Professor N M Nakata is a Torres Strait Islander with extensive research experience in Australian Indigenous matters. He continues to undertake research, projects and fieldwork in communities across Australia and in various collaborations with state and national institutions and the industry sector. He has taught Indigenous research issues for many years at the Indigenous postgraduate Summer School, and continues to supervise and mentor PhD students.

In recent times, he has progressed much work in areas of Indigenous knowledge management, Indigenous protocols, and Indigenous rights management in digital environments. He is currently undertaking work for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority to develop a research protocol for scientists undertaking fieldwork in the Torres Strait Islands.