Dr Jim Gosselin
Dr Jim Gossellin was born in Canada and has resided in the Cook Islands for many years, having worked in various senior Government positions for every Premier/Prime Minister since Albert Henry. He has also worked for the Commonwealth Secretariat, the UNDP, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
I received a B.A. from the University of Windsor in Canada (Geography Major), an MA from the University of Toronto (Anthropology) and a Master of International Law and PhD in International Law from the Faculty of Law at the Australian National University. I have had numerous mentors over the years, including Mr Bill Edeson, Senior Lecturer at the ANU, who was my PhD supervisor.
What are your research interests? What interests you about these areas?
My current research interests include the history of the Cook Islands, more particularly, the evolution of the Cook Islands' international legal personality from the initial discovery of these islands to date. I am also interested and researching various aspects of Pacific regional and national security, especially as it is relevant to the Cook Islands. Both of these topics are of particular interest to me because they are intellectually challenging and provide an opportunity to explore new areas of study.
What new work have you got coming up? What research collaborations interest you?
I am currently working on both of the above areas and would be pleased to explore aspects of both topics with other researchers.
Share a favourite quote and why it’s particularly meaningful for you
Always maintain the attitude of a student. If you think you're done learning, bitterness sets in; but if you have more to achieve every day, in any arena, that makes every morning's awakening full of potential and cheery portent.
“For the genuine researcher, there is so much more that can be learned about our country and people. The possibilities are endless. Kia manuia the Association”