Intelligence Specialist. Indigenous Strategist. Systems Thinker.
Dr Gareth Jones is an Indigenous scholar–practitioner from Aotearoa New Zealand whose work focuses on the role of relationships as a strategic capability in intelligence practice across the Indo-Pacific. He holds a PhD examining how Māori values shape international partnerships and is currently undertaking a second PhD at the Australian National University School of Cybernetics, exploring whether artificial intelligence can engage with Indigenous worldviews.
Gareth is the CEO (Tumu Whakarae) of Ngā Pou Mana Tangata Whenua Allied Health and contributes to international security and intelligence initiatives, including the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism and the Christchurch Call Advisory Network.
His work bridges intelligence, Indigenous knowledge systems, and regional security, with a focus on trust, partnership, and culturally grounded approaches to collaboration. He draws on Indigenous and Pacific relational frameworks—such as whanaungatanga and vā—to reframe partnership as a core capability that enhances intelligence effectiveness, legitimacy, and resilience.
