
Professor Melissa de Zwart
Dean of Law
Adelaide Law School
Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
A thought-leader in the area of law and technology, Melissa has a strong international profile in the areas of internet law and the regulation of access to and uses of outer space. She has published widely on copyright, digital technology, internet law, surveillance and outer space. Building upon her practical experience as in-house counsel at CSIRO and in private legal practice, she has a strong understanding of the value of commercialisation of cutting edge technology as well as the regulatory and legal issues which may arise. As Deputy Chair of the Space Industry Association, she brings a passion for the support of a vibrant space industry in Australia, working on the regulatory environment that will support this.
Melissa joined the University of Adelaide in 2011 and has been Dean of Law since 2017. She holds a PhD from Monash University, an LLM from the University of Melbourne, and a BA (Hons) and LLB (Hons) from the University of Melbourne, as well as a Grad Cert in Higher Education from Monash and a Grad Cert in Higher Education (Online Learning) from the University of Adelaide. Prior to joining Adelaide Law School, she was a Lecturer/ Senior Lecturer at Monash University (1996-2009) and an Associate Professor UNISA (2009-2010). She has held visiting positions at The University of Amsterdam (2002), and National University of Singapore (2006 and 2017). Melissa has also served on the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Classification Review Board (2009-2014). She is a Lieutenant, Royal Australian Navy (Reserve) and holds a current practising certificate in South Australia.
Melissa is the Chair of the Editorial Board of the Woomera Manual on Military Space Operations; a Member of the International Institute of Space Law and a Fellow and Board Member of the Australian Academy of Law. She is on the Editorial Board of the Alternative Law Journal and Legalities: The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Law and Society, and previously Editor of the Media & Arts Law Review (2013-2020).
Melissa is currently the Chair of the Council of Australian Law Deans, having served as Deputy Chair from 2017-2020.
- My Research
- Career
- Publications
- Grants and Funding
- Teaching
- Supervision
- Professional Activities
- Contact
Research Interests
Copyright, fair dealing, digital technology, technology and innovation, space, commercial space, content regulation, online games, social networking, governance of online environments, digital identity, new media, convergence.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2019 - ongoing Board Member Space Industry Association of Australia 2019 - ongoing Lieutenant Royal Australian Navy 2016 - 2019 Member, Advisory Council Space Industry Association of Australia 2011 - ongoing Professor University of Adelaide 2009 - 2014 Member Attorney-General's Department Australia 2009 - 2011 Associate Professor University of South Australia 1996 - 2009 Lecturer/ Senior Lecturer Monash University 1994 - 1998 Manager, Corporate Legal Services Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2012 - 2013 University of Adelaide Australia Graduate Certificate Higher Education (Online Learning) 2000 - 2006 Monash University Australia PhD 2000 - 2001 Monash University Australia Graduate Certificate Higher Education 1995 - 1996 University of Melbourne Australia LL.M. 1986 - 1991 University of Melbourne Australia B.A. (Hons) 1986 - 1992 University of Melbourne Australia LL.B (Hons) -
Research Interests
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Journals
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Books
Year Citation 2016 Richards, B., & de Zwart, M. (2016). Tort Law Principles (2 ed.). Pyrmont, NSW: Thomson Reuters. 2016 Comparative Defamation and Privacy Law (2016). . Cambridge University Press.
2015 de Zwart, M., Richards, B., & Le Mire, S. (Eds.) (2015). Law and Popular Culture in Australia. LexisNexis Butterworths. 2013 Richards, B., de Zwart, M., & Ludlow, K. (2013). Tort Law Principles (6th ed.). Pyrmont, NSW: Thomson Reuters (Professional) Australia. 2010 Campbell, E., Fox, R., & de Zwart, M. (2010). Students' guide to legal writing, law exams and self assessment (3 ed.). Annandale, N.S.W.: Federation Press. 2008 Richards, B., Ludlow, K., & Gibson, A. (2008). Tort Law: In Principle. Pyrmont, NSW: Thomson Reuters. -
Book Chapters
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Conference Papers
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Report for External Bodies
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Theses
Year Citation 2018 Zito, P. C. (2018). Geographical Indications: What is Their Worth? A Comparison of Geographical Indication Registrations Between Australia and Italy. (PhD Thesis, The University of Adelaide).
Copyright Agency Research Fellowship 2016: Copyright in an Instagram World
Copyright Society Research Grant 2014: Intermediary Liability
Surveillance and Big Data
Intellectual Property
Media Law
Law and Popular Culture
Tort Law
Cyberlaw
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2021 Co-Supervisor Intellectual Property in the 21st Century’s Space Race Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Art Cotterell 2019 Co-Supervisor Legislating for Emerging Areas of Commercial Activity in Outer Space Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Joel Willis Lisk 2019 Co-Supervisor Attracting Commercial Artificial Intelligence Firms to Support National Security Through Collaborative Contracts Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time APrf Andrew Scott Bowne -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2013 - 2017 Principal Supervisor To What Extent Can Libyan Intellectual Property Laws Protect Traditional Cultural Expressions From Unauthorised Use? Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Abdolhamed Masoud M Agal 2013 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Geographical Indications: What is their Worth? A Comparison of Geographical Indication Registrations between Australia and Italy Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Paula Caroline Zito
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Editorial Boards
Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country 2020 - ongoing Board Member Legalities: The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Law and Society Law and Society Association of Australia and New Zealand (LSAANZ) Australia 2014 - ongoing Board Member Alternative Law Journal - Australia 2013 - ongoing Board Member Media & Arts Law Review University of Melbourne Australia
Connect With Me
External Profiles