Fiona Terry

Fiona Terry is an Honorary Professor at the School of Political Science and International Studies, University of Queensland. She serves as Head of the Centre for Operational Research at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva, combining over three decades of field and management experience in humanitarian affairs across global conflict zones. Her work bridges academic scholarship and humanitarian practice.

Research Interests: Terry specializes in humanitarian policies and politics, with a focus on conflict resolution, operational research, and the intersection of academic theory with real-world humanitarian challenges. Her scholarship contributes to understanding restraint in war and transforming aid policy through visual politics.

Notable Work: Her book Condemned to Repeat: The Paradox of Humanitarian Action (2002) remains a seminal text in the field. She is a Partner Investigator in the Australian Research Council-funded project 'Visualising Humanitarian Crises: Transforming Images and Aid Policy' (2022–2025), collaborating with the ICRC and Prof. Roland Bleiker.

Scientific Awards:

• Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order (2002) for her book.

Grants: Partner Investigator in the $1.2 million Australian Research Council Linkage Grant (2022–2025) for 'Visualising Humanitarian Crises.'