Renae Barker

Renae Barker is a Senior Lecturer at the UWA Law School, specializing in Law and Religion. She holds a PhD from the University of Western Australia (2014) and dual Bachelor’s degrees (B.Ec and LLB) from Murdoch University. Her research focuses on religion’s role in education, legal systems, and state policies, particularly regarding Muslim engagement with common law systems and issues like Islamic veils in courts. She coordinates mooting activities and teaches courses including 'Law and Religion' and 'Introduction to Law.'

Key research areas include state-religion relationships in Australia, freedom of religion, and secularism debates. Her work contributes to UN SDGs 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities). She has authored over 88 publications, including the book *State and Religion: The Australian Story* (2018) and co-edited *Comparative Approaches to Law and Religion* (2025).

• Teaching Roles: Undergraduate and Juris Doctor programs at UWA
• Recent Awards: 2023 Law School Research Award, Oxford Young Scholars Fellowship (2019)
• Engagement: Over 48 professional activities including parliamentary submissions, media commentary, and international workshops.

Her scholarship bridges historical analysis and contemporary debates, addressing issues such as religious discrimination law reform, vaccine mandates, and legal pluralism in spacescapes. She has collaborated internationally, including at the University of Padua (2024).