Nola Ries

Professor Nola Ries is a distinguished legal scholar at the University of Technology Sydney's Faculty of Law, where she serves as Theme Leader for Law, Ethics & Regulation within the UTS Ageing Research Collaborative. She is a co-founder of the Dementia Law Network and actively contributes to the UTS Medical Research Ethics Committee. Her interdisciplinary work bridges legal scholarship with health policy and aging research.

• PhD (Behavioural Science) - University of Newcastle, Australia
• Master of Laws - University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
• Master of Public Administration - University of Victoria, Canada
• Juris Doctor - University of Victoria, Canada
• Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) - University of Alberta, Canada
• Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
• Former Solicitor and Barrister of the Law Society of British Columbia, Canada

Professor Ries specializes in law, health and aging with particular expertise in dementia law, advance care planning, and health justice partnerships. Her research critically examines legal frameworks governing health system reform, ethical research practices involving vulnerable populations, and medico-legal risks in healthcare delivery. She has pioneered work on dementia capability for legal professionals and developed innovative resources including the Advance Research Directive for future research participation planning.

Her recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward practical applications of legal scholarship in aging populations, with emphasis on dementia-inclusive legal frameworks, elder abuse prevention, and regulatory reform in aged care. The research consistently integrates empirical methods to address real-world problems at the intersection of law and health.

Professor Ries actively supervises PhD candidates and has developed numerous continuing education resources including online courses for legal professionals on dementia capability and training for health professionals on medico-legal risks. Her funded research portfolio includes significant projects supported by NHMRC, ARC Discovery Projects, and philanthropic organizations focused on improving legal frameworks for aging populations.

She maintains active leadership roles including membership on the NHMRC National Statement Section 4 Review Working Committee and participation in the Elder Abuse Special Interest Group of the Australian Association of Gerontology. Her work directly informs policy development through submissions to government consultations on aged care reform and national dementia action plans.