Dr Michelle Thompson-Fawcett (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Te Ata) is Distinguished Professor in the School of Geography at the University of Otago Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka. She has 40 years’ experience in planning practice and university teaching and research. Michelle’s research explores urban and environmental planning activities by Indigenous communities at the local level.  In particular, she examines the extent to which groups are able to engage in, influence, and achieve self-determination in regard to urban and environmental decision-making.  She works with Māori communities on their aspirations for urban development, cultural landscape management, indigenous impact assessment, and the management of natural and physical resources.