Colette Langos

Dr Colette Langos

Senior Lecturer

Adelaide Law School

Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Thanks for visiting my researcher profile! I am a Senior Lecturer at the Adelaide Law School and am admitted as barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of South Australia and the Northern Territory. I am also a legal officer in the Royal Australian Air Force (active reserves) and an Honorary Faculty Member of the Judge Advocate General School (US Army).

What do I research? I am an interdisciplinary researcher who specialises in two main fields:

  • Federal Acquisition Law – Defence Procurement Law:

I am the leading national legal scholar driving the research agenda in this area. I have expertise in understanding the extant laws and complex Defence policy overlay which governs how Defence does business and have conducted novel empirical research which seeks to better understand the specific “pain points” Defence industry face when navigating Defence procurement and contracting frameworks. My goal is to continue to better understand how the relationship between the government (Department of Defence) and industry can be optimised to ensure Australia’s capability needs are met and our supply chain is secured in light of Australia's AUKUS commitments. My research projects are underpinned by the need for building a more robust, holistic evidence base to ensure appropriate reform is driven to sustain priority needs of both government and industry. 

One of my current projects involves collaboration with the University of Nottingham. We are conducting research relating to environmentally sustainable Defence procurement in Australia and the United Kingdom. This research project undertakes the first systematic mapping of regulation and policy on sustainable procurement in the Defence context from a comparative perspective. 

Having spent a significant period of time on secondment to the Contract & Fiscal Law Department at the Judge Advocate General (JAG) School (United States Army), I also have specialised knowledge on U.S. law and policy frameworks governing Department of Defense contracts and how U.S. procurement and contracting processes differ to those which regulate how suppliers contract with the Australian Department of Defence. 

I am a Management Board Member of the Research Unit on Military Law & Ethics (RUMLAE): https://law.adelaide.edu.au/military-law-ethics/. Alongside my Defence procurement research, I also examine select military law issues. I have specific expertise in Defence Work, Health & Safety law, electronic warfare, and perfidy as it applies to cyber war-fighting capabilities.

  • Misuse of Technology & the Law:

I have published in the field for 15 years and am regarded an international expert in this area. I have specific expertise in regard to the phenomenon of cyberbullying and the legal regulation & management of emerging online behaviours. Having examined such behaviours in various settings, including cross-cultural, school, work and military contexts, I am well positioned to provide meaningful advice to government, private organisations, schools and workplaces. My work has been cited in the Parliament of Australia (Senate) and the Supreme Court of South Australia. It is useful to conceptualise my research as situated at the intersection of law, criminology and public health.

I am a member of the Adelaide Cybercrime Laboratory: https://adelaidecybercrime.org/  My colleagues and I have been awarded multiple Cyber-Security CRC grants and have delivered a variety of scholarly publications and practical end-user outputs, including Summary Reports and Fact Sheets. A recent topical issue we have explored examines the psychosocial and behavioral factors associated with common types of adolescent cyberdeviance. Another, involves identifying the relevant ethical and legal frameworks guiding the deployment of automated data collection technologies in Australia for cybersecurity research. 

For our most recent contribution to the University of Adelaide Research Tuesdays Series titled 'Identifying cyber threats' please see the recording here on YouTube .

 Within this field, I have specific expertise in:

  • Cyberbullying
  • Sexting
  • Cyberviolence: Online hate speech
  • Misuse of technology across cross cultural contexts
  • Misuse of technology in the workplace
  • Privacy law
  • Restorative justice
  • Police legitimacy

What is the connection between my two areas of research?

  • Evidence-based approach combining empirical and jurisprudential research
  • Focus on relationship optimisation between stakeholders
  • Practical research outputs for immediate stakeholder benefit

Google Scholar Link: https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=hdqHF5wAAAAJ&hl=en 

Research Gate Link: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Colette_Langos 

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2020 - ongoing Flight Lieutenant Royal Australian Air Force
    2019 - ongoing Honorary Faculty Member United States Army Judge Advocate General's School
    2015 - ongoing Senior Lecturer University of Adelaide
    2013 - 2015 Lecturer University of South Australia
    2004 - 2005 Solicitor Victoria Legal Aid
    2003 - 2004 Solicitor Morgan Buckley Lawyers

