Dr Daniel Vorbach
SEI Affiliated Researcher

Profile

Biography

Daniel is an SEI Affiliated Researcher supporting the work of the York Equitable Technology Laboratory (ETL). As an SEI York Research Fellow (2017 - 2021) Daniel implemented the participatory research component of the integrated Participatory Technology Development (iPTD) project and piloted transdisciplinary methods to co-develop technologies and institutions. Daniel completed his PhD at the University of York Department of Environment and Geography. His thesis examines why community committees rarely work as expected and explores alternative approaches to support locally-led, sustainable and equitable community governance at scale.

Prior to joining SEI, Daniel was Program Director at Oxfam in Vanuatu and coordinated a climate change adaptation consortium comprised of Oxfam, CARE, Red Cross and Save the Children. Daniel has also held climate change adaptation advisory roles with Practical Action Sri Lanka and World Vision Australia. He played a leading role in establishing and convening Climate Action Networks in Vanuatu and Sri Lanka. Daniel was awarded the Vanuatu 30th Independence Anniversary Medal and Red Cross Vanuatu National Award for his contribution to the disaster response following Tropical Cyclone Pam.

Key Skills:

Transdisciplinary collaboration, community-based adaptation, resilience, participatory methods, qualitative research

Career

2017 to 2021: Research Fellow at the Stockholm Environment Institute / University of York, UK
2015 to 2017: Director: Programs - Oxfam, Port Vila, Vanuatu
2012 to 2015: Climate Change Adaptation Program Manager at Oxfam, Port Vila, Vanuatu
2011 to 2012: Climate Change Policy Advisor at World Vision, Melbourne, Australia
2008 to 2010: Climate Change Advocacy Coordinator at Practical Action, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2007 to 2008: Technology Justice Program Manager at Practical Action, Colombo, Sri Lanka
2006 to 2007: Timor Leste and PNG Program Officer at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Melbourne, Australia

Degree(s)

PhD (Human Geography), Thesis title: Community Governance in Vanuatu through a critical institutionalist lens, Department of Environment and Geography, University of York
Master of Social Science (International Development), RMIT University, Melbourne
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (Politics with French and European Studies), University of Sussex, UK and Université de la Réunion, France DOM

Publications

Full publications list

Vorbach, D. and Ensor, J., 2022. Autonomous Change Processes in Traditional Institutions: Lessons from Innovations in Village Governance in Vanuatu. International Journal of the Commons, 16(1).

Johnson, S., Koutsoumpeli, E., Ashton, R., Hunter, D., Walker, H., Chowdhury, K., Vorbach, D., Ensor, J., Moir, J., 2023. Co-development of technology for measuring faecal contamination of drinking water. Water Research. (Submitted)

Ensor, J., Johnson, S., Vorbach, D., and Moir, J., 2023. Equitable technology development: methods for scientists and engineers. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions. (Under Review)

Webb, J., Vorbach, D., Boydell, E., Mcnaught, R. and Sterrett, C., 2015. Tools for CBA: Lessons from NGO collaboration in Vanuatu. Coastal Management, 43(4), pp.407-423.