Dirk H.R. Spennemann, MA (Frankfurt) PhD (ANU) is an internationally recognised leader in the field of Micronesian history and heritage. His research has an international outlook, focussing on the Indo - Pacific region. In the past 17 years he has conducted research in and/or visited Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Fiji, Western Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, the Marshall Islands, Guam, the Northern Marianas, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk and Pohnpei only) as well as Hawai'i and California. His publication record demonstrates this breadth.

Dirk is a leading authority in the emerging research field of heritage futures, which examines issues such as the conceptual understanding of contemporary and emergent heritage(s) (such as modern architecture, space exploration, robotics) and the relationship between cultural heritage values and the influences of management processes as they play out between heritage professionals and the general public. Dirk's second research area deals with the management of risk by the heritage profession, addressing threats to heritage posed by natural and human hazards as well as threats posed by managers in their efforts to counter such hazards.

In international recognition of his active professional service and community collaboration record, Dirk was the first non-US recipient of the "Partnership Stewardship Award for Cultural Resources, Pacific West Region, US National Park Service" in 2001 (for 2000) and the first non-US recipient of the Governor's Humanities Award for Excellence in Research and Publication, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (2004).

Dirk is the author of over author/editor of 23 books and monographs, with a life-time publication record of over 230 book chapters and peer-refereed academic papers, in excess of 150 non-refereed papers, and over 100 technical reports and consultancy studies.