Meri Oakwood

Meri Oakwood serves as an Associate Lecturer at Southern Cross University within the Faculty of Business, Law and Arts, specifically in the School of Law and Justice. She teaches and assesses law units including Animal Law, Environmental Law, Property Principles, and Criminal Procedure across multiple campuses. Her academic career bridges ecology and legal scholarship, with prior lecturing positions at Australian National University, Charles Darwin University, and University of New England.

Her educational foundation includes dual advanced degrees: a PhD in Science from ANU (1997) focusing on northern quoll ecology, and a First Class Honours LLB with University Medal from SCU (2020). She also holds a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and earlier science qualifications from Macquarie University.

• Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours), Macquarie University, 1990-1991
• Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University, 1992-1997
• Graduate Teaching Certificate, Australian National University, 1996
• Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours), Southern Cross University, 2014-2020
• Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, College of Law, 2020-2021

Meri's research demonstrates a significant interdisciplinary shift from marsupial conservation biology to legal advocacy. Early work centered on northern quoll population dynamics and cane toad impacts, while recent scholarship focuses on animal law and children's rights reform. Her current research specifically targets laws adversely affecting children and animals, evidenced by publications on domestic violence protections extending to pets and animal rights frameworks.

Her publication trajectory reveals a strategic evolution from ecological field studies to legal policy analysis, with recent works addressing systemic vulnerabilities in Australian law. This transition reflects her practical legal experience gained through roles at the Mid North Coast Legal Centre and Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service.

Academic excellence has been consistently recognized through prestigious awards including the University Medal, multiple Certificates of Academic Excellence, LexisNexis Research Prizes, and a 2024 Teaching Excellence Award.

• Certificate of Academic Excellence in Bachelor of Laws (2014, 2016, 2018)
• LexisNexis On-Line Legal Research Prizes (2015)
• Golden Key International Honour Society membership (2015)
• New South Wales Bar Association Prize (2016)
• Tony Pagotto Prize (2017)
• Law Society of NSW Prize (2019)
• University Medal (2021)
• S & P Walters Lawyers Prize (2021)
• Teaching Excellence Award (2024)

Meri has supervised postgraduate research in environmental science including a PhD candidate and Honours student at UNE, alongside coordinating numerous field trips across Australia. Her professional engagement extends to the National Working Group to End Physical Punishment of Australian Children and the steering committee for SCU's 2025 Children's Rights and the Law Conference. Current legal practice contributions include secretaryship of the Clarence River and Coffs Harbour Regional Law Society.

She maintains active research profiles through ORCID (0000-0002-9399-0458), ResearchGate, and LinkedIn while continuing consultancy work in ecological research methodology.