Tony Binns


James Anthony Binns is the Ron Lister Professor of Geography at the University of Otago in New Zealand.

Background

Tony Binns was born in Prestwich and grew up in Bury, Greater Manchester, UK. He attended Stand Grammar School, Whitefield. He graduated from Sheffield University and taught geography in schools while attending the University of Birmingham. He taught geography at University of Sussex from 1975 to 2004, before moving to the University of Otago as Professor and latterly Head of Department.
Binns has two children, and holds British and New Zealand citizenship.

Scholarly contributions

Binns' prime interest is African community development and the livelihoods and wellbeing of Africans. His early work was in Sierra Leone, working from Kayima in the north east of the country on links between diamond mining and the farming sector, the two main occupations of local residents. He has continued to follow these trends since 1974, and in 2014 he was elected an honorary chief of Kayima for his continued support to the community.
Since then he has worked in
  • South Africa
  • Sierra Leone
  • Nigeria
  • Morocco
  • The Gambia
  • Zambia
  • Kenya.
He has also worked in
  • Samoa
  • Vietnam
  • and New Zealand.

    Recognition

  • President of the Geographical Association 1994–1995
  • Leverhulme Study Abroad Fellowship 2000–2001, South Africa
  • Director and Council member of Worldaware 1995–2004
  • President of the Commonwealth Geographical Bureau.
  • President of the New Zealand Geographical Society.
  • Distinguished New Zealand Geographer Medal 2012.
  • Chief Manjawah of Sandor, and Sahr Kayima, Sierra Leone, 2014

    Key publications

  • Binns J.A., K. Lynch and E. Nel 2018. The Routledge Handbook of African Development. London: Routledge
  • Potter, R. Binns J.A., J.A. Elliott, E. Nel, D.W. Smith. 2017. Geographies of Development: An Introduction to Development Studies. Routledge. 4th Edition.
  • Binns, T., A. Dixon and E. Nel. 2012. Africa: Diversity and Development. London: Routledge.
  • Leimgruber W., E.Nel, Y. Matsuo, T. Binns, R. Chand, B. Cullen, D. Lynch, and P.K. Pradhan 2010. Geographical marginality as a global issue. International Geographical Union 5 volumes..
  • Potter R.B., T. Binns, J. Elliott and D. Smith. 2008. Geographies of development: an Introduction to Development Studies. Third Edition. London: Pearson..
  • Binns T., A. Dixon and G. Spellman. 2007. Sustainable Development. Oxford: Philip Allan Publishers.
  • Binns T. 1995. People and Environment in Africa. Chichester: John Wiley..
  • Potter R.B., T. Binns, J. Elliott and D. Smith. 2004. Geographies of development. London: Prentice Hall, Pearson.
  • Bowden R. and T. Binns 2001. The changing face of South Africa. London: Hodder Wayland..
  • Lester, E. Nel and T. Binns. 2000. South Africa, past, present and future: gold at the end of the rainbow?. London: Longman.
  • Binns T., D. Clark and H. Matthews. 2000. Regional development and change. Oxford: Philip Allan Publishers. .
  • Fisher C. and T. Binns 2000. Issues in geography teaching. London: Routledge..
  • Potter R.B., T. Binns, J. Elliott and D. Smith. 1999. Geographies of Development. London: Longman..
  • Clark D., H. Matthews and T. Binns. 1998. Urban Development and Change. Oxford: Philip Allan Publishers..
  • Bowden R. and T. Binns. 1998. Journey through Africa. Oxford: Horus Editions.
  • Binns T. and R. Bowden. 1998. West Africa. World Fact Files, London: MacDonald Young Books.
  • Bowden R. and T. Binns. 1998. East Africa World Fact Files. London: MacDonald Young Books..
  • Binns T. 1994. Tropical Africa. London: Routledge..
  • Binns M. and T. Binns. 1992. Sierra Leone. World Bibliographical Series. Oxford: Clio Press..
  • Bailey P. and T. Binns 1987. A Case for Geography. Sheffield: The Geographical Association..