About Us
ETHNOMAD is an Irish/EU-based enterprise. Our independent ethnographic initiative produces educational resources committed to documenting cultural diversity through storytelling, photography, short films, books, and field-based research. Our flagship initiative is the Fading Cultures Project.
We highlight the voices of traditional, tribal, Indigenous, and marginalised communities, many affected by displacement, conflict, climate change, and rapid development, including mining and conservation projects that disrupt traditional ways of life. We also celebrate Irish and European heritage, using culture to foster global understanding and unity.
We publish individual digital stories, complete editions, and eco-conscious print magazines annually. We reinvest profits into our communities, supporting education, artisan livelihoods, and community-led conservation.
Through our Global Ethnographer Programme, we empower the next generation of cultural storytellers and work toward publishing in multiple languages to ensure global accessibility to humanity's heritage.
At the heart of our mission lies our Publications, which directly support our cultural preservation projects in the field.
Tom Corcoran
PhD, MSc, BSc, MM, ACP
Dr. Tom Corcoran is a Conservation Ethnographer, Humanitarian, Global Explorer, and Storyteller whose life’s work is a journey through the heart of fading traditions and enduring cultural wisdom. Born in Ireland and raised under the vast skies of Australia, Tom grew up immersed in biodiversity and ancient ways of life. This formative experience sparked a lifelong devotion to cultural heritage and the resilience of communities living close to nature.
For over four decades, Tom has walked alongside communities around the world—restoring heritage sites after war and disaster, developing community-based tourism, and breathing life into traditions on the brink of extinction. From the rice terraces of Indonesia to the mountains of Pakistan and Afghanistan to the deserts of North Africa, his work is united by a singular purpose: to honour the knowledge, stories, and artistry of people living in harmony with the land.
Tom holds an MM and ACP from Australia, a BSc and MSc from UCC and UCD in Ireland, and a PhD from the University of Birmingham, UK. He has led private sector initiatives, advised governments, and worked on the front lines of humanitarian response with the United Nations and international NGOs.
As founder, writer, and editor of the Fading Cultures Project, Tom brings an ethnographer’s eye and explorer’s spirit to every story. Recognised as a National Geographic Global Explorer, his work in Indonesia earned accolades from the European Outdoor Conservation Association, and his conservation work in Madagascar was honoured with the FORD Award for Conservation and Development.
Through Fading Cultures Magazine, Tom illuminates the voices of remote communities, crafting vivid narratives that bridge ancient wisdom and urgent modern realities—a celebration of cultural resilience and a call to honour the world’s shared human heritage and the voices of minorities.
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.
Sebastian Rich
Sebastian Rich is an internationally acclaimed photojournalist and cameraman whose lens has captured some of our time's most influential and poignant moments. With a career spanning over four decades, Sebastian began his journey in 1980 with Independent Television News (UK), quickly earning a reputation for being in the right place at the right time during many of the world’s major breaking news events. His images have shaped global understanding of war, injustice, and resilience from conflict zones to humanitarian crises.
While Sebastian is widely known for his uncompromising courage in the theatre of war, his work goes far beyond frontline reporting. He is celebrated for his ability to find humanity amid chaos—revealing not just the suffering, but also the dignity, strength, and hope that endure in the face of adversity.
As a contributing photojournalist for Fading Cultures Magazine, Sebastian continues his lifelong dedication to documenting the lives of marginalised and Indigenous communities across the globe. His storytelling through photography brings vital visibility to people and cultures, too often left in the shadows.
Through his ongoing support and collaboration, Fading Cultures can shine a light on traditions, struggles, and beauty from remote corners of the world, preserving them with the honesty and depth that only Sebastian’s lens can provide.
Emily Anna Mavridou
Emily Anna Mavridou is an Anthropologist, Writer, and passionate explorer of memory, identity, and cultural belonging. Hailing from the island of Cyprus, a land rich in history and layered with stories of migration, resilience, and spiritual depth, Emily brings a unique Mediterranean lens to her work—one rooted in both personal heritage and global insight.
With a deep sensitivity to the subtle rhythms of tradition and transformation, Emily’s writing and research delve into how communities remember, preserve, and reimagine their cultural identities in a rapidly changing world. Her work often blurs the lines between anthropology and storytelling, weaving ethnographic depth with poetic reflection.
As a regular contributor to Fading Cultures Magazine, Emily brings academic rigour and lyrical sensitivity to her narratives, highlighting overlooked voices and forgotten paths. Her fieldwork has taken her into the heart of communities where oral traditions, sacred rituals, and everyday life converge to form powerful expressions of culture.
Whether documenting f, tracing ancestral stories, or exploring the role of coffee in reuniting communities, Emily’s work is a quiet yet powerful call to listen—to the everyday actions, elders, and threads that bind us across time and place.
Noel Sweeney
Noel Sweeney is a contributor to Fading Cultures Magazine and part of the growing ETHNOMAD network of storytellers. Based in Cork, Ireland, Noel is a freelance photojournalist and documentary producer whose work spans photography, print, and audio media. His multidisciplinary approach brings depth and nuance to his stories, often rooted in place, community, and cultural change.
From 2017 to 2023, Noel worked as a freelance producer for RTÉ Radio 1’s long-running maritime programme Seascapes. There, he created features exploring the lives and struggles of Irish fishing and coastal communities. His ability to blend sound with image saw him simultaneously document these communities with his camera, capturing their voices and the fading textures of their world.
A regular contributor to Irish media outlets, Noel’s portfolio ranges from arts and business to independent journalism. His storytelling style is marked by empathy and a quiet attentiveness to people’s lived realities. Whether planning a photo-led article, producing a radio documentary, or experimenting with film cameras for fun, Noel’s work is grounded in a deep love of travel, curiosity, and connecting with people on their own terms.
Through ETHNOMAD, Noel brings his eye and ear for untold stories to a global stage, helping to document endangered traditions, working cultures, and moments of everyday resilience.
"Bringing Stories to Life Through the People WHo Live Them
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