Professor Dan Meagher is a Chair in Law at Deakin University's Faculty of Business and Law, where he leads research in constitutional law and statutory interpretation. He serves as Director of Research at Deakin Law School and actively contributes to legal scholarship through publications, editorial work, and supervision of doctoral candidates. Doctor of Philosophy, University of New South Wales Master of Laws, Monash University Bachelor of Economics, Monash University Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Monash University His research focuses on constitutional law, statutory interpretation, and human rights protections. He explores the principle of legality, responsible government norms, and the interplay between common law and statutory frameworks, often advocating for enhanced rights protections through judicial interpretation. Professor Meagher's scholarly output highlights trends in Australian constitutionalism, including proportionality in secondary legislation, non-discrimination principles, and the evolution of common law rights. His work bridges doctrinal analysis with practical implications for legislative drafting and judicial review. Elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law Comments Editor for the Public Law Review Director of Research at Deakin Law School He supervises doctoral research on topics like human rights protection and legislative drafting models. His professional activities include co-editing major legal texts and contributing to debates on constitutional evolution and judicial interpretation.
Tarunabh Khaitan is the Professor (Chair) of Public Law at LSE Law School and an Honorary Professorial Fellow at Melbourne Law School. He specializes in legal theory, constitutional studies, discrimination law, and comparative constitutional design. Educated at National Law School (Bangalore) and Oxford (as a Rhodes Scholar), he holds degrees including a DPhil from Exeter College. Previously, he held roles such as Vice Dean at Oxford Law Faculty and Australian Research Council Future Fellow at Melbourne Law School. His research focuses on discrimination law, constitutional design, and judicial accountability. His monograph A Theory of Discrimination Law (OUP 2015) won the 2019 Woodward Medal. He has advised on anti-discrimination legislation in India and contributed to UN anti-discrimination guides. Awards include the 2018 Letten Prize (€200k award) and Excellence in Engagement Award (2020). Key publications include works on constitutional resilience in South Asia, comparative electoral systems, and the role of political parties in constitutional theory. He advises global initiatives like the International Journal of Constitutional Law and the Equal Rights Trust. His Hindi podcast संविधान संवाद explores Indian constitutionalism.
Professor Peter Billings is a Professor at the School of Law, The University of Queensland, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. His expertise spans Administrative Law, Immigration and Refugee Law, Social Welfare Law, and Human Rights Law. He has received numerous awards, including the Australian Award for University Teaching (2016) and the Vice Chancellor's Equity and Diversity Award (2011). His research focuses on crimmigration, refugee protection, and the corrosive effects of immigration detention laws. Professor Billings has published extensively on topics such as refugee law, preventive justice, and the intersection of criminal and immigration law. Education: Bachelor of Law and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Southampton. Research Interests Immigration and Refugee Law Crimmigration (intersection of criminal and immigration law) Administrative Justice and Law Social Welfare Law Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Issues Media Expertise Regular contributor to The Guardian and ABC Radio National, providing expert commentary on immigration detention, refugee policies, and human rights. Grants and Funding Building research capacity for quantitative analysis of Indigenous poverty (2011–2013) Critical evaluation of administrative rules (2011–2013) Aboriginal protection laws study (2008–2009) Supervision Currently supervising PhD projects on refugee employment integration, immigration detention governance, and international law on migrant smuggling. Key Contributions Authored Regulating Refugee Protection through Social Welfare (2023) and contributed to pivotal discussions on immigration detention's societal impacts. His work informs policy reforms and legal frameworks in Australia.
