Social mapping and land ownership in Melanesia; development in the Pacific; social impacts of mining; governance and traditional politics in Papua New Guinea; Native Title research in Torres Strait and among rainforest Aboriginal groups in North Queensland; genealogy in Australia and Melanesia.

Publications can be downloaded at 

• https://www.researchgate.net/profile/John_Burton2 
• https://anu-au.academia.edu/JohnBurton

BA(Hons) Prehistory 1977, MSc Biological Computation 1979. ANU PhD 1985 [ANU Digital Theses: http://hdl.handle.net/1885/49431]

Lecturer,  at Department of Anthropology and Sociology, University of Papua New Guinea, 1985-1991. Taught courses in human origins, research methods, cultural ecology and economic anthropology. Research topics in customary land studies, comparative ethnography, and census, and developed social mapping techniques on secondment to the Western Highlands Province government.

Canberra-based consultant 1992-2001, specialising in social mapping and the social impacts of mining at Ok Tedi, Kutubu, Lihir and Hidden Valley; development assessments in Papua New Guinea.

Senior Anthropologist for the Torres Strait Regional Authority, 2001-2003.

Fellow in the Resource Management in Asia-Pacific Program, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, 2004-2013. 

Independent consultant, 2014.

Professor & Deputy Vice President Research, Divine Word University, Papua New Guinea, 2015-2019

Independent consultant, 2020.

Principal Research Fellow, Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland, 2021-

 

Career highlights

• Professor & Deputy Vice President Research, Divine Word University, 2015-2019
• Fellow, Resource Management in Asia-Pacific Program, ANU, 2004-2013
• Visiting Professor, Centre de Recherche et de Documentation sur l'Océanie, Aix-Marseille Université, November 2012.
• Senior Anthropologist, Native Title Office, Torres Strait Regional Authority, Thursday Island, 2001-2003
• Lecturer, Department of Anthropology and Sociology, University of Papua New Guinea, 1985-1991

Projects in 2019

• Jirrbal #4 Native Title Application: Supplementary Report. Commissioned by: North Queensland Land Council.

Projects in 2018

• Agriculture Familiale, Alimentation et Santé dans les Îles du Pacifique (AASIP), with University of New Caledonia, Ministry of Education, Training and and Francophonie, Vanuatu, IRD (Montpellier) and PNG University of Technology

Projects in 2017

• SME Minières - Histoire, identités, enjeux. Part of CNRT 'Nickel et son environnement' in collaboration with IAC (New Caledonia), IRD (New Caledonia) and University of New Caledonia
• Corruption Risks in Mining Awards. Research consultancy with Diwai Pacific Limited for Transparency International PNG

Projects in 2016

• Kapit Resettlement Action Plan, Lihir Island: Land Tenure Secuity. Research consultancy with Diwai Pacific Limited for Newcrest Mining

Projects in 2014

• SubCatchment Mapping in Ward 18 of Koiari Rural Local-Level Government area. Consultancy with ANU Edge. Role: Team Leader. Final report, February 2015.
• Ok Tedi Riverine Social Impact Assessment. Consultancy with Klohn Crippen Berger. Role: Field Team Leader. Draft report, July 2014.

Projects in 2013

• Women’s Development Planning – PNG Mineral Resources Authority. Research consultancy with ANU Edge. Role: Team Leader. Contract duration: March-December 2013.

Projects in 2011-2012

• Hidden Valley / Watut River Villages Socio-Economic Baseline. A research consultancy with ANU Enterprise. Research partner: Department of Communication and Development Studies, University of Technology, Lae, Papua New Guinea. Commissioned by: Hidden Valley Services Limited. Number of contract days: 114

• RMAP-CDS Communication for Development Curriculum Building. AusAID Public Sector Linkage Grant. Counterpart Organisation: Department of Communication and Development Studies, University of Technology, Lae. AusAID contract value: $204,489 over three years (2011-14).

Projects in 2010

• Hidden Valley / Watut River Villages Socio-Economic Baseline. A research consultancy with ANU Enterprise. Research partner: Department of Communication and Development Studies, University of Technology, Lae, Papua New Guinea. Commissioned by: Hidden Valley Services Limited. Number of contract days: 70

• Phase 2 Social Mapping of the Kokoda Track-Brown River Catchment Region. A research consultancy with ANU Enterprise. Research partner: Department of Anthropology and Sociology, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby. Commissioned by: PNG Department of Environment and Conservation. Number of contract days: 48

Projects in 2009

• Warrungu Native Title Application: Supplementary Report. A research consultancy with ANU Enterprise. Commissioned by: North Queensland Land Council. Number of contract days: 60

• Kokoda Track-Brown River Catchment Region: Preliminary Social Mapping Study. A research consultancy with ANU Enterprise. Research partners: State, Society and Governance in Melanesia, ANU; Pacific and Asian History, ANU. Commissioned by: PNG Department of Environment and Conservation. Number of contract days: 18

Projects in 2008

• Muluridgi Native Title Application: Supplementary Report. A research consultancy with ANU Enterprise. Commissioned by: North Queensland Land Council. Number of contract days: 60

• Design of Wafi social mapping project. A research consultancy with ANU Enterprise. Commissioned by: Harmony Gold. Number of contract days: 5

• Genealogies for Torres Strait Regional Sea Claim. A research consultancy with ANU Enterprise. Commissioned by: Torres Strait Regional Authority. Number of contract days: 20

Projects in 2007

• Porgera Landowner Resettlement Action Plan. A research consultancy with ANU Enterprise. Commissioned by: Barrick Gold Corporation. Number of contract days: (Paid 11.5. In dispute: 85).