Rob McLaughlin

Rob McLaughlin is a Professor at the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), part of the Faculty of Business and Law at the University of Wollongong. His research focuses on ocean law and governance, public international law, and international humanitarian and human rights law. He has held his current position since 2019 and is actively involved in research, supervision, and policy-related projects.

His research interests are centered around maritime law and governance, including issues such as maritime boundary disputes, the application of international law in oceanic contexts, and the legal frameworks governing maritime security. He also explores topics related to international humanitarian law, human rights law, and the intersection of law with contemporary geopolitical challenges, such as those in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.

Recent publications reflect his engagement with pressing issues in international maritime law and conflict resolution. For instance, his 2024 article Taiwan’s New Rules of Engagement examines evolving legal frameworks in the Taiwan Strait, while Clashes in the South China Sea analyzes recent escalations and their implications under international law. His work on Prisoners of War in Space? extends legal considerations to emerging domains like outer space, highlighting the need for updated legal standards in novel conflict scenarios.

McLaughlin has secured significant research funding, including an Australian Research Council (ARC) grant (2020-2024) on regulating maritime autonomous vessels and a prior ARC grant (2016-2018) exploring ASEAN's role in regional security.

He currently supervises two Doctor of Philosophy candidates: one investigating Australia's naval strategy evolution and another examining Shiprider programs as maritime enforcement measures.

His primary research hub is ANCORS, where he contributes to interdisciplinary studies on ocean resources, security, and legal frameworks.