Hi there! My name is Farzana, and I am a Pacific person with a diverse range of professional and academic experiences.
Throughout my academic career, I’ve been deeply involved in research that intersects critical areas such as discourse, gender, health, human security, and migration. My commitment to these fields stems from a belief that understanding and addressing the complexities of these interconnected issues is essential for creating a more equitable and just society.
While working in the public sector, I’ve also developed a keen interest in foresight and horizon scanning, driven by the conviction that anticipating future challenges is crucial for initiating meaningful change. This forward-looking approach has been a cornerstone of my professional journey, guiding my efforts to contribute positively to the world around me.
I am excited to share my knowledge and experiences with others, and I hope that my work can inspire others to make a positive impact in their own way. Thank you for stopping by and getting to know me a little bit better.
Linkedin profile: linkedin.com/in/farzana-gounder-5903138a
Areas of Research Interest and Expertise
Indian indenture, Narrative analysis, Discourse and society, Health Communication, Media and collective memory, Anniversary journalism, News media, Pacific media, Contemporary and traditional media, Frame analysis, Academic Writing, Qualitative and quantitative research writing, Transcription and translation, Foresight & Horizon scanning
Qualifications
PhD in Linguistics (2011, Massey University), Master of Arts (2003, University of Auckland), Bachelor of Arts (2000, University of the South Pacific), CELTA
Awards and Distinctions
2021- Senior member, scholar and mentor of the Indian Ocean Committee of the International Scientific Committee’s Indentured Labour Route Project Board
2021- International Scientific Committee’s Indentured Labour Route Project Board
2021- Adjunct Professor, The University of Fiji, JDP School of Law
2021 Girmit Legacy Award: Contribution to Girmit Literature, Fiji Girmit Foundation New Zealand
2017 Research Excellence Award (Contestable), IPU New Zealand
2016 Visiting scholar, Avondale College of Higher Education, Sydney: Centre for Advancement of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
2015-2016 Research Associate, The University of Waikato
2013-2014 Postdoctoral Fellow in Linguistics, The University of Waikato. Funded by the University of Waikato’s Strategic Investment Funds
2011 Research Excellence Award (Contestable), IPU New Zealand
2000 Valedictorian, The University of the South Pacific. Highest GPA amongst all undergraduates
2000 Gold medallist in Linguistics, The University of the South Pacific. Highest GPA amongst all Linguistics undergraduates
Editor-in-Chief
2023. Indentured Papers: Studies on Girmityas.
Media coverage
Tackling ‘isms’ and intra-ethnic prejudice | RNZ
Fiji Indians renew their call to be identified as Pacific people – indiannewslink.co.nz
Radio and Television Apna. 10 October 2021. Unfiltered Memories.
Radio and Television Apna. 10 September 2021. Fiji Indian Wellbeing and Awareness Talanoa.
Radio and Television Apna. 20 August 2021. Radio interview on programme Enhancing communities’ resilience: Enhancing refugee and migrant communities’ strategies for adjusting and adapting to COVID-19
Radio and Television Apna. 19 August 2021. Covid Television messaging on programme Enhancing communities’ resilience: Enhancing refugee and migrant communities’ strategies for adjusting and adapting to COVID-19
New Zealand Stuff News. 3 June 2021. A world first for Fiji Hindi as universal Girmitiya language script trialed in Auckland
Fiji Sun. Fiji Hindi: It’s a Legitimate Language for People of Fiji. 29 May 2021
Radio and Television Apna. Live coverage of UNESCO workshop. 22 May 2021.
Fiji Sun. 21 May 2021. Fijian spirit still strong as ever for Girmit descendants despite painful political events. EXPLAINER NEW
Fiji Sun. 21 May 2021. Editor’s comments. Page 6 Letters
Radio and Television Apna. May 2022. Series host: Indentured Labour Roots/Routes.
Board membership
2021- Board member of The International Scientific Committee’s Indentured Labour Route Project.
2021 Co-chair of the Aotearoa Fiji Research Network with Professor Steven Ratuva.
2019- 2021 Research and Development Committee Chair. IPU New Zealand Tertiary Institute, Palmerston North.
2019- 2021 Ethics Board Chair. IPU New Zealand Tertiary Institute, Palmerston North.
2015- New Zealand Pacific Union Conference (NZPUC) Health Board
Upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
2022 Te Reo Māori language course
2022 Tikanga course
Teaching Experience, Course Development and Administration
Language and Communication
Intercultural communication
English as an International Language
The Study of Language
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Academic Writing for the Humanities and Social Sciences
Writing for Professional Purposes
Qualitative and Quantitative Research Skills Methods
Quantitative Research Skills Methods
Supervision of graduate research projects
Masters Thesis Examiner