Melissa de Zwart

Melissa de Zwart is a Professor of Space Law and Governance at the University of Adelaide’s School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, part of the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology. She serves as Deputy Director and Chief Investigator of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space and is affiliated with the Andy Thomas Centre for Space Resources. Previously, she was Dean of Law at the University of Adelaide (2017–2021) and held academic roles at Monash University and UNISA. Her research focuses on commercial and military uses of outer space, international space law, internet regulation, and surveillance.

Education:

• PhD from Monash University
• LLM from the University of Melbourne
• BA (Hons) and LLB (Hons) from the University of Melbourne
• Grad Cert in Higher Education (Monash University)
• Grad Cert in Higher Education (Online Learning) (University of Adelaide)

Research Interests: Melissa’s work spans space law, including sustainability of outer space resources, commercial and military applications, and international frameworks. She also explores internet law, particularly social media regulation, disinformation, privacy, and platform governance. Her research emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to address emerging challenges in technology and governance.

Grants and Funding:

• ARC Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space
• Copyright Agency Research Fellowship (2016)
• Copyright Society Research Grant (2014)

Awards and Memberships:

• Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law
• Member of the International Institute of Space Law
• Editorial Board Member of Alternative Law Journal, Legalities, and Media & Arts Law Review

Professional Activities: Melissa has contributed to the Australian space industry through roles like Deputy Director of the Space Industry Association of Australia and participation in the 2025 International Astronautical Congress bid. She has also served on the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Classification Review Board (2009–2014).