Miranda Forsyth

Miranda Forsyth is Professor at the School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet), Australian National University, specializing in legal pluralism and justice systems in Pacific Island contexts. Her research addresses sorcery accusation-related violence, post-conflict reconciliation, and regulatory innovation.

Research Programs:

• Overcoming Violence in PNG (2023–2029): Focuses on sorcery accusation-related violence and intergroup conflict
• Community Rule-Making in Pacific Islands (2022–2026): Examines regulatory innovation in Vanuatu and PNG
• Survivor-Centred Restorative Justice (2023–2025): Models for sexual violence response

Geographical Expertise: Long-term fieldwork in Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and Bougainville analyzing customary-state justice interactions. Recent publications investigate witchcraft beliefs in public health crises, digital polarization, and environmental restorative justice.

Policy Impact: Advisor to Autonomous Bougainville Government and Papua New Guinea National Research Institute on village court reforms and violence prevention frameworks. Authored A Bird that Flies with Two Wings: Kastom and State Justice in Vanuatu (ANU Press).