Dr Nick Bainton is an anthropologist with a deep specialisation in the field of large-scale resource extraction in Papua New Guinea and the broader Pacific region. He is widely regarded as the preeminent expert on the social impacts of the Lihir gold mine.
Nick has over 15 years of research leadership spanning academic and applied fields. He has conducted many years of fieldwork and published widely on the social, political, economic and cultural aspects of extraction.
He is currently collaborating with scholars from the Pacific, UK, and Europe on the pressure to extract energy transition minerals and metals from the Pacific under conditions of climate change.
More recently, Nick has been engaged to provide specialist advice on the human rights legacy impact assessment for the Panguna copper mine on Boungainville Island, Papua New Guinea.
He has wide experience teaching anthropology at all levels, post graduate supervision, mentoring junior scholars and practitioners, and conducting masterclasses in applied anthropological methods, social impact assessment, participatory development, and social performance.
In addition to his academic career, Nick spent seven years working for a multinational mining company as a social performance manager.
Affiliations
Nick is currently an Associate Professor with the Australian National University, Canberra.
He is also a Visiting Fellow in the Resources, Environment and Development Program in the Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, and, an affiliate with the Centre for Energy Ethics, University of St Andrews (UK).
Publications
Book
Bainton, Nicholas A. (2010). The Lihir destiny: Cultural responses to mining in Melanesia. Canberra, ACT, Australia: ANU E Press.
Book Chapters
Bainton, Nicholas and Burton, John (2024). The use of social impact assessment in mining projects. Handbook of social impact assessment and management. (pp. 81-96) edited by Frank Vanclay and Ana Maria Esteves. Cheltenham, Glos, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781802208870.00013
Bainton, Nicholas and Skrzypek, Emilia (2022). Positionality and ethics. The anthropology of resource extraction. (pp. 131-148) edited by Lorenzo D’Angelo and Robert Jan Pijpers. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003018018-8
Bainton, Nicholas, Owen, John R. and Skrzypek, Emilia E. (2021). Afterword: states of uncertainty. The absent presence of the state in large-scale resource extraction projects. (pp. 347-360) Acton, ACT, Australia: ANU Press. doi: 10.2307/j.ctv1zcm2sp.17
Bainton, Nicholas and McDougall, Debra (2021). Unequal Lives in the Western Pacific. Unequal lives: gender, race and class in the Western Pacific. (pp. 1-46) edited by Nicholas Bainton, Debra McDougall, Kalissa Alexeyeff and John Cox. Canberra, ACT, Australia: ANU Press. doi: 10.2307/j.ctv1h45mj4.5
Bainton, Nick, McDougall, Debra, Alexeyeff, Kalissa and Cox, John (2021). Preface: Scholar, teacher, mentor, friend: essays in honour of Martha Macintyre. Unequal lives: gender, race and class in the Western Pacific. (pp. vii-x) edited by Bainton, Nick, McDougall, Debra, Alexeyeff, Kalissa and Cox, John. Canberra, ACT, Australia: ANU Press. doi: 10.2307/j.ctv1h45mj4.3
Bainton, Nicholas and Skrzypek, Emilia E. (2021). An absent presence: encountering the state through natural resource extraction in Papua New Guinea and Australia. The absent presence of the state in large-scale resource extraction projects. (pp. 1-41) edited by Nicholas Bainton and Emilia E. Skrzypek. Acton, ACT, Australia: ANU Press. doi: 10.22459/ap.2021.01
Bainton, Nicholas (2021). Menacing the mine: double asymmetry and mutual incomprehension in Lihir. Unequal lives: gender, race and class in the Western Pacific. (pp. 401-438) edited by Nicholas Bainton, Debra McDougall, Kalissa Alexeyeff and John Cox. Canberra, ACT Australia: ANU Press. doi: 10.22459/UE.2020
Bainton, Nicholas and Macintyre, Martha (2021). Being like a state: how large-scale mining companies assume government roles in Papua New Guinea. The absent presence of the state in large-scale resource extraction projects. (pp. 107-140) edited by Nicholas Bainton and Emilia E. Skrzypek. Acton, ACT, Australia: ANU Press. doi: 10.22459/ap.2021.04
Bainton, Nicholas (2020). Mining and Indigenous Peoples. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Anthropology. (pp. 1-35) Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/acrefore/9780190854584.013.121
Bainton, Nicholas A. (2017). Migrants, labourers and landowners at the Lihir Gold Mine. Large-scale mines and local-level politics : between New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea. (pp. 313-351) edited by Colin Filer and Pierre-Yves Le Meur. Canberra, ACT, Australia: ANU Press. doi: 10.22459/LMLP.10.2017.11
Bainton, N.A. and Macintyre, M. (2016). Mortuary ritual and mining riches in Island Melanesia. Mortuary dialogues: death ritual and the reproduction of moral community in pacific modernities. (pp. 110-132) edited by David Lipset and Eric K. Silverman. New York, NY, United States: Berghahn. doi: 10.1515/9781785331725-010
Bainton, N. A. (2015). The Lihir language in modern social and historical context. Grammar of the Lihir Language of New Ireland, Papua New Guinea. (pp. xiii-xxiv) edited by Karl Neuhaus. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies.
