David P Nally

David P Nally is a Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge, where he serves as a Fellow and Director of Studies in Geography at Jesus College. He is a co-convenor of the Department's Vital Geographies Research Group and an active member of the Cambridge Global Food Security Interdisciplinary Research Centre. His academic journey began at University College Cork, continued with studies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and led to his current position at Cambridge where he has been since 2006.

Nally's research spans several critical areas in political geography, with a primary focus on the political economy of hunger and food supply. His work examines the geopolitics of subsistence crises, colonial dimensions of famine, and the biopolitical dimensions of contemporary food systems. He has made significant contributions to understanding land grabbing, American philanthropy's role in global food governance, and the historical continuities between colonial food policies and modern 'food security' frameworks. His scholarship bridges historical and contemporary perspectives, connecting events like the Irish Famine to current food crises in Africa and elsewhere.

Nally's extensive publication record reveals consistent engagement with how power operates through food systems, with recurring themes of colonial violence, humanitarian governance, and resistance. His work often challenges techno-solutionist approaches to food security, emphasizing instead the political and structural dimensions of hunger. The trajectory of his research shows increasing attention to reparative futures, historical consciousness, and democratic alternatives to current food governance models.

• Philip Leverhulme Prize, 2013
• CRASSH Early Career Fellowship, 2009
• The Rockefeller Foundation, Grant-in-Aid award, 2014
• University Graduate Fellowship, University of British Columbia, 2002-2004
• National University of Ireland Travelling Studentship in Geography, 2000-2003

Nally actively supervises postgraduate students including Troy Fielder, Martinez Salinas, and Kiely, focusing on topics related to food politics, historical geography, and political economy. His external activities include serving on the editorial board of Irish Geography, being a 'Visionary Ambassador' for Compassion in World Farming, and holding research positions at the Laureate Centre for History and Population at UNSW Sydney. He contributes significantly to interdisciplinary food security initiatives at Cambridge and maintains a strong public engagement profile through media appearances and opinion pieces in major publications.

As part of the Vital Geographies Research Group, Nally collaborates with colleagues on projects examining how power shapes landscapes and human experiences. His work intersects with multiple research themes within Cambridge's Global Food Security initiative, particularly the Political Economy of Hunger and Food Supply strand, where he contributes historical and critical perspectives to contemporary food challenges.