Professor
Megan Davis AC
Pro Vice-Chancellor Society (PVCS), UNSW Division of VC & President | DVC Indigenous
About
Scientia Professor Davis AC is currently the Harvard University Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser Chair in Australia Studies and Visiting Professor at Harvard Law School.
Scientia Professor Megan Davis is the Balnaves Chair in Constitutional Law and Pro Vice-Chