Vision: A world that recognises living cultures as essential to our shared future, not remnants of the past.
MISSION: To carry out long-term ethnographic fieldwork with communities whose lives are rooted in land, nature, and place, and to publish careful, honest work that reflects their realities. ETHNOMAD works with traditional, minority, and displaced peoples to understand how they live, adapt, and endure amid rapid social, environmental, and political change.
ETHNOMAD is an independent ethnographic research and advisory practice founded by Dr Tom Corcoran, Conservation Ethnographer, humanitarian, and National Geographic Global Explorer.
Rooted in long-term fieldwork, ETHNOMAD works with universities, NGOs, Governments, cultural institutions, and community partners to understand how culture, environment, displacement, and development intersect in lived experience. Its work focuses on traditional knowledge systems, Indigenous, tribal and minority practices, displacement and how communities sustain identity, dignity, and relationships with the land under pressure.
ETHNOMAD’s approach is grounded in presence rather than extraction. Research is carried out through listening, participation, and ethical documentation, with an emphasis on cultural continuity, local authority, and practical relevance. Outputs include ethnographic studies, cultural impact assessments, field guides, exhibitions, training, and advisory support for institutions working in complex social and environmental contexts.
Fading Cultures is ETHNOMAD’s flagship publishing project and public field journal. It documents the organisation’s research and collaborations through long-form essays, photography, film, and educational resources. Rather than chasing scale or speed, Fading Cultures exists to make field-based work visible, accountable, and accessible to broader audiences, while remaining rooted in the communities and projects from which it emerges.
Together, ETHNOMAD and Fading Cultures form a sustained, project-driven body of work dedicated to documenting living cultures, supporting ethical practice, and preserving knowledge that cannot be replaced once lost.
Tom Corcoran
PhD, MSc, BSc, MM, ACP
Dr Tom Corcoran is a Conservation Ethnographer, filmmaker, and humanitarian whose fieldwork spans more than four decades across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Pacific, and the Americas. He has lived and worked in high mountain villages in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan, along nomadic routes in Syria and Jordan, in coastal settlements from Karachi to Indonesia, and among rural and tribal communities across Madagascar, Tanzania, Algeria, Bhutan, and beyond. His work is grounded in long-term field engagement and in the belief that culture endures through people, not institutions.
A National Geographic Society Global Explorer, Dr Corcoran has received the European Outdoor Conservation Award and the FORD Award for Conservation Films for his work documenting Indigenous knowledge, community resilience, and the relationship between environment, identity, and survival.
His research and storytelling focus on how communities maintain meaning, skill, and continuity under pressure. Through ethnographic fieldwork, film, and long-form writing, he documents traditional knowledge systems, oral histories, craft practices, and land-based ways of life that are increasingly marginalised by development, conflict, and environmental change.
Dr Corcoran has served as a senior advisor to United Nations agencies, international NGOs, and national governments on cultural heritage, Indigenous knowledge, and humanitarian response. His work includes coordinating part of the UN response to the Beirut Port Blast, extended assignments in Afghanistan during periods of conflict and transition, and advisory roles supporting pastoralist communities, post-disaster reconstruction, and displacement-affected populations across multiple regions.
He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Fading Cultures Magazine and CEO of ETHNOMAD. Through these platforms, his work brings together research, storytelling, and education to document living cultures with care and accuracy, ensuring that traditional knowledge is neither romanticised nor erased. ETHNOMAD’s work reflects a long view of culture, one that respects the past while confronting the realities of the present.
Jasmine San Jose - Aniukova
Jasmine is a seasoned global explorer with a background in Business Administration and Tourism and is the driving force behind the promotions and marketing strategy at ETHNOMAD and the Fading Cultures Magazine. Born in the Philippines, she embarked on her journey of discovery at a young age, leaving her homeland to pursue a career that would span continents and oceans. Over the past decade, Jasmine has navigated the world aboard cruisers and sailboats, immersing herself in the vibrant diversity of cultures, landscapes, and traditions.
From the bustling markets of Southeast Asia to the tranquil shores of the Mediterranean, Jasmine has cultivated a unique understanding of the intricate threads that weave humanity together. Her global perspective is deeply personal—her own family’s story reflects a beautiful diversity, with roots in the Philippines and connections across three continents, scattered between Eastern Europe and the United States.
Jasmine’s experiences have instilled in her a profound appreciation for the world’s cultural richness, making her a vital advocate for the ETHNOMAD mission to document, preserve, and celebrate traditions at risk of fading away. Her work draws inspiration from her love of storytelling and her belief that every culture, no matter how small or remote, has lessons to teach about resilience, identity, and humanity’s shared journey.
Farhana Akter
Farhana Akter is a communications and project coordination professional with a background in Communication and Journalism. Her work in Bangladesh has involved youth programmes, community engagement, and collaboration with Indigenous and climate-affected communities. Through these experiences, she has developed a clear understanding of how culture, identity, and lived experience shape the stories people carry.
Farhana believes that storytelling grounded in empathy and cultural awareness can strengthen community voice and preserve heritage in times of rapid change. She has supported local organisations in documenting untold narratives, building outreach strategies, and connecting younger generations with cultural knowledge.
At ETHNOMAD, Farhana contributes to communications, social media, and field coordination, helping bring authentic stories and visual narratives to a broader global audience. She is committed to supporting work that honours cultural diversity and the resilience of communities on the margins of modern development.
"Bringing Stories to Life Through the People Who Live Them
