Ann Apps

Ann Apps is an Honorary Lecturer at the School of Law and Justice, College of Human and Social Futures, University of Newcastle, where she has taught since joining in 2010. Previously a solicitor in regional New South Wales specializing in civil litigation, property, and commercial law, she bridges practical legal experience with academic scholarship.

Her qualifications include:

• Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, University of Technology Sydney
• Bachelor of Commerce, University of New South Wales
• Bachelor of Laws, University of New South Wales
• Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety Management, University of New South Wales

Her research centers on co-operative law, corporate governance, and legal frameworks for social enterprises, with active promotion of co-operative education in Australian tertiary institutions. As a PhD candidate at the University of Newcastle, she investigates how law and regulatory policy hinder co-operative enterprise development in Australia under supervisors Dr. Tim Connor and Professor Christoph Antons. Her work extends to policy influence through submissions to Senate inquiries and the Treasury Round-table, referenced in official government reports.

Analysis of her 2015-2021 publications reveals consistent focus on co-operative law applications across housing, agriculture, and legal education domains. Key themes include regulatory barriers to co-operative growth, competition law impacts on dairy co-operatives, and pedagogical innovations for co-operative education, demonstrating strong alignment between her scholarly output and real-world policy interventions.

No scientific awards are documented in the provided materials.

Her grant portfolio demonstrates applied research impact:

• 2020: $13,000 from Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals for "Learning on the Go" project identifying agricultural co-operative start-up challenges
• 2017: $11,850 from Southern Cross University for "Farming Together/Co-op Builder" tool development
• 2017: $5,000 from Common Equity NSW for co-operative housing research

Professionally, she contributes to Ius Cooperativum's editorial committee for the International Co-operative Law Journal, participates in the Workshop on Institutions and Socio-economic Development (WISED) network, and co-developed the BCCM's Co-op Builder resource for new co-operatives.