Glenn Simmons

Since 2010, Glenn has been investigating human rights' abuses and the use of forced labour on board New Zealand foreign chartered fishing vessels. This research led to a Ministerial Inquiry, a major shift in government policy, and the enactment of a law requiring all foreign charter vessels to be reflagged to New Zealand by 2016. In 2012 Glenn and two co-researchers received the Deans Award: a special award recognising the impact of research concerned with human rights issues on-board foreign charter vessels fishing in New Zealand's waters.

Currently Glenn is focused on innovation and value creation that in part informs the project ‘Value Adding in the Seafood Industry’, which seeks to assist seafood businesses sustainably create, deliver and capture more value from their activities in overseas (especially Asian) markets. He is also managing the 'Charting the Uncharted project– a unique, high-impact multi-disciplinary collaboration of global significance and brings together expert researchers to create solutions to the critical challenges facing the global fishing industry. The overarching goal is to understand the root causes of environmental and human rights abuses on fishing vessels operating on the high seas.