Serena Kelly

Serena Kelly is a Senior Lecturer Above the Bar in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Canterbury's Faculty of Arts, where she has been employed since January 2019. She holds significant leadership positions including Vice-Chair of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA) and Vice-President of the European Studies Association Australia and New Zealand (ESAANZ). Additionally, she serves as a Principal Research Fellow at the Institute for Indo-Pacific Affairs, reflecting her expertise in regional geopolitics.

Dr. Kelly's research focuses on the formulation, projection, and reception of political narratives that shape our understanding of the world, with particular emphasis on the geopolitics of the South Pacific and Indo-Pacific regions. Her work examines EU-Asia relations, media and perception studies, trade diplomacy, and public diplomacy. She has published extensively in high-impact journals including the Journal of Common Market Studies, Asia-Europe Journal, The Pacific Review, and Journal of Contemporary European Studies.

Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on China's role in the Pacific, EU engagement in the Indo-Pacific, and the implications of trade agreements between the EU and New Zealand. Her research demonstrates an interdisciplinary approach that bridges political science, media studies, and international relations, with particular attention to how narratives shape geopolitical realities in the Pacific region.

Dr. Kelly is registered to supervise Master's and Doctoral students at the University of Canterbury. She has received significant research funding, including a current European Commission grant (2022-2025) titled 'What role for Europe in the Indo-Pacific? Identifying regional policy responses towards the EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy.' She also co-leads a project examining Germany-Pacific Island engagement funded through a UC Faculty of Arts Digital Research Seed Fund grant.

Her professional activities include extensive journal reviewing for publications such as the Journal of Common Market Studies and Australian and New Zealand Journal of European Studies. She frequently provides expert commentary in media outlets including Radio New Zealand's 'Nights with Bryan Crump' and 'Breakfast' programs, where she discusses Brexit implications, EU-NZ relations, and Pacific geopolitics. Dr. Kelly also serves as Chair of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Christchurch Branch.