Dr Nicholas (Nick) Ruddell is a Māori researcher (Ngāpuhi) and Senior Lecturer in the School of Indigenous Australian Studies at Charles Sturt University. His scholarship explores Indigenous methodologies, diaspora and relational approaches to research across Oceania, with a particular interest in how knowledge, identity and belonging are sustained across communities, places and generations.

Grounded in kaupapa Māori, Indigenous and Indigenist methodologies, Nick's research examines how Indigenous knowledge systems can inform ethical, community-engaged research and collaborative partnerships. A central focus of his scholarship is the development of relational Indigenous methodologies that draw on the interconnected concepts of kōrero, whakapapa and whanaungatanga to explore how knowledge, identity and belonging are carried across generations, communities and Oceania. Through this work, he contributes to contemporary understandings of Indigenous research journeys and relational accountability across Oceania.

Nick convenes the Oceania & Global Indigenous Research Hub (OGIRH) and leads the development of the South Pacific Research Program, fostering collaborative research and educational partnerships with First Nations and Pacific communities. His work spans Indigenous methodologies, researcher development, intercultural research and knowledge exchange, with a strong commitment to strengthening Indigenous scholarship through reciprocal relationships.

Whether working alongside communities, supervising higher degree researchers or developing international collaborations, Nick views research as a shared journey grounded in respect, reciprocity and collective responsibility, with the aspiration of strengthening Indigenous scholarship and community partnerships across Oceania.