Professor Will Bateman is a distinguished academic at the Australian National University (ANU) College of Law, where he serves as a Professor and recently completed his term as Associate Dean (Research) from 2021 to 2024. He is also a Chief Investigator for the ANU Grand Challenge project "Humanising Machine Intelligence" and a Fellow at the Gradient Institute, a leading ethical AI research organization based in Sydney. Professor Bateman's educational background is impressive, having earned a PhD and LLM (Hons) from the University of Cambridge and a BA/LLB (Hons) from the Australian National University. Prior to his academic career, he worked in appellate litigation, commercial disputes, and banking as a solicitor at Herbert Smith Freehills, and served as an associate to Justice Stephen Gageler AC of the High Court of Australia and Justice Steven Rares of the Federal Court of Australia. Professor Bateman's research spans two major interdisciplinary domains that sit at the intersection of law with finance and technology. His work on financial regulation focuses on the legal aspects of central banking, sovereign debt markets, digital currencies, and sustainable investing. He has provided expert evidence to the UK Parliament's House of Lords Inquiry into Quantitative Easing, and has collaborated with major financial institutions including the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Bank of England. His research on artificial intelligence examines regulatory frameworks for AI in the public sector, with collaborations including the Minderoo Foundation and the Gradient Institute. His recent publications demonstrate a remarkable breadth across legal theory, financial regulation, and AI governance. The articles reveal a consistent theme of examining how traditional legal frameworks adapt to new financial technologies and monetary policy challenges. His work bridges theoretical legal scholarship with practical policy implications, as evidenced by his numerous government consultations and collaborations with central banks worldwide. 2020 Yorke Prize by the University of Cambridge for his work on public finance and constitutionalism Top 10 all-time most downloaded SSRN paper on central banking ("Central Bank Money: Liability, Asset, or Equity of the Nation?") Professor Bateman actively supervises research students, currently mentoring Benjamin Ettinger who is pursuing a PhD on "Legal Method, Cartels and Public Monopolies: A View From the High Court 1908 - 1948." He has secured significant research funding, including projects funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (UK), the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft), and The Minderoo Foundation. His "Rebuilding Macroeconomics Initiative: Legal and Economic Conceptions of Money" received £245,000, while the "FA Mann" project was funded with €620,000 (approximately A$1,012,500). He leads the "Humanising Machine Intelligence" project, an ambitious interdisciplinary initiative involving computer scientists, mathematicians, philosophers, sociologists, psychologists, and lawyers aimed at developing democratically legitimate machine intelligence. He also co-led a major project with the University of Western Australia to formulate model legal frameworks for AI regulation in the public sector, funded by The Minderoo Foundation.
Professor Begona Dominguez is a faculty member in the School of Economics at The University of Queensland (UQ), within the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Her research focuses on Macroeconomics, Public Finance, and Monetary Economics, with emphasis on fiscal policy design, central bank balance sheets, and optimal taxation frameworks. Her key projects include Supporting Entry and Growth of Australian Businesses via Tax and Transfers (2022–2024) and The role of a central bank's balance sheet in shaping the economy (2021–2024) . She is available for PhD supervision and actively contributes to applied macroeconomic analysis, particularly in urban economic advantages and policy evaluation. Publications span topics like fiscal sustainability, inflation dynamics under central bank policies, and the implications of constitutional constraints on taxation. Her work bridges theoretical models (e.g., Ramsey frameworks) with empirical applications in tax policy and public debt management. Professor Dominguez maintains affiliations with the Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis (ANU) and has reviewed prominent texts such as John Taylor's Reform of the International Monetary System . She is based in Room 507, Colin Clark Building at UQ.
Dr. Amelia Simpson holds the position of Honorary Associate Professor at the Australian National University (ANU), specializing in constitutional law with a focus on discrimination principles and federalism. She earned her BA Hons and LLB Hons from ANU, followed by an LLM and JSD from Columbia University. She is a practicing Barrister and Solicitor in the High Court of Australia. Her research critically examines constitutional frameworks, particularly regarding state residence discrimination under Section 117 and interstate free trade jurisprudence. Her work has been cited in landmark High Court and Federal Court rulings, solidifying her reputation as a leading scholar in public law. Amelia’s contributions include co-authoring Hanks Australian Constitutional Law: Materials and Commentary (2016) and contributing to the Oxford Handbook of Australian Constitutional Law (2018). Her research on social equality and functionalist approaches to non-discrimination has advanced scholarly discourse on constitutional values. Notably, her 2017 paper Social Equality in Australia critiques the historical neglect of equality principles in constitutional interpretation. Her publications span constitutional doctrine, class actions reform, and environmental policy, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach. She ranks among Australia’s top 20 most prolific legal scholars in high-impact journals (2000–2010). Her work bridges theoretical analysis with practical legal challenges, influencing both academia and judicial practice.
