Dr Tom Corcoran 

I'm Dr Tom Corcoran, a Conservation Ethnographer, Global Explorer, and Writer who finds joy and purpose in weaving the tales of traditional knowledge, nature, and cultural heritage into a vivid narrative. My passion for storytelling through ethnographic research was kindled by my upbringing in Australia, where the lush biodiversity and rich heritage of diverse cultures influenced my early interests and career path. Here, I learnt to search out stories about the world we live in, nature, culture, community the arts and our deep heritage of humanity. 

​

Growing up amid Australia's vibrant ecosystems, I was naturally drawn to the interconnectedness between people and nature. This curiosity led me to pursue a career in Cultural Heritage Conservation, initially focusing on the craft of stone, tangible and vernacular cultural heritage before entering environmental studies, which led me to work in Australia's National Parks, firstly in Central Australia's desert regions before returning to the East Coast and the brackish waters of the Myall Lakes National Park. There, I developed a close connection with Indigenous Australian heritage, which further fueled my drive to understand and celebrate our cultural connection to nature on an international scale. 

 

My professional journey has taken me around the world—from the rugged terrains of Australia to the lush mountain forests and Islands of Indonesia, Madagascar, South Korea and Bhutan to the historical landscapes of Europe, to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan India and Lebanon and to Tunisia, Algeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa. I have been fortunate to lead conservation, heritage and humanitarian projects across these diverse natural and cultural landscapes, further enriching my understanding and appreciation of the World we live in. My academic path, which includes an MM, ACP in Australia to my BSc, and MSc, from UCC and UCD in Ireland, to my PhD from Birmingham University in the United Kingdom, has been an integral part of blending my practical fieldwork with academic rigour, especially within the field of Community based Conservation, and Cultural Heritage.

​

Over the past few decades, I have managed projects for the United Nations, international NGOs and governments and have been honoured as a "National Geographic Global Explorer highlighting my work in the forests of Indonesia.  My explorations have brought me to some of the most remote corners of the globe. These adventures have not only garnered recognition from the European Outdoor Conservation Association (ECOA) and the FORD Awards for Conservation/Development filmmaking but have also deepened my commitment to broadening our understanding of sustainable development through community-based conservation promoting nature and cultural heritage conservation.

​

As the writer, editor, and producer of the Global Explorer Magazine under the Fading Cultures Project, I am committed to illuminating the stories and traditions as they transition to new generations. My goal is to showcase the spirit of traditional communities and celebrate the enduring human connections we have to our environment.