Robert J. Hanlon, Director and Principle Investigator
Robert J. Hanlon is Director and Principal Investigator of Canada and the Asia Pacific Policy Project (CAPPP), Associate Professor of Politics at Thompson Rivers University, as well as Associate Faculty in the School of Humanitarian Studies at Royal Roads University. His research explores the links between human security and corporate social responsibility in emerging Asian economies. Prior to joining TRU, Dr. Hanlon served as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute of Asian Research, University of British Columbia. He has taught at the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University and the Royal Military College of Canada. Outside academia, Dr. Hanlon has worked for the Asian Human Rights Commission, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, as well as the High Commission of Canada in Australia. He holds a PhD in International Relations and Asian Politics from City University of Hong Kong, a master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Resolution from the University of Queensland, as well as a BA in Political Science and Philosophy from the University of Victoria. He has been a visiting scholar at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (Oxford), the Liu Institute for Global Issues (UBC), the Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration (Chulalongkorn), the Balsillie School of International Affairs (Waterloo), as well as the University of Hong Kong.
Contact Information: rhanlon@tru.ca
Saira Bano, Associate Director
Saira Bano is Associate Director at the Canada and the Asia-Pacific Policy Project and Assistant Professor of Politics at Thompson Rivers University. Her primary research interests are International Relations theories, security issues, the nuclear non-proliferation regime, nuclear weapons concerns in South Asia, and the intersection of domestic politics and foreign policy. She received her PhD from the Centre for Military, Security, and Strategic Studies (CMSS) at the University of Calgary. She is recipient of the Doctoral Scholarship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Graduate Research Award from the Simons Foundation, and the Kodikara Award from the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS). She also served as a visiting research fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington, D.C. Prior to her position at Thompson Rivers University, she taught at the University of Calgary, Mount Royal University, and the Calgary campus of the University of Lethbridge.
Contact Information: sbano@tru.ca
Jannat Bhullar, Research Assistant
Jannat Bhullar is a graduate student in the Human Rights & Social Justice program at Thompson Rivers University, currently working as a research assistant for Dr. Robert J. Hanlon. She previously completed a Bachelor of Journalism, during which she held the position of President of the Students’ Union and advocated for student issues on campus. Jannat’s research interests are interdisciplinary, focusing on the socio-economic impact of institutional disparities on international students in Canada and the role of journalistic media in shaping socio-political narratives. Her graduate thesis examines information warfare in China-Taiwan relations, with a particular emphasis on political developments and media strategies.
Contact Information: bhullarj201@mytru.ca
Previous Project Managers
Gurinder S. Purewal, Research Fellow
Gurinder is a current graduate student in the MA in Human Rights and Social Justice program at Thompson Rivers University. He holds a BA in Political Science and Public Administration from the University of Victoria (UVIC). Gurinder’s professional experience includes working in higher education and student services roles at UVIC for over 3 years. His research interests include the politics and security dynamics of South Asia and the Indo-Pacific; bilateral relations between Canada and India; diaspora, extremism, and social movement studies in South Asia; as well as the examination of human rights violations in developing states.
Evan C. Howe, Research Associate
Originally from the United States, Evan Howe is in his third year of study at Thompson Rivers University pursuing a BA in Sociology and Political Studies. Since May 2021 Evan has served as a research associate for Dr. Robert Hanlon, working to support the development of the Canada and the Asia-Pacific Policy Project.