Jan McDonald is the New Star Professor of Environmental and Climate Law. She holds degrees in Arts and Law, with first class Honours in Law, from the University of Queensland. As a Fulbright postgraduate scholar, she graduated from Lewis and Clark Law school’s LLM in Environmental and Natural Resources Law summa cum laude, and completed her PhD in international trade and forestry law at Bond University.
Before joining the University of Tasmania in 2011, Jan worked at Bond and Griffith Universities and as visiting faculty at the University of Sydney and ANU. She was Professor of Environmental Law and Head of Griffith Law School, then Director of the Griffith University Climate Change Response Program. In 2007, she led Griffith University’s successful bid to host the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility and served as NCCARF Establishment Director in 2007-2008.
Jan is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, Lead Councillor with the Biodiversity Council, serves on the Board of the Tasmanian Land Conservancy, is a former past President of the National Environmental Law Association and a former member of the Australian Panel of Experts on Environmental Law. She has consulted to local, state and national governments on environmental and climate change adaptation issues and has worked closely with Clarence Council to identify the legal issues arising from various adaptation options. In 2004-2005, Jan served as Environment Program Manager for the United Nations Development Program’s Pacific office, in Solomon Islands and has served as a consultant to the Government of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, as well as several environmental non-government organizations.
In addition to her research leadership, Jan has extensive institutional leadership and management experience. She served as Associate Dean (Students) at Bond University, Head of School at Griffith University, Acting Dean at University of Tamsania, Associate Dean (Research) at both Griffith University and University and Tasmania, and Associate Dean (Governance, Equity and Culture) in the College of Arts, Law and Equity.
Core Expertise: Climate Change Resilience and Environmental law