José Sousa-Santos is an Associate Professor of Practice and the head of the Pacific Regional Security Hub (PRSH), University of Canterbury. His research, publications and policy work focuses on transnational crime, the nexus between terrorism and transnational crime, irregular and hybrid warfare, psychological operations and cultural intelligence in the Pacific and Asia.

Prior to leading the Pacific Regional Security Hub, he held positions as Senior Fellow at the Australia Pacific Security College, Australian National University, subject matter expert (transnational crime and terrorism) with the executive educational cadre for the United States INDOPACOM and SOCPAC Cooperation Against Transnational Threats program, and Pacific Area Security Sector Working Group. Previously, Sousa-Santos served as advisor on conflict mediation and dispute resolution to HE Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta during his terms as Timor-Leste’s prime minister and president; and as the lead analyst on disrupters and spoilers with the United Nations Joint Mission Analysis Centre in Timor-Leste. Prior to this, he served with the Australian Defence Force.

Sousa-Santos was appointed to the Global Initiative against Transnational Crime panel of experts, and consults with the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. He has previously held positions as Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and as Visiting Fellow with the Australian National University Cyber Institute. He has received numerous commendations including from the United Nations for investigative work on transnational crime (human trafficking) and in 2007 he was nominated for the United Nations Sergio Vieira de Mello Human Rights Award for achievements in the area of conflict mediation and dispute resolution during the Timor-Leste 2006 crisis.