Dr Fiona Hum is a Senior Lecturer at Monash University's Faculty of Law, where she conducts research and teaches. Admitted as a solicitor and barrister of the Supreme Court of Victoria, she previously practiced commercial litigation, criminal law, and personal injury law while consulting for major insurers and the Victorian police force. Her doctorate from the University of Melbourne focused on Northern Territory euthanasia laws. Education: Doctorate in Law, University of Melbourne (thesis on euthanasia laws) Admitted Solicitor and Barrister, Supreme Court of Victoria Research Focus: Dr Hum's work centers on Evidence Law , Wrongful Convictions , and Gender/Race Relations in Law , with pioneering studies on compassion training for law students now expanding into climate change law. Her research directly supports UN Sustainable Development Goals for justice, equality, and well-being through interdisciplinary approaches connecting legal theory with psychological and social frameworks. Publication Trends: Recent work (2022-2025) analyzes high-profile cases like Kathleen Folbigg and Cardinal Pell while advancing evidence law pedagogy through her Cambridge University Press textbook. Earlier scholarship (2010) established foundational critiques of gender bias in evidentiary processes, particularly regarding women complainants and pregnant patients. Scientific Awards: Faculty Teaching Award for Teaching Excellence (2010) Certificate of Recognition for S1 Unit Performance (2015) Certificate of Recognition for S2 Unit Improvement (2016) Nominee: Inspiring Woman Award (2021) Nominee: Australian Legal Education Award (2023) Advising & Professional Impact: Accepting PhD students, Dr Hum actively shapes legal education through curriculum innovation and peer review for top journals ( University of New South Wales Law Journal , Sydney Law Review ). Her external collaborations include specialist lectures for Monash's Faculty of Medicine and keynotes at national conferences like the Women's Lawyers Conference on 'Justice for All'. Institutional Roles: Current member of the Australasian Law Academics Association (2025-2028) and former Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne (2019-2021), she bridges academic rigor with real-world legal practice through ongoing consultancy work.
Dr Emily Hammond is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney Law School. She specializes in Australian constitutional and administrative law, focusing on the interplay between judicial power, executive authority, and judicial review of administrative actions. Hammond co-authored the 4th edition of Principles of Administrative Law and Cases for Principles of Administrative Law , both published by Oxford University Press in 2023. She currently serves as the book review editor for the Australian Journal of Administrative Law . Her research explores the boundaries of judicial and executive power, particularly regarding finality in legal adjudication and constitutional constraints on legislative and administrative actions. Recent work includes analyses of High Court cases such as Judge Vasta v Stradford and NZYQ v Minister for Immigration , emphasizing constitutional principles in public law. Hammond’s publications span leading legal journals including the University of Queensland Law Review and Public Law Review . Her scholarship bridges theoretical constitutional frameworks with practical applications in administrative decision-making and citizenship law. She holds a BA, LLB(Hons), and PhD from the Universities of Sydney and Melbourne. Her contributions extend to legal education through co-authoring foundational textbooks and editorial roles, shaping discourse in administrative law and public law scholarship.
