Donald Rothwell

Donald Rothwell is Professor of International Law at the ANU College of Law, Australian National University, specializing in law of the sea, polar regions governance, and international dispute resolution. With BA, LLB (Hons) from Queensland, LLM from Alberta, MA from Calgary, and PhD from Sydney, he has authored 28 books including The International Law of the Sea and Islands and International Law. His research examines maritime boundaries, sovereignty disputes, and international legal frameworks.

Research focuses on:

• UNCLOS implementation and maritime security challenges
• Arctic and Antarctic governance regimes
• International court jurisprudence and dispute resolution
• South China Sea territorial conflicts
• Historical evolution of sovereignty concepts

Publications demonstrate sustained examination of maritime disputes, evolving state practice, and legal frameworks for ocean governance. Recent works analyze island territories, polar regions, and climate-related maritime challenges.

Professional contributions include:

• Rapporteur for International Law Association Committee on Baselines (2012-2018)
• Editor-in-Chief of Brill Research Perspectives in Law of the Sea
• ANU Public Policy Fellow providing media commentary on international law