Dr Robbie Francis Watene is a scholar, leader, and human rights defender from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. With 35 years lived experience of disability, Watene has worked in the disability sector for over 15 years as a support worker, humanitarian documentarian, social entrepreneur, researcher, consultant, and advisor. She has experience working with disabled people in France, Bangladesh, India, Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador and has spearheaded research on gender, war, and disability rights. Robbie is Disabled-Led Research Lead at the Donald Beasley Institute, where she oversees a variety of disability rights research projects and a team of disabled researchers. She is also co-founder and director of The Lucy Foundation, an international social enterprise that has developed the world’s first value chain of coffee that is entirely inclusive of disabled people – from the farmer in Mexico to the consumer in Aotearoa. Watene serves on various governance boards and is Mum to 3-year-old Mita, and 6-month-old Te Kawehaumārie (Ngāti Maru (Hauraki), Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Te Rarawa).

During her WID Fellowship, Robbie is investigating disabled person-led monitoring of disability rights implementation, with a focus on Article 33 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). With support from the DJP, she is documenting her efforts and creating a short film about her work.