Julien Barbara

Professor Julien Barbara is a political economist and academic at The Australian National University (ANU), affiliated with the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs. He holds the academic rank of Professor and serves as Director within the School. His research focuses on Pacific politics, democracy, governance, and climate change adaptation. He has extensive experience in foreign policy roles with Australia’s DFAT and AusAID, including diplomatic postings and leadership in regional initiatives like RAMSI.

Professor Barbara’s qualifications include a BCom (Hons) and PhD from the University of Melbourne. His research interests span elections, political participation, climate policy, institutional reform, and developmental leadership. He has conducted studies across the Pacific on topics such as Samoa’s political attitudes, Vanuatu’s collective action challenges, and urbanization dynamics in Melanesia.

He leads collaborative projects like the Pacific Attitudes Survey, analyzing public opinion in Samoa, Vanuatu, and Timor-Leste. His work emphasizes translating research into policy, with projects funded by Australian government and private sector partners. Notable outputs include analyses of gender leadership in Samoa, climate change perception studies, and frameworks for impactful research programs.

Professor Barbara has advised on governance reforms, electoral strategies, and development initiatives. His contributions include mentoring programs for women leaders and studies on post-conflict university roles in Solomon Islands. He maintains partnerships with regional institutions and international organizations to advance policy-relevant scholarship in the Asia Pacific.