AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

About

The Australian & New Zealand Chapter aims to pursue the mission of the ICON Society by conforming a forum for interdisciplinary debate concerning public law development, serving as a bridge between the local and international academy in relevant fields of public law.

The chapter seeks to work with the Society to promote awareness about its upcoming events globally and promote the work, incorporation and training of early career scholars and students, all within the framework of the society and its diverse academic spaces.

The Australian & New Zealand Chapter aims at offering a space for local legal scholarship to deepened its involvement in public law debates taking place on both a local and global scale, thus encouraging dialogue with scholars from diverse legal traditions, hence why it welcomes young scholars and practitioners from law and other social sciences to take part in what is expected to be a fruitful academic exchange within and outside of the chapter’s boundaries.

Chapter Members

The Chapter has over 100 members from across Australia and New Zealand, led by an executive committee:

  • Professor Lisa Burton Crawford (University of Sydney) and Associate Professor Murray Wesson (University of Western Australia) – Co-chairs
  • Assistant Professor Narelle Bedford (Bond University) and Professor Claire Charters (University of Auckland) – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander/Māori representatives
  • Associate Professor Harry Hobbs (University of New South Wales) – Secretary-General
  • Dr Jessica Kerr (University of Western Australia) and Dr Elisabeth Perham (University of New South Wales) – Early Career representatives

The Chapter includes a dedicated Constitutional Theory group, led by Professor Ron Levy (ANU), Associate Professor Edward Willis (University of Otago) and Professor Lisa Burton Crawford (University of Sydney). Further details about the Constitutional Theory Group can be found here.

CONSTITUTIONAL THEORY GROUP

FOUNDING DOCUMENT

Upcoming Chapter Events and Activities

2026 Chapter Conference

Following the success of its inaugural conference in 2024, the Chapter will be hosting its next conference at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington from 26-28 August 2026. Further details and a call for papers will be publicised shortly. Sign up at the bottom of this page to receive email updates, or follow us on social media to receive updates!

2027 Constitutional Theory Group Conference

The Constitutional Theory Group plans to hold its next biennial conference in 2027 – date and venue TBC.

Zoom Café

The occasional series of Zoom Cafes has re-commenced in 2025. Sign up at the bottom of this page to receive email updates, or follow us on social media to receive updates!

Past Chapter Events and Activities

· Inaugural ICON-S Aus-NZ Chapter Conference, Public Law Across & Beyond the Tasman? Co-hosted by the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney, 29-30 August 2024. Event program available here.

· ICON-S Aus-NZ Constitutional Theory Group Conference, Co-hosted by Monash University, 23-24 January 2025.

· ICON-S Aus-NZ Launch Event: Trans-Tasman Reflections on COVID-19 and Public Law, an online event co-hosted by the Chapter and the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law at the University of New South Wales, 28 August 2020. Event details available here.

· ICON-S Aus-NZ Constitutional Theory Group Conference, Co-hosted by the ANU College of Law, 1 April 2022.

Call(s) For Papers

No ongoing calls for papers.

How to Become Involved With Our Chapter

To join the ICON•S AUS-NZ chapter please fill out this form here.

Social Media

ICON•S AUS-NZ

Chapter Contact Information

For updates on the latest activities of the Aus-NZ Chapter, follow @icons_ausnz.

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