Nick brings experience in law and international relations to the work of the Native Title Research Unit. His research focuses on governance structures and how they interact with the different forms of cultural and political identification. His Masters thesis examined the philosophy of self-determination in light of constructivist theories of group identity, and proposed a new way of thinking about self-determination: as a re-negotiation of governance structures to accord with people’s understandings of their political communities. He has a strong interest in the theory and practice of negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution.
At AIATSIS, Nick has applied this theoretical background to more concrete issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, such as the proof of ‘connection’ in native title claims, the management of weeds on native title lands, and the recognition of Indigenous rights and values in fresh-water resources. Nick is involved in a range of law-reform activities, including contributing to submissions on amendments to the Native Title Act 1993 and the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Commonwealth Constitution.
Nick previously worked as associate to Justice French in the Federal Court of Australia, and subsequently as associate to Chief Justice French in the High Court of Australia. Nick is admitted to legal practice in the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory, and has taught administrative law and public law at the Australian National University.
Current Research Focus
- NTRB Knowledge Management Project
- Authorisation and decision-making in claim groups and registered native title bodies corporate
- Water and native title
- Proving connection in native title
Research, publications and presentations
- George K, Duff N and Weir JK (2012) ‘Weeds and Native Title’, paper presented at the 2012 National Native Title Conference, Townsville, 4-6 June 2012.
- Duff, N 2012 ‘What’s needed to prove native title? Flexibility in the law on connection’, paper presented at the 2012 National Native Title Conference, Townsville, 4-6 June 2012.
- Duff N and Weir J (2012) ‘Weeds and Native Title: Law and Assumption’, RIRDC Research Report, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.
- Duff N (2012) “Managing Weeds on Native Title Lands: Workshop Report, Broome, 26-27 October 2011”
 3.40Mb, Native Title Research Report, AIATSIS.
- Duff N (2011) “Negotiating political community: Constructivist insights into the constitutional recognition question”, paper presented at the AIATSIS Conference, 19 September 2011, Canberra.
- Duff N (2011) “Assessing the international law of self-determination in light of the constructed nature of ‘peoples’”, presented at the Australian & New Zealand Society of International Law Conference, 23 June 2011, Canberra.
- Duff N (2011) “Negotiating political community: a constructivist alternative to self-determination”, Masters dissertation, International Relations, Australian National University.
- Duff N (2011) “Introduction to Cultural Flows in Australia”
 , Knowledge Notes series 2011/01.
- Duff N (2011) “Operationalising Cultural Flows in Australia”, Knowledge Notes series 2011/02.
- Delfau K, Duff N, and Durette M (2010) “A review of Indigenous involvement in water planning”, report prepared for the First Peoples’ Water Engagement Council.
- Duff N (2009) "Semi-presidentialism and Stability: Evaluating the Constitutional Design of the Executive in Timor Leste", (2009) 20(2) Public Law Review 129.
- Duff N (2007) "In the Path of God: Aceh's challenge to the concept of “Islamic revival”, Honours dissertation, Political Science and International Relations, University of Western Australia.
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