Rebecca Monson

Rebecca Monson is a Professor at the ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy, working part-time since 2014. She holds a BA(Hons I) in Geography (Monash), LLB (Hons I) (Monash), and a PhD (ANU). Her research focuses on social difference, natural resource governance, and justice systems in Australia and the Pacific, with particular emphasis on climate displacement, land tenure, and gender relations. She led the development of Solomon Islands' relocation guidelines (2022) and authored the award-winning book Gender, Property and Politics in the Pacific (2023). She advises international organizations on climate adaptation, resource governance, and justice systems.

Her academic roles include former Deputy Associate Dean (Research) and Director of Higher Degree Research at ANU Law. She sits on the ANU Pacific Institute and Australian Association for Pacific Studies boards. Her ARC DECRA grant supports research on Pacific women’s movements and natural resource rights. Key projects include the Solomon Islands Displacement and Relocations Project (2010–2011) and Resilience and Vulnerability in Property Systems (2013–2019).

Her research spans climate mobility planning, legal pluralism, and transnational feminisms. Recent work includes analyzing Pacific climate justice frameworks and adaptive governance strategies. Collaborations with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and UN agencies inform her applied research on rule of law and disaster risk reduction.

• Education: Monash University (Geography, Law), ANU (PhD)
• Key Awards: 2023 Australian Legal Research Award
• Professional Experience: Legal practice in emergency services, Bushfire CRC researcher, Van Vollenhoven Institute RA

Her advising and grants include projects on customary justice systems and climate resilience. Current active project: Navigating justice systems: how Pacific women secure their property rights (2021–2025).