Steve Hemming

Associate Professor Steve Hemming is affiliated with the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). His work focuses on Indigenous governance, environmental management, and reconciliation, with a particular emphasis on Ngarrindjeri nation-building and treaty negotiations. Hemming holds a PhD from Flinders University (2012–2014) and has over four decades of experience collaborating with Indigenous communities on policy, heritage, and environmental projects.

His research integrates Indigenous knowledges with environmental science and governance, emphasizing holistic approaches to truth-telling, repatriation, and ecological stewardship. Key contributions include the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority’s Yarluwar-Ruwe engagement strategy, which won the Australian Riverprize in 2015. Hemming has led over 16 funded research projects, including studies on Indigenous data sovereignty and treaty frameworks.

Notable awards include the International RiverPrize (2015). His work spans academic leadership, policy development, and community advocacy, addressing systemic challenges in settler-colonial contexts. Hemming advises on PhD and Masters students and collaborates with institutions globally, focusing on Indigenous self-determination and healing through repatriation.