Dr. Kerstin Steiner is an Associate Professor at the Law School, La Trobe University. She holds adjunct roles at the University of Melbourne's Asian Law Centre and Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society. Her leadership roles include Director of Research (2021), Acting Head of Law School (2019), and mentorship in promotions programs. Education: PhD, Melbourne University LLM, Melbourne University LLB, University of Bielefeld, Germany Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, Monash University Research Interests: Dr. Steiner specializes in comparative legal studies focusing on Southeast Asia, particularly intersections of law with politics, economics, and society, with a strong emphasis on Islam's role in judicial systems. She has conducted groundbreaking work on legal pluralism, religious governance, and anti-corruption frameworks in Malaysia and the Philippines. Key Research Trends: Her recent work (2023-2025) highlights evolving legal challenges in Southeast Asia, including digital hate speech mitigation, Islamic financial systems, and constitutional reforms in pluralistic societies. Earlier research (2017-2020) centered on corruption dynamics (e.g., 1MDB scandal), Shariah court systems, and gender equity in legal frameworks. Awards: VC Cultural Quality Award (2024), Distinguished Scholar Award (PHISO, 2018), Multiple Research Excellence Awards (2017) Grants: $100k+ for international study tours; ARC Discovery Project (2016-2020) on Islam, Law, and the Philippine State Labs/Teams: La Trobe Asia Steering Committee, International Legal Studies Research Group (ILSRG), Working Group on Islamophobia
Associate Professor Marcus Mietzner specializes in the politics of Indonesia, focusing on democratization, electoral systems, and the role of the military. He holds a PhD from the Australian National University (ANU) and an MA from Goethe University Frankfurt. His research explores Indonesian political parties, campaign financing, and the presidency in democratic Indonesia. Mietzner has authored over 95 publications and led projects such as the Indonesia Project Phase V and SEARBO (Supporting the Rules-Based Order in Southeast Asia). His work analyzes Indonesia’s political dynamics, including Jokowi’s majoritarianism, elite collusion, and democratic decline. Notable articles discuss Indonesia’s 2024 elections, autocratisation limits, and military oversight crises. Mietzner has contributed to understanding Indonesia’s post-authoritarian trajectory, emphasizing institutional resilience and elite competition. Research supervision focuses on Southeast Asian electoral politics and political parties. His projects address governance challenges, constitutional reforms, and civil society’s role in resisting democratic erosion. Mietzner’s interdisciplinary approach combines historical analysis with contemporary political developments, positioning him as a leading scholar on Indonesia’s political landscape.
Dr. Valerie Cooms is a Research Fellow at the ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy within the Australian National University. Her work primarily focuses on quantitative social policy research with specialization in longitudinal studies and Indigenous affairs. She holds leadership roles in major national research initiatives evaluating policy effectiveness. Research Interests: Dr. Cooms' research spans longitudinal data analysis, statistical methodology, Indigenous policy evaluation, criminal justice reform, and social inequality measurement. Her work frequently examines the intersection of evidence-based policy and marginalized communities. Research Trends: Recent outputs demonstrate consistent focus on Indigenous policy assessment, criminal justice system reform, and political analysis of constitutional changes affecting First Nations communities. Her publications blend academic research with public engagement through multimedia formats. Research Projects: Principal Investigator for 'Review of methods for assessing progress towards Closing the Gap' (2023-2026) Co-Investigator for 'Footprints in Time: Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children' (2023-2024) Lead researcher for 'Longitudinal Studies of Indigenous Children Wave 13 Summary Report' (2022-2024) Contributor to 'Monitoring and Accountability Framework' project (2023-2024) Co-Investigator for literature review on women in court systems (2023-2024)
Professor Richard Rawlings FBA FLSW is Professor of Public Law at University College London and Senior Fellow at Melbourne Law School. A leading scholar in public law, his work spans constitutional implications of regulatory states, devolution dynamics, and EU administrative procedures. Research examines legal aspects of territorial governance, administrative justice systems, and regulatory enforcement. Authored influential texts including 'Law and Administration' and 'Delineating Wales'. Served as Legal Adviser to UK House of Lords Constitution Committee and on multiple government law reform bodies.
