charles T. Hunt is Professor of International Relations in the School of Global, Urban & Social Studies at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. He is a Senior Fellow (non-resident) at the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research in New York, USA, Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Security Studies in Addis Ababa, and Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (APR2P), School of Political Science & International Studies at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

Charles’ background is in political science with a specialisation in international relations and critical security studies. He has a PhD International Relations from the University of Queensland, Australia, as well as MA International Studies and a BSc (Joint Honours) Economics and Political Science – both from the University of Birmingham, UK.

He was ARC DECRA Fellow (2017-2021), Vice Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow (2015-2017) and listed in Australia’s top 250 researchers (as leader in the field of ‘defence studies’) three years running, 2021-2023 (The Australian Research Magazine).

During his previous tenure at the University of Queensland, Charles was Senior Researcher in the Institute for Social Science Research (2008-2012), Leader for the protection of civilians program at the APR2P (2009 to 2015), Lecturer in International Security in the School of Political Science and International Studies (2012-2015) and has been an Associate Investigator with the Australian Research Council’s Centre for Excellence in Policing and Security since 2009. On moving to RMIT University in 2015 Charles was appointed as Vice Chancellor’s Research Fellow.

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Professor Hunt’s research in the field of international relations, security studies, peace and conflict studies focuses on four main areas:

1. Changing nature of United Nations peace operations

2. Peacebuilding and governance in conflict-affected countries and regions

3. Evaluation, impact assessment and organisational learning in conflict management, peacebuilding and development programming

4. The Protection of Civilians in armed conflict, the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (R2P) and prevention of mass atrocity crimes

Professor Hunt is an accomplished researcher. He is widely published, having authored/edited six books and over forty peer-reviewed articles and chapters (full list of publications here). He is one of three Editors-in-Chief of the quarterly journal, Global Responsibility to Protect and a member of the editorial boards for International Peacekeeping and the Journal of International Peacekeeping.

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In addition to traditional academic publications, Charles regularly writes editorials and commentaries for widely-read outlets, including the Washington Post, The Conversation, Global Observatory (International Peace Institute, New York), Sydney Morning Herald, Canberra Times, The Interpreter (Lowy Institute, Sydney), and Australian Outlook (Australian Institute for International Affairs, Canberra). His analysis and expertise have also featured on international and national television and radio stations including appearances on flagship programs on the BBC, ABC, and SBS.

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Charles bridges academic rigor and practical engagement to improve policy on peace and security issues. He has extensive knowledge and experience of the UN policy community and regularly consults to the United Nations and selected member states and has been commissioned to write numerous policy papers, practical handbooks and guidance on issues of peace and security (full list of policy papers, briefings and government reports here). Professor Hunt has also worked with the Australian government over a number of years assessing their role in peace operations and as a Principal Advisor to DFAT’s Fragility and Conflict Panel.

Professor Hunt has worked extensively in Africa conducting field research in many locations (e.g. South Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe) and has performed consultancy roles with the United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States and several international NGOs.

Charles’ previous and on-going work for international organisations, government agencies, think tanks, civil society organisations, and academic institutions across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific has provided him with a global perspective on issues of peace, security and justice.