Ethnographic and qualitative research with marginalised communities is inherently sensitive and complex, yet many researchers are insufficiently prepared for the challenges it presents. There is a common assumption that the inclusion of a person of colour, an Indigenous researcher, or a cultural representative within a research team automatically enables meaningful engagement with any marginalised community. Similarly, researchers may assume that shared or overlapping cultural practices position them as “insiders,” granting them easier access and acceptance than researchers perceived as cultural outsiders.
This paper offers a reflective account of the authors’ fieldwork experiences conducting research with informal innovators in Kenya and with First Nations communities in the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Drawing on these case studies, the paper examines the complexities of insider–outsider dynamics and the limitations of relying on surface-level cultural affiliations. Findings indicate that while building a diverse and equitable research team is essential for culturally respectful and inclusive marine conservation, diversity alone is insufficient. Researchers who are presumed to be insiders may simultaneously occupy outsider positions, and meaningful engagement often requires the involvement of trusted community gatekeepers to facilitate deeper relationships within communities.
The study employed mixed qualitative methods, including focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews, and overt observation and photography. The findings emphasise that conducting research with marginalised communities necessitates sustained learning of local cultural contexts, intentional rapport- and trust-building, careful navigation of ethical dilemmas, and active efforts to recognise and address power imbalances between researchers and participants.