Our Survey
When will the results be available?
The study will take about 10 months to complete.
Who funded this study?
This study is funded with a grant from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, a US nonprofit 501(c)(3) private foundation with a mission to end smoking in this generation. The Foundation accepts charitable gifts from PMI Global Services Inc. (PMI); under the Foundation’s Bylaws and Pledge Agreement with PMI, the Foundation is independent from PMI and the tobacco industry.
The contents, selection, and presentation of facts, as well as any opinions expressed on this website are the sole responsibility of the Centre of Research Excellence: Indigenous Sovereignty & Smoking and under no circumstances shall be regarded as reflecting the positions of the Foundation for a Smoke-free World, Inc.
Our People
Dr Marewa Glover
Marewa, the Director of the Centre, is a behavioural scientist with almost 30 years experience in health promotion, policy analysis and research on why people smoke tobacco and how to help people who want to quit. Her cultural insights, coming from her Indigenous New Zealand Māori upbringing, gives her a holistic understanding of behaviour and a deep respect for people’s right to have truthful information and access to education to enable them to make their own decisions given their own unique circumstances.
Dr Robin Shepherd
Robin is a researcher at the Centre and maintains her own practice as a counsellor part time. Robin has extensive experience working and teaching in the mental health field for 35 years across the USA, UK, Thailand and New Zealand. Her experience includes working in drug detox hospitals, in therapeutic communities, working with veterans diagnosed with schizophrenia and PTSD at a military hospital, in methadone clinics and providing phone counselling. Mostly Robin has worked with people wanting to manage or stop their use of alcohol and other drugs. She also helps people who want to cut down on gambling, online gaming and she helps people improve their control over what they eat.
Dr Kumar Paramanathen
Kumar is a researcher at the Centre. He is a botanist, which is useful since tobacco and cannabis are plants, nicotine comes from tobacco and many other drugs were derived from plants – even alcohol. Kumar has over 20 years experience teaching biosciences, coordinating multi-functional research projects and working as an environmental sciences policy analyst. Coming from Sri Lanka, and having taught in India, Kumar brings an international perspective and an understanding of poverty and third-world realities to the project. Kumar adds another cultural worldview to the analytic team.
Dr Carl V Phillips
Carl is a social scientist focusing on epidemiology and survey research. He is a long-time fighter for the rights of people who use drugs, a thorn in the side of drug warriors, and the first advocate for the "nothing about us without us" principle in tobacco research and policy." Carl lives in New Hampshire, USA