BILL ARTHUR began researching Indigenous affairs in the early 1980s. Much of his initial work was land-related and was carried out for Indigenous organisations such as the Kimberley Land Council and Marra Worra Worra Aboriginal Corporation in Fitzroy Crossing. Since 1990, his research has focused more on issues of economic development, autonomy and policy for Torres Strait Islanders in the Centre for Aboriginal for Aboriginal Policy Research (CAEPR) at the Australian National University, and with the Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. Bill initiated the first edition of the Atlas at CAEPR, and was a Visiting Fellow there during the preparation of this second edition.