Personal profile
Biography
I’m a Research Fellow at the School of Regulation and Global Governance and a Research Affiliate at the School of Philosophy, at the Australian National University. I specialize in ethics and applied social and political philosophy, especially philosophy of wellbeing and wellbeing measurement, philosophy of disability, conceptual engineering for practical contexts, and Indigenous rights.
I’m currently working with a group of academics from across the university on a project headed by Associate Professor Nick Bainton and Peter Yu, ANU’s Vice President (First Nations). We’re partnered with the Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation Limited, a Traditional Owner organisation of the Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi peoples of the Pilbara region in Western Australia. I’m examining how agreements between Indigenous communities and extractive resource companies support or undermine their economic self-determination, and what shape such agreements need to take if they’re to promote Indigenous peoples’ rights and interests. The project aims to provide the Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation with useful resources for dealing with businesses and governments.
I also work on approaches to measuring and promoting wellbeing, especially the government systems of measuring national wellbeing often called “wellbeing frameworks.” My research has found ways for wellbeing frameworks to accord with what populations themselves value for their wellbeing, to function well in societies with a range of views of wellbeing, especially those home to Indigenous peoples, and to work well to promote the wellbeing of future generations.
Education/Academic qualification
Philosophy, PhD, The Australian National University
Award Date: 15 Oct 2025
Philosophy, Master, Washington University St. Louis
Award Date: 1 May 2019
Philosophy, Master, Victoria University of Wellington
Award Date: 28 Sept 2016
Philosophy, Honours
Award Date: 24 Feb 2014
Philosophy, Bachelor, Massey University
Award Date: 20 Feb 2013
Sustainable Rural Development, Certificate, NorthTec
Award Date: 1 Dec 2009
Māori Studies, Certificate, NorthTec
Award Date: 1 Dec 2006
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Australia’s Wellbeing Framework: Is It Really ‘Measuring What Matters?’
Sollis, K., Campbell, P. & Drake, N., Apr 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Australian Journal of Social Issues.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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An Account of Wellbeing for Wellbeing Frameworks
Drake, N., Jul 2024, (Accepted/In press) In: Ergo: an open access journal of philosophy. 53 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Utilitarianism
Drake, N., 2024, Ethical Theory in Global Perspective. Hemmingsen, M. (ed.). New York: SUNY Press, p. 125-142Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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Love, Reasons, and Desire
Drake, N., Aug 2020, In: Ethical Theory and Moral Practice. 23, 3-4, p. 591-605Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
A Humean Constructivist Reading of J. S. Mill’s Utilitarian Theory
Drake, N., Jun 2016, In: Utilitas. 28, 2, p. 189-214 27 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2 Citations (Scopus)
Projects
- 1 Active
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Foundational Research: Building a First Nations Research Agenda to support the Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials
Bainton, N. (PI), Astuti, R. (CoI), Barry, C. (CoI), Drake, N. (CoI), Raman, S. (CoI), Taylor, J. (CoI), Walls-Nichols, E. (CoI), Yap, M. (CoI) & Yu, P. (CoI)
1/11/24 → 30/04/28
Project: Research