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Emeritus Professor Garth Nettheim was a distinguished Australian legal scholar, renowned for his pioneering work in human rights law and Indigenous rights. With a career spanning decade, Professor Nettheim made significant contributions to the understanding of international law, human rights, and the legal issues facing Indigenous peoples in Australia and globally.

Professor Hal Wootten was one of Australia’s most respected legal minds, renowned for his extraordinary contributions to human rights law, constitutional law, and Indigenous rights. A former judge, academic, and advocate, his career was defined by a deep commitment to justice, equality, and the protection of human dignity. Through his pioneering work, Professor Wootten shaped both Australian legal thought and international discussions on human rights and social justice.

Scientia Professor Megan Davis AC is an Australian legal scholar, human rights advocate, and one of the foremost experts in Indigenous rights and constitutional law. A Cobble Cobble Woman of the Barunggam Nation, Scientia Professor Davis has spent her career at the intersection of law, politics, and social justice, working tirelessly to advance the legal and political rights of Indigenous Australians. Her groundbreaking work continues to influence both national policy and global human rights discussions.

A Leading Voice for Indigenous Rights

Professor Davis is widely known for her significant contributions to the recognition and protection of Indigenous peoples' rights in Australia. She has been a leading advocate for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, playing a pivotal role in the Referendum Council that advanced the movement for constitutional reform to ensure that Indigenous Australians are acknowledged in the nation's founding document.

Her expertise in Indigenous law and human rights law has made her an influential voice both within Australia and globally. Her research focuses on the intersection of Indigenous sovereignty, self-determination, and the right to participate in governance. She has argued passionately for the recognition of Indigenous peoples’ rights within legal frameworks, advocating for reforms that would create a more inclusive and just society for all Australians.

An Advocate for Constitutional Change

One of Professor Davis’s most notable contributions has been her role in advocating for the recognition of Indigenous peoples in the Australian Constitution. She has worked extensively with legal scholars, policymakers, and Indigenous leaders to explore the pathways to meaningful constitutional recognition. Her leadership on the Uluru Statement from the Heart — a document calling for a Voice to Parliament, Treaty, and Truth-telling — is a cornerstone of her legacy.

As a Constitutional Law expert, Professor Davis has been instrumental in bringing together legal and political strategies that aim to remove the discriminatory clauses of the Australian Constitution that affect Indigenous Australians. She has been a passionate proponent of constitutional reform that would acknowledge Indigenous Australians’ history and ongoing contribution to the nation.

Academic Excellence and Teaching

Professor Megan Davis is also a respected academic and educator. She is the Pro Vice-Chancellor Society and a Professor of Law at the University of New South Wales (ÑÇÃÀÆåÅÆ), where she leads significant research initiatives in Indigenous governance and human rights law. Her work aims to engage students and scholars in critical discussions about the role of law in achieving justice and reconciliation for Indigenous peoples.

She has been a mentor to countless students, inspiring future generations of lawyers, activists, and policymakers to engage deeply with issues of social justice, legal equality, and human rights.

International Leadership and Recognition

Professor Davis has made an impact beyond the Australian legal landscape, contributing to international human rights forums.

She is the 2024/25 Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser Chair in Australian Studies at Harvard University.  She is teaching at Harvard Law on subjects such as Indigenous Peoples in International Law and Indigenous rights recognition, reform and retreat.

She has served on United Nations bodies and is highly regarded for her knowledge of international human rights law, especially in relation to the rights of Indigenous peoples. She has represented Australia, as a member and chairperson on the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and has worked on policy development around Indigenous rights on a global scale.  She has also been a member and chairperson of the United Nations Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Her work in international law further cements her position as one of the foremost voices advocating for the rights of Indigenous peoples worldwide, influencing international treaties and conventions that aim to protect the rights and sovereignty of Indigenous nations across the globe.

Championing Truth, Treaty, and Voice

Professor Davis is a strong proponent of the three pillars outlined in the Uluru Statement from the Heart: Voice, Treaty, and Truth. Her advocacy is centred on the belief that true reconciliation in Australia will only be achieved when Indigenous Australians are given a voice in Parliamentary decisions, are recognised through a Treaty with the nation, and when the truth about the history and experiences of Indigenous peoples is acknowledged.

Her leadership in these areas continues to spark vital conversations on justice, reconciliation, and sovereignty in Australia.

Professor Megan Davis has been at the forefront of Indigenous rights advocacy, both in Australia and internationally. Through her scholarship, public advocacy, and tireless work on constitutional reform, she has ensured that Indigenous voices are not only heard but integrated into the very fabric of Australian democracy.

Her career serves as an inspiration for anyone committed to advancing human rights, social justice, and the empowerment of marginalized communities. Professor Davis's contributions will continue to resonate as a call to action for legal reform, cultural recognition, and a more inclusive Australia.