Personal profile
Biography
Professor Brett Neilson’s research investigates how changes in space and time relate to current shifts in global economics and politics. Drawing on cultural and social theory as well as on empirical studies, his work has derived original and provocative means for rethinking a range of critical problems and predicaments: including border proliferation, demographic change, logistical governance, digital infrastructure development, energy transitions, and financial market dynamics. His writings have been translated into sixteen languages: Arabic, Chinese, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Slovenian, Spanish and Turkish.
Related links
Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts, University of Sydney
Doctor of Philosophy, Yale University Graduate School
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action
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Against decolonisation? Drifting tributaries of colonialism's legacies
Bojadžijev, M., Neilson, B. & Rossiter, N., 1 Jan 2026, Decolonisation in the 21st Century: Rethinking Coloniality, Resistance, and Solidarity. Liu, J. C. H. & Neilson, B. (eds.). U.K.: Routledge, p. 15-36 22 p. (Interventions).Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference Paper › Chapter › peer-review
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Decolonisation in the 21st Century: Rethinking Coloniality, Resistance, and Solidarity
Liu, J. C. H. & Neilson, B., 2026, U.K.: Routledge. 238 p. (Interventions)Research output: Book/Research Report › Edited Book › peer-review
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Reframing internationalism: for a politics of freedom and equality in an age of war and transition
Mezzadra, S. & Neilson, B., 2026, Decolonisation in the 21st Century: Rethinking Coloniality, Resistance, and Solidarity. Liu, J. C. H. & Neilson, B. (eds.). U.K.: Routledge, p. 217-227 11 p. (Interventions).Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference Paper › Chapter › peer-review
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Transit Asia and the geopolitics of decolonisation: towards a new radical solidarity
Liu, J. C. H. & Neilson, B., 2026, Decolonisation in the 21st Century: Rethinking Coloniality, Resistance, and Solidarity. Liu, J. C. H. & Neilson, B. (eds.). U.K.: Routledge, p. 3-14 12 p.Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference Paper › Chapter › peer-review
4 Citations (Scopus) -
Alla fiera delle transizioni. Nuovi inizi alla fine del mondo come lo conosciamo
Translated title of the contribution :Proliferating Transitions: New Beginnings At the End of the World As We Know It Research output: Other contribution
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The Geopolitics of Automation
Rossiter, N. (PI), Neilson, B. (Investigator), Magee, L. (Investigator), Munster, A. (Investigator), Mezzadra, S. (Investigator), Bojadzijev, M. (Investigator), Hui, Y. (Investigator) & Halpern, O. (Investigator)
3/06/20 → 2/06/26
Project: Research
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Migrant Workers, Global Logistics and Unequal Citizens in Contemporary Global Context [via National Chiao Tung University]
Neilson, B. (PI), Robertson, S. (Investigator) & Sur, M. (Investigator)
Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes
1/01/19 → 31/12/20
Project: Research
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Clouded Data: Technologies and policies for balancing information privacy and use
Magee, L. (PI), Rossiter, N. (Investigator), Neilson, B. (Investigator), Swist, T. (Investigator), Hristova, T. (Investigator) & Munn, L. (Investigator)
1/07/18 → 30/09/18
Project: Research
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Between Logistics and Migration: Duisburg and the New Silk Road
Neilson, B. (PI), Rossiter, N. (Investigator), Hristova, T. (Investigator), Bojadzijev, M. (Investigator), Beverungen, A. (Investigator), Apicella, S. (Investigator) & Altenried, M. (Investigator)
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Western Sydney University
1/01/17 → 31/12/18
Project: Research
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One Green Bean project for NBN Co
James, P. (PI), Neilson, B. (Investigator), Stone, G. (Investigator) & Magee, L. (Investigator)
8/11/16 → 10/07/17
Project: Research
Datasets
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Port Botany Visualisation
Neilson, B., Ang, I. & Rossiter, N., Western Sydney University, 2015
https://research-data.westernsydney.edu.au/published/2d76e8e0519411ecb15399911543e199
Dataset