Kate Ogg is Professor and Associate Dean (Higher Degree Research) at ANU Law School. Her interdisciplinary research examines refugee law, human rights litigation, and feminist legal theory through works including the monograph 'Protection from Refuge: From Refugee Rights to Migration Management'. Ogg's scholarship investigates how courts shape refugee journeys globally. She holds a BA/LLB (First Class Honours, University Medal) from Griffith University, MSc (Distinction) from Oxford, and PhD from ANU. Ogg provides expert testimony to the Australian Federal Parliament and contributes to international media discourse on refugee policy. Research Focus: Current ARC-funded projects examine community sponsorship for refugees and movement litigation. Key research streams include: COVID-19 border restrictions' impact on citizenship conceptualizations Feminist engagements with international refugee law Deliberative democratic approaches to human rights adjudication Constitutional struggles in displacement contexts Recent publications analyze pandemic border controls as internal displacement events and refugee law's response to democratic backsliding. Collaborative work advances methodological innovation through refugee-centered legal scholarship. Leadership: As Director of the Rewriting Jurisprudence project, Ogg collaborates with scholars and lawyers with displacement experiences to reimagine legal precedents. She co-leads the Law, Governance & Institutions cluster at ANU's Institute for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions.
Professor Chongmin Song is a faculty member at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), affiliated with the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. His academic rank is Professor, and he specializes in computational mechanics with a focus on innovative numerical methods. He holds a BE and ME from Tsinghua University and a DEng from the University of Tokyo. His research explores computational mechanics, fracture analysis, wave propagation, and soil-structure interactions. Key methodologies include the Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method (SBFEM), image-based modeling, and dynamic simulations of infrastructure systems. He leads significant ARC-funded projects like 'A scaled boundary framework for nonlinear dynamic analysis of structures' (DP250100955) and 'Developing sustainable graded porous cementitious structures' (LP240100123), totaling over $1M in recent grants. Recent publications emphasize adaptive modeling techniques, multiphysics simulations, and high-performance computing applications. Trends include topology optimization for structural dynamics, phase-field fracture modeling for brittle materials, and GPU-accelerated elastodynamics. His work integrates computational efficiency with real-world engineering challenges, particularly in geomechanics and material failure analysis. Professor Song collaborates extensively on projects involving computational fracture mechanics and maintains laboratories focused on numerical simulation advancements. Future work targets scalable algorithms for 3D crack propagation and multiphysics coupling in infrastructure systems.
Dr. Holly Doel-Mackaway is an Associate Professor at Macquarie Law School and a leading expert in children's rights, Indigenous studies, and international law. She co-leads the Children’s Rights, Participation and Protection Research Stream in Macquarie’s Faculty of Arts and serves as Co-Editor-In-Chief of the Australian Journal of Human Rights. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on advancing children’s rights globally, with a particular emphasis on Indigenous children’s participation in law and policy development. Dr. Doel-Mackaway holds a PhD in Law from Macquarie University and has extensive international experience with organizations like UNICEF and Save the Children. She teaches courses on Child and Elder Law, International Human Rights Law, and Research Methodologies. Recognized for her teaching excellence, she won the Vice-Chancellor's Learning & Teaching Award in 2021 and was nominated again in 2024. Her research includes groundbreaking work such as the 2022 book Indigenous Children's Right to Participate in Law and Policy Development , which provides a framework for involving Indigenous youth in policy decisions. She leads major grants like the 2024 ARC Linkage Grant on child-centered evidence for social change and collaborates with NGOs and governments across five continents. Key awards include the Macquarie University Executive Dean’s Higher Degree Research Excellence Award (2017) and the Erasmus+ Mobility Grant (2023). She actively participates in international committees like LAWASIA’s Human Rights Committee and advises on child rights in Australia, the Pacific, and beyond. Current research projects include exploring intergenerational policymaking, child protection in the Pacific, and the impact of the Voice to Parliament referendum on Indigenous rights.
