Belinda Bennett

Professor Belinda Bennett is the Head of School and Dean of the School of Law and Justice at the University of Newcastle. She holds a Doctor of Juridical Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her expertise spans health law, public health law, assisted reproduction, and law and genetics. She has authored/co-authored over 10 books, including COVID-19, Law & Regulation: Rights, Freedoms and Obligations in a Pandemic (2023) and Australian Public Health Law: Contemporary Issues and Challenges (2023). Her research examines global health governance, pandemic preparedness, and the intersection of law with emerging technologies like AI and assistive technologies for ageing populations.

Education:

• Doctor of Juridical Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

Research Interests: Professor Bennett focuses on public health law, pandemic regulation, bioethics, and legal frameworks for emerging technologies. Her work emphasizes global health challenges, human rights in healthcare, and the ethical implications of biomedical advancements. Recent projects include studies on vaccine passports, indoor air quality mandates, and the legal dimensions of assistive technologies for older adults.

Publications Trends: Her articles address cutting-edge topics like automated vehicle regulation, pandemic response strategies, and rights in emergency contexts. She frequently collaborates on interdisciplinary projects, such as Mandating indoor air quality for public buildings (2024) and Recognising rights for robots (2020). Her work is cited widely in public health, law, and bioethics journals.

Awards & Affiliations:

• Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Member of the ARC College of Experts
• Vice Chair Legal Research, Council of Australian Law Deans (CALD)
• Editorial Board Member, Journal of Law and the Biosciences

Mentorship & Grants: Committed to academic mentorship, she has supported numerous colleagues and students. Current research includes a PhD project on genetic genealogy in cold cases. She advocates for student education aligned with contemporary legal challenges in health and technology.