Tina Cockburn

Professor Tina Cockburn is a distinguished academic in the Faculty of Business and Law at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She serves as Director of the Australian Centre for Health Law Research (ACHLR) and co-program leader of the Planning for Healthy Ageing research program. Additionally, she is a sessional member of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) and a member of the Queensland Law Society Health and Disability Law Committee. Her career spans over 30 years, with expertise in Equity, Trusts, Torts, Health Law, and Elder Law, and she has over 150 publications.

Her research focuses on access to justice for vulnerable populations in contexts such as patient safety law, elder law, and institutional child abuse. Recent work explores legal frameworks for genomics, elder financial abuse, and medical negligence. She has secured competitive grants from national and international bodies, including the Australian Learning and Teaching Council and the Economic & Social Research Council (UK).

Tina’s publications include analyses of retained surgical items, medical liability, and the impact of digital formalities on wills. Her scientific awards include the 2009 Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching and the 2007 Law Faculty Award for Achievement in Research.

• 2009: Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching
• 2007: Law Faculty Award for Achievement in Research
• 1998: Accredited by Staff and Educational Association (SEDA)

She supervises PhD students in areas like medical litigation, elder abuse, and climate change-related legal obligations. Her professional engagements include contributions to legal education programs and collaborations with healthcare professionals.