Bainton, Nicholas A. and Macintyre, Martha (2013). "My land, my work": business development and large-scale mining in Papua New Guinea. Engaging with capitalism: cases from oceania. (pp. 139-165) edited by Fiona McCormack and Kate Barclay. Bingley, United Kingdom: Emerald. doi: 10.1108/S0190-1281(2013)0000033008
Bainton, Nick (2013). Displaying Lihirian Culture. Musical Landscapes of Lihir. (pp. 6-7) St Lucia, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland, Anthropology Museum.
Bainton, Nicholas A. (2011). Are You Viable? Personal avarice, collective antagonism and grassroots development in Melanesia. Managing modernity in the Western Pacific. (pp. 231-259) edited by Mary Patterson and Martha Macintyre. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland Press.
Journal Articles
Bainton, Nicholas, Skrzypek, Emilia E. and Lèbre, Éléonore (2025). Compound exposure: Climate change, vulnerability and the energy-extractives nexus in the Pacific. World Development, 190 106958, 106958. doi: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2025.106958
Hamago, Joel, Burton, John, Owen, John and Bainton, Nicholas (2023). Multidimensional poverty and small-scale mining in the shadow of large-scale mines in Papua New Guinea. Journal of Rural Studies, 101 103045, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2023.103045
Bainton, Nicholas (2023). Review of In the Shadow of the Palms: More‐Than‐Human Becomings in West Papua. By SophieChao. Durham, NC, USA and London, UK: Duke University Press. 2022. Pp: x + 336. Oceania, 93 (2), 191-191. doi: 10.1002/ocea.5369
Sharma, Vigya, Heynen, Anthony P., Bainton, Nicholas and Burton, John (2021). The Papua New Guinea Electrification Partnership: Power and diplomacy in the Pacific. Energy Research and Social Science, 79 102186, 102186. doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2021.102186
Bainton, Nicholas, Burton, John and Owen, John R. (2021). Land relations, resource extraction and displacement effects in island Papua New Guinea. The Journal of Peasant Studies, 49 (6), 1-21. doi: 10.1080/03066150.2021.1928086
Götzmann, Nora and Bainton, Nicholas (2021). Embedding gender-responsive approaches in impact assessment and management. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 39 (3), 171-182. doi: 10.1080/14615517.2021.1904721
Bainton, Nicholas, Kemp, Deanna, Lèbre, Eleonore, Owen, John R. and Marston, Greg (2021). The energy‐extractives nexus and the just transition. Sustainable Development, 29 (4) sd.2163, 624-634. doi: 10.1002/sd.2163
Bainton, Nicholas, Owen, John R., Kenema, Simon and Burton, John (2020). Land, labour and capital: Small and large-scale miners in Papua New Guinea. Resources Policy, 68 101805, 101805. doi: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2020.101805
Bainton, Nicholas, Owen, John R. and Kemp, Deanna (2020). Invisibility and the extractive-pandemic nexus. Extractive Industries and Society, 7 (3), 841-843. doi: 10.1016/j.exis.2020.05.007
Bainton, Nicholas and Jackson, Richard T. (2019). Adding and sustaining benefits: Large-scale mining and landowner business development in Papua New Guinea. Extractive Industries and Society, 7 (2), 366-375. doi: 10.1016/j.exis.2019.10.005
Bainton, Nicholas and Holcombe, Sarah (2018). A critical review of the social aspects of mine closure. Resources Policy, 59, 468-478. doi: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2018.08.020
Bainton, Nicholas A. (2018). Anthropology in the mining industry: Community relations after Bougainville's civil war. Pacific Affairs, 91 (4), 857-859.
