Dr Michelle Thompson-Fawcett (Ngāti Whātua) is a Professor and the Head of the Department of Geography at the University of Otago. She has over 30 years’ experience in planning practice and university teaching and research. Michelle’s research explores urban and environmental planning activities at the local level.  In particular, she examines the extent to which different groups are able to engage in, influence, and achieve self-determination in regard to urban and environmental decision-making.  She works with Māori communities on their aspirations for urban development, cultural landscape management, indigenous impact assessment, and the management of natural and physical resources.