Gareth Knapman

Dr Gareth Knapman is a Research Fellow at the Australian National University (ANU), affiliated with the Centre for Heritage and Museum Studies within the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific. He holds a PhD from RMIT University and specializes in colonial history, repatriation of Indigenous remains, and racial thought. His work critically examines colonial plunder, legal frameworks of empire, and the socio-political dimensions of cultural heritage. Key projects include the 'Return, Reconcile, Renew' repatriation network and research on police involvement in Indigenous property seizures. He has published extensively, including the book Race and British Colonialism in Southeast Asia (2017), and is currently writing on sovereignty and property in British colonial contexts.

Research interests span 18th-19th century colonialism, Indigenous repatriation, and the history of Anzac Day. His interdisciplinary approach integrates legal history, anthropology, and museum studies. Notable contributions include analyses of the Raffles collections' legality and the Terra Nullius doctrine's role in land claims.

Recent articles address machine learning applications in repatriation research, colonial policing's impact on Indigenous communities, and the ethical dimensions of museum collections. He collaborates with institutions globally on restitution and reconciliation initiatives. Supervision of research students focuses on colonial histories and repatriation practices.