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2024 Award Dean's Certificate for Advanced Military Discipline Law Post Graduate The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2023 Award Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2022 Award Outstanding Service Shield Royal Australian Air Force Australia -
    2019 Honour Honorary Faculty Member Judge Advocate General's School Judge Advocate General;'s School (U.S. Army) United States -
    2017 Award Graduate of the 170th Contract Attorney's Course Judge Advocate General's School (United States Army) Judge Advocate General's School, United States Army, Charlottesville, Virginia United States -
    2014 Award Golden Key International Honor Society Golden Key International Honor Society Australia -
    2014 Achievement Outstanding Achievement in International Engagement Award for Australian/Indian Anti-bullying Research Collaboration University of South Australia, Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences Academic Excellence Awards Australia -
    2012 Fellowship Commonwealth Government Early Career Research Fellowship: Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing in Children and Adolescents Collaborative Research Networks Australian Government Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Australia -
    2011 Award Teaching Excellence Award University of South Australia Australia -
    2010 Scholarship University of South Australia Post Graduate Scholarship University of South Australia Australia -
    2010 Scholarship Australian Postgraduate Award Commonwealth Government Australia -
    2005 Award Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria Supreme Court of Victoria Australia -
    2003 Award Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of South Australia Supreme Court of South Australia Australia -
    2003 Award Legal Practitioner of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory Supreme Court of the Northern Territory Australia -

  • Language Competencies
    Language Competency
    English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    German Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    University of South Australia Australia Doctor of Philosophy
    Deakin University Australia Masters of Commercial Law
    Law Society of South Australia Australia Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
    University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Laws
    University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Arts

RESEARCH GRANTS

2024

ABLE Faculty Research Grant: 'Defence procurement reform: The value of critical relationships between academia, Defence industry and the Department of Defence' (University of Adelaide)

2022

Cyber-Security CRC Grant 2021: ‘Examining the legal and ethical dimensions of using automated data collection technologies to combat cyber threats in Australia’ (joint award with Criminology, University of Adelaide).

2019

Cyber-Security CRC Grant 2019: ‘Digital Safety and Prevention Project’ (joint award with Criminology, University of Adelaide).

2018

Law Foundation of South Australia (external grant)

'Mandatory Reporting Requirements - Addition to the Out of Bounds App' (joint award with the Law Society of South Australia)

2015

Law Foundation of South Australia (external grant)

'Cyberbullying: Associated Harm, Applicable Laws and University Policies' (joint award)

2015

Law Foundation of South Australia (external grant)

'Out of Bounds App Development for iOS and Android: Cyberbullying Addition' (joint award with the Law Society of South Australia)

2015

University of South Australia Research Themes Investment Scheme (internal grant)

'A Public Health Approach to Dealing with Sexting' (joint award; lead institution: UniSA)

2014

University of South Australia Division Research Performance Fund (internal grant)

'Australia-India Anti-Bullying Research Collaboration (AIARC): Facilitating intellectual and scholarly exchange about school bullying through a cross-cultural network' (joint award; lead institution UniSA).

LEARNING AND TEACHING GRANTS

2018

Faculty of the Professions Learning Development Grant

‘Meeting our Industry Market: Operational Commercial Law Core Concept videos’ (sole project leader).

2017

Faculty of the Professions Learning Development Grant

‘Developing Course Resources: 12 Core Concept Videos in English and Mandarin’ (sole project leader).

2016

Faculty of the Professions Learning Development Grant

'Learning Law: Optimizing the Learning Experience for Chinese Students' (joint award).

I specialise in teaching:

  • Business and Corporations Law (postgraduate)
  • Defence Contracting Law (postgraduate)
  • Commercial Law (postgraduate)
  • International Law
  • Legal Research and Writing

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Co-Supervisor State practice in relation to private contracts between commercial actors in authorising and continually supervising under the Outer Space Treaty Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr James Stephen Minchinton
    2024 Co-Supervisor Criminalising Wage Theft: Comparative Insights from Australia, Norway and the United States for an International Response Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Miss Irene Angela Nikoloudakis
    2022 Co-Supervisor In the context of enhanced technologies and increased regional strategic competition, do international and domestic electromagnetic spectrum laws justly balance civilian interests with Defence’s mandate to deter actions against Australia’s interests Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Karina Galliford

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2019 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Attracting Commercial Artificial Intelligence Firms to Support National Security Through Collaborative Contracts Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time APrf Andrew Scott Bowne

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2022 - ongoing Member International Humanitarian Law, South Australia Australian Red Cross Australia
    2013 - 2014 Member Children and the Law Committee Law Society of South Australia Australia

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2024 - ongoing Member Women in Defence Association Australia
    2024 - ongoing Member Associate Member Defence Teaming Centre Australia
    2014 - ongoing Member Australian Law Teachers Association Australia
    2013 - ongoing Member Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association Australia
    2012 - ongoing Member Australia and New Zealand Association for Psychiatry, Psychology and Law Australia
    2012 - ongoing Member Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology Australia
    2010 - ongoing Member Golden Key International Honour Society Australia
    2003 - ongoing Member Law Society of South Australia Australia
  • Position: Senior Lecturer
  • Phone: 83139166
  • Email: colette.langos@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83134344
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Ligertwood, floor Second Floor
  • Room: 223
  • Org Unit: Adelaide Law School
Connect With Me
External Profiles