Discipline of Land Management and Development
Staff
Staff

Professor Digby Race

Dean of Graduate School and Professor of Land Management

Email: digby.race@usp.ac.fj

Education

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – School of Resources, Environment & Society – The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT.

Master of Applied Science (MAppSc) – Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW.

Graduate Diploma of Environmental Management (GradDipEnvMgt) -La Trope University, Wodonga, Victoria.

Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Horticulture (BAppsc)- Burnley College The University of Melbourne, Richmond Victoria.

Career summary

Professor Digby Race a Professor of Land Management at the University of the South Pacific and serves as the Dean of the Graduate School at the main campus in Laucala, Fiji, a role he has held since early 2022. Prior he was an Associate Professor at the Tropical Forests and People Research Centre at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland (2016 -2021) where he led an international, multi-disciplinary research team focused on the socio-economic and policy aspects of community forestry in Indonesia. His previous roles also include Senior Research Fellow at the Australian National University (ANU) and Principal Research Leader in the CRC for Remote Economic Participation. Professor Race maintains Adjunct academic appointments at both ANU  and the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC). He has supervised over 10 PhD students and numerous MPhil/MSc scholars across various universities and has designed and taught a range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional courses, both online and in-person.

Professor Race is a seasoned research leader with a proven track record of securing, leading, and managing a diverse array of research projects totaling over FJ$10 million. This includes more than FJ$3 million in projects funded by ACIAR, a key partner of USP. He has an extensive publication record on the socio-economic and environmental dimensions of rural land management, smallholder and community livelihoods, rural development, and related industries. His body of work includes over 150 research reports, peer-reviewed articles, policy briefs, and several books

Teaching

  • Professor Race coordinates the following undergraduate and postgraduate courses:
    • Undergraduate Course:
      • Property Management (LM214)
        • Delivered Face-to-Face (Laucala) and Blended (elsewhere) in semester 2
    • Postgraduate Courses:
      • Supervised Research Project (LM600)
      • Master’s (LM700)
      • Directed Research Project (LM750)
      • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, LM800)

Postgraduate scholars supervision

Professor Race is currently the Principal Supervisor for the following postgraduate research scholars:

  • Mr. Mohsin Khan (PhD Scholar):
    • Thesis: “Affordable Housing in the Suva-Nausori Corridor: Finding a Pathway to Social Equity”
  • Ms. Silia Ledger Banani (PhD Scholar):
    • Thesis: “Achieving Sustainable Land Management in Tonga: Managing Change for a Resilient Future”
  • Mr. Doni Wainiqolo (PhD Scholar):
    • Thesis: “Exploring the Potential of Community-Led Formal Planning on Development in Fiji: An Analysis of Land-Owning Units”
  • Mr. Noa Naweli (MA Scholar):
    • Thesis: “Accurate Valuation of Real Property in Fiji: Analysis of Valuation Methods Used for Residential Properties in Suva”
  • Mr. Holomesi Finau (PhD Scholar):
    • Thesis: “Land Security as a Foundation for Sustainable Development in Tonga and the Pacific Region”
  • Ms. Chethna Ben (PhD Scholar co-supervisor, enrolled at the University of Melbourne):
    • Thesis: “Housing Access, Aspiration, and Adaptation in Coastal Informal Settlements of Fiji”

Recent articles published in refereed journals include:

Shah, S. and Race, D. (2024) Greening the Blue Pacific: Lessons on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). Forest Policy and Economics, 166 (article #103263).

Race, D., Gentle, P. & Mathew, S (2023)  Living on the margins: Climate change impacts and adaptation by remote communities living in the Pacific Islands, the Himalaya and desert Australia. Climate Risk Management, 40: (article #100503).

Carias, D., Page, T., Smith, H., Race, D., Keenan, R.J., Palmer, G. & Baynes, J. (2022) Beyond the ‘Field of Dreams’ model in smallholder forestry: Building viable timber value chains for smallholder tree growers in developing countries. Land Use Policy, 120 (article #106227).

Race, D., Suka, A.P., Oktalina, S.N., Bisjoe, A.R., Muin, N. & Arinati, N. (2022) Modern Smallholders: Creating diversified livelihoods and landscapes in Indonesia. Small-scale Forestry, 21 (1): 203-227.

Wibowo, L.R., Hayati, N., Bisjoe, A.R., Kurniasari, D.R., Wahyudiyati, K.T. & Race, D. (2022) Untangling the regulatory environment: Why do wood processing businesses in Indonesia fail to be competitive in the global market? Small-scale Forestry (July) https://doi.org/10.1007/s11842-022-09514-y.

KC, B., Race, D., Fisher, R. & Jackson, W. (2021) Changing rural livelihoods and forest use transition in the Middle Hills of Nepal. Small-scale Forestry, 20 (3): 479-501.

Stewart, H., Race, D., Rohadi, D. & Schmidt, D.M. (2021) Growth and profitability of smallholder sengon and teak plantations in the Pati district, Indonesia. Forest Policy & Economics, 130 (article #102539).

Popular articles and Books include:

‘Can money grow on trees?’ published in Research Features, July 2021. 

‘Raising Trees and Livelihoods’, published recently by ACIAR (available for free download at: Raising trees and livelihoods | ACIAR).

Research interests

Professor Race has broad research interests focused on enhancing our understanding of land management, both rural and urban, to achieve development goals, such as improved livelihoods and wellbeing, as well as environmental objectives. His work encompasses smallholder and customary/Indigenous land management, people-centered land-based enterprises (such as community forestry), property management, and green business opportunities that support both development and environmental sustainability.

He enjoys collaborating with a diverse range of organizations, including government agencies, industry groups, international bodies, and community-based organizations. Through these partnerships, Professor Race aims to optimize land management and development practices in the South Pacific and beyond.

Research Profile