Overview

The Institute for Transnational and Maritime Security (ITAMS) builds on the combined strengths and international reputations of the Australian National Centre for Oceans Resources and Security (ANCORS) and the Centre for Transnational Crime Prevention (CTCP).  ANCORS provides real-world interdisciplinary research outcomes in there interconnecting areas dealing with the oceans. These areas are oceans law and governance, maritime security and strategy and marine resources, industry and environment.  CTCP focuses on the nature of organised cross-border criminal activities that affect regional and global security, including terrorism, human trafficking, money-laundering, cyber crime, and identity fraud. Under the umbrella of ITAMs, both Centres work together on the intersecting areas of oceans and transnational security, including people smuggling by sea, piracy and transnational marine environmental crime.
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ITAMS’ Objectives

• To provide world class interdisciplinary research on transnational and oceans security;
• To provide intellectual capital, through real-world research to support good policy-making by governments.
• To provide world class environment and supervision for higher degree research students on transnational and oceans security issues.

Key People

ITAMS draws its strength from an inter-disciplinary group of researchers across many faculties. The leading researchers include:

• Professor Greg Rose- international law in relation to counter-terrorism and environmental crime. He is also the Director of ITAMS.
• Professor Andrew Goldsmith- transnational policing, rule of law reform, and counter-terrorism, police governance, accountability, and corruption.  He is also the Deputy Director of ITAMS.
• Professor Martin Tsamenyi - Law of the Sea, international fisheries law, maritime security, regulation of shipping and oceans policy.

• Professor Warwick Gullett- fisheries law, environmental law and policy, and the law of the sea.
• Associate Professor Ron West- fisheries policy and management, marine and coastal management.
• Associate Professor Robin Warner- Law of the Sea, oceans governance, marine environmental law, transnational crime and international criminal law.
• Associate Professor Clive Schofield-  intersection of geographical/technical, legal and political disciplines in the law of the sea with particular reference to maritime boundary delimitation.
• Associate Professor Clive Harfield- mutual legal assistance and transnational criminal investigation; international law enforcement co-operation; criminal/police procedural law.

• Associate Professor Adam Dolnik -  terrorist motivations, ideologies, tactics and strategies, weapons of mass destruction, hostage negotiations, conflict analysis.
• Dr Chris Rahman- maritime strategy and security
• Dr Mary Ann Palma- international fisheries law and policy and maritime security.
• Dr Charles Hawksley- States, sovereignty and challenges to state power; peacekeeping and interventions in world politics; Australia and the Pacific Islands.

Key Research Projects & Competencies

ITAMS’ core research projects include the following:
Maritime strategy and security - investigating ways in which Australia, an island State with extensive maritime zones, can utilise its maritime environment and resources to enhance its wider national interests.
Ocean law and governance - investigates the design and operation of national, regional and global marine institutions to identify opportunities to improve their efficiency to overcome fragmentation of management measures across maritime space
Climate change and oceans management - examines the legal and policy challenges and issues arising from climate change impacts and adaptation/mitigation measures on oceans environments, resources and jurisdictions.
Transnational crime - investigates the underlying factors and range of available responses in ways that assist law enforcement authorities.
Terrorism - examines the factors responsible for changes in interests of terrorism campaigns and life cycles of terrorist organisations.

Research Partnerships

ITAMS has established research partnerships with a number of national authorities throughout the Asia Pacific region and also regional and international organisations.

Research Outcomes

ITAMS’ research is applied and is primarily designed to assist governments and international institutions to develop appropriate cost effective policies to address complex issues associated with transnational crime and oceans management.