Catherine Brown

Catherine Brown is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Law within the Faculty of Business and Law at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). With extensive professional experience spanning both government sectors (Queensland and NSW) as an accountant and policy advisor, as well as private sector work in taxation law, she brings practical insights to her academic role. She is an active member of the Australian Centre for Health Law Research and the Humans Technology Law Centre, contributing to interdisciplinary legal scholarship.

• Doctor of Juridical Science (Queensland University of Technology)
• Master of Laws (Queensland University of Technology)
• Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (Southern Cross University)
• Bachelor of Business (Honours) (Southern Cross University)

Dr. Brown's research focuses on the critical intersection of insolvency and taxation laws, traditional insolvency and bankruptcy law, the transformative impact of technology on legal practice, and innovative approaches to legal education. Her work explores how legal frameworks can better address financial hardship in contemporary economic contexts, with particular attention to how AI and automation are reshaping insolvency practice and the ethical implications of systems like Robodebt. She examines theoretical aspects through Dworkinian legal philosophy while maintaining practical relevance to real-world legal challenges.

Analysis of Dr. Brown's publications reveals a consistent focus on practical legal issues affecting individuals and businesses in financial distress. Her recent work demonstrates increasing engagement with technology-law intersections, including submissions to government inquiries on personal insolvency reform and pandemic-related bankruptcy impacts. She skillfully blends theoretical legal philosophy with practical case studies on flood risk disclosure, superannuation in bankruptcy, and automated debt collection systems, creating a research profile that bridges academic scholarship and policy relevance.

• Certified Practising Accountant - CPA Australia
• Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA) - Tax Institute of Australia
• Academic member of INSOL
• Academic member of Australian Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association (ARITA)

Dr. Brown actively contributes to legal education through curriculum development projects and policy engagement. Her numerous submissions to government inquiries, including the Robodebt Royal Commission and Attorney-General's Department consultations, demonstrate successful translation of academic research into policy impact. While specific student supervision details aren't provided, her collaborative publications and educational research suggest active mentoring of junior researchers and engagement with legal education reform initiatives.

As a member of both the Australian Centre for Health Law Research and the Humans Technology Law Centre, Dr. Brown participates in interdisciplinary research environments that support her investigations into technology's impact on legal practice and procedural justice. These centers provide platforms for collaborative research that connects legal scholarship with broader societal challenges in health, technology, and social justice.