Bainton, Nicholas A., Owen, John R. and Kemp, Deanna (2018). Mining, mobility and sustainable development: an introduction. Sustainable Development, 26 (5), 437-440. doi: 10.1002/sd.1889
Bainton, Nicholas A. and Banks, Glenn (2018). Land and access: a framework for analysing mining, migration and development in Melanesia. Sustainable Development, 26 (5), 450-460. doi: 10.1002/sd.1890
Bainton, Nicholas and Owen, John R. (2018). Zones of entanglement: researching mining arenas in Melanesia and beyond. Extractive Industries and Society, 6 (3), 767-774. doi: 10.1016/j.exis.2018.08.012
Bainton, Nicholas A. (2015). Pacific futures: projects, politics and interests. Oceania, 85 (3), 413-414. doi: 10.1002/ocea.5097
Bainton, Nicholas A. (2012). Gendering the Field: Towards Sustainable Livelihoods for Mining Communities. Australian Journal of Anthropology, 23 (2), 267-268. doi: 10.1111/j.1757-6547.2012.00193.x
Bainton, Nicholas A., Ballard, Chris and Gillespie, Kirsty (2012). The end of the beginning? Mining, sacred geographies, memory and performance in Lihir. The Australian Journal of Anthropology, 23 (1), 22-49. doi: 10.1111/j.1757-6547.2012.00169.x
Gillespie, Kirsty and Bainton, Nicholas A. (2012). Coming out of the stone: dangerous heritage and the death of the Twinhox band. Yearbook for Traditional Music, 44, 71-86. doi: 10.5921/yeartradmusi.44.0071
Bainton, Nicholas A., Ballard, Chris, Gillespie, Kirsty and Hall, Nicholas (2011). Stepping stones across the Lihir Islands: Developing cultural heritage management in the context of a gold mining operation. International Journal of Cultural Property, 18 (1), 81-110. doi: 10.1017/S0940739111000087
Bainton, Nicholas A. (2009). Keeping the network out of view: Mining, distinctions and exclusion in Melanesia. Oceania, 79 (1), 18-33. doi: 10.1002/j.1834-4461.2009.tb00048.x
Bainton, Nicholas A. (2008). The genesis and the escalation of desire and antipathy in the Lihir Islands, Papua New Guinea. The Journal of Pacific History, 43 (3), 289-312. doi: 10.1080/00223340802499609
Bainton, Nicholas A. (2008). Men of Kastom and the customs of men: Status, legitimacy and persistent values in Lihir, Papua New Guinea. The Australian Journal of Anthropology, 19 (2), 194-212. doi: 10.1111/j.1835-9310.2008.tb00122.x
Bainton, Nicholas (2006). The making of global and local modernities in Melanesia: humiliation, transformation and the nature of cultural change [book review]. The Journal of the Polynesian Society, 115 (2), 196-197.
Macintyre, Martha, Foale, Simon, Bainton, Nicholas and Moktel, Brigid (2005). Medical pluralism and the maintenance of a traditional healing technique on Lihir, Papua New Guinea. Pimatisiwin: A Journal of Aboriginal and Indigenous Community Health, 3 (1), 87-99.
Conference Papers
Holcombe, S. and Bainton, N. (2017). Coping with closure: towards an anthropology of mine closure. AAS Conference, Adelaide, South Australia, 11-15 December 2017.
Bainton, N. and Macintyre, M. (2013). Compensation and commercial engagement: business development and large-scale mining in Papua New Guinea. 2nd International Conference on Social Responsibility in Mining (SRMINING 2013), Santiago, Chile, 5-8 November 2013. Chile: Gecamin.
Bainton, N. and Cook, J. (2009). Challenges and Opportunities in the Development of a Cultural Heritage Management Strategy at the Lihir Gold Mine, Papua New Guinea. Sustainable Development Indicators in the Minerals Industry Conference 2009, Gold Coast , Australia, 6-8 July 2009. Carlton South, VIC, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Bainton, Nick (2008). Mortuary ritual and mining riches in a New Guinea society. 2008 Association for Social Anthropology in Oceania Annual Meeting (ASAO 2008), Canberra, Australia, 12-16 February 2008.
