Thio Li-ann

Thio Li-ann is a Professor and Provost's Chair at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Faculty of Law. She serves as Chief Editor for the Singapore Journal of Legal Studies and holds editorial positions with the Journal of East Asia and International Law, National Taiwan University Law Review, and advisory roles with the New Zealand Yearbook of International Law, Australian Journal of Asian Law, and International Law & Human Rights Discourse. Additionally, she serves on the international advisory board of the Max Planck Encyclopedia of Comparative Constitutional Law, University of Bologna Law Review, and City University of Hong Kong Law Review.

Education includes:

• PhD from University of Cambridge
• LLM from Harvard University
• BA from University of Oxford
• Barrister from Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn

Her research focuses on public international law, human rights law, constitutional and administrative law with regional emphasis on Asia. She explores intersections between law and religion, constitutional development, and human rights frameworks in Asian contexts. Recent work examines relational constitutionalism, legal communitarianism, pandemic regulation, and religious harmony in multicultural societies.

Publications from 2021-2025 predominantly analyze constitutional governance, human dignity, religious freedom, and equality rights within Singaporean and comparative Asian contexts. Recurring themes include judicial review mechanisms, rule of law evolution, state-religion dynamics, and constitutional responses to social challenges like pandemics and technological change.

Scientific awards:

• NUS Young Researcher Award (2004)

She co-edits the Hart Publishing book series on Constitutionalism in Asia with Adjunct Professor Kevin Y.L. Tan and previously served as a Nominated Member of Parliament (2007-2009).