Helen Verran is an ethnographer.  The question that animates much of her teaching, research, and scholarly writing is ‘How can ethnographic approaches to research contribute in an era when numerics, algorithms, and big data increasingly dominate decision making?’ In the absence of ethnographic approaches, first person experience becomes irrelevant in the knowledge work that informs policy and governance. Too much of what it means to be human becomes lost and missing.

Helen has worked in the Northern Territory on and off since 1987.  Most of her work has been with Indigenous organisations particularly focussed in Arnhem Land. She has investigated use of digital technologies, environmental management, and provision of education in remote Indigenous settlements.