Bainton, N. (2008). Personal Viability: The “Complete Idiots Guide to” Possessive Individualistm. State Society and Governance in Melanesia (SSGM), Canberra, Australia, 17-31 July 2008.
Bainton, Nicholas (2007). Digging for development: The Lihir Gold Mine, Papua New Guinea. Sustainable Minerals Institute Seminar, Brisbane, Australia, 2 August 2007.
Bainton, N. (2007). Wasier to Waira: Ethnic developments in Lihir, Papua New Guinea. School of Social Science Seminars, The University of Queensland, 2007. St. Lucia, Brisbane: School of Social Science, The University of Queensland.
Bainton, N. (2007). Shadow or Substance?: Vernacular varieties of neoliberalism in Melanesia. Australian Anthropological Society Annual Conference 2008: Transforming Economies, Changing States, Canberra, Australia, 31 October - 2 November, 2007.
Working Paper
Bainton, Nick, Holcombe, Sarah, Mackenzie, Sarah and Keenan, Julia (2020). Community participation in mine closure planning processes. Social Aspects of Mine Closure. Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, The University of Queensland.
Research Reports
Kung, Anthony and Bainton, Nick (2023). The structural and commercial conditions that shape social impact assessment in the global mining industry. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: University of Queensland.
Skrzypek, Emilka, Bainton, Nicholas, Burton, John and Lèbre, Eleonore (2022). The justice dimensions of extracting energy transition metals from the Pacific. London, United Kingdom: The British Academy. doi: 10.5871/just-transitions-s-i/e-s
Kung, Anthony, Kemp, Deanna, Owen, John, Johnston, Susan, Bainton, Nick, Harris, Jill and Lèbre, Éléonore (2021). Diagnostic review of the social performance function of an international mining company. Brisbane, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland.
Franks, Daniel, Bainton, Nick, Head, Brian, Côte, Claire, Erskine, Peter, Fidelman, Pedro, Kemp, Deanna and Flomenhoft, Gary (2020). Strategic issues and opportunities for the acquisition of thermal coal mining assets for managed closure. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
Götzmann, Nora and Bainton, Nicholas (2019). Papua LNG human rights impact assessment. Copenhagen, Denmark: Danish Institute for Human Rights.
Kemp, Deanna, Bainton, Nick, Barnes, Rodger and Vivoda, Vlado (2018). IPIECA guidance on community development agreements. University of Queensland: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining.
Bainton, Nicholas and Holcombe, Sarah (2018). The social aspects of mine closure: a global literature review. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, The University of Queensland.
Witt, Katherine, Vivoda, Vlado, Everingham, Jo-Anne and Bainton, Nick (2018). A framework for Social Impact Assessment of shale gas development in the Northern Territory. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland.
Bainton, Nicholas, Vivoda, Vlado, Kemp, Deanna, Owen, John and Keenan, Julia (2017). Project-induced in-migration and large-scale mining: A scoping study. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland, Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining.
Bainton, Nicholas A. (2009). Personally viable Melanesians in Parallel states, parallel economies: legitimacy and prosperity in Papua New Guinea. State Society and Governance in Melanesia Project Discussion Paper Canberra, ACT, Australia: Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University.
Newspaper Articles
Bainton, Nick and Kemp, Deanna (2021, 11 04). More clean energy means more mines – we shouldn’t sacrifice communities in the name of climate action The Conversation
Kemp, Deanna , Owen, John and Bainton, Nick (2020, 08 18). World-first mining standard must protect people and hold powerful companies to account The Conversation
Department Technical Reports
Holcombe, Sarah, Kemp, Deanna and Bainton, Nick (2020). Technical note for industry: free prior and informed consent (FPIC). Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute .
Holcombe, Sarah and Bainton, Nick (2019). Review of Pluto Cultural Heritage Management practices. Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, SMI.
Holcombe, Sarah and Bainton, Nick (2019). Quality requirements for Cultural Heritage Management for Woodside. Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute.
Holcombe, Sarah and Bainton, Nick (2019). The Dampier Archipelago (Burrup Peninsula) as possible World Heritage property: a desktop review. Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute .
Holcombe, Sarah and Bainton, Nick (2019). Review of Woodside's Cultural Heritage Management procedure and process table (activity 2). Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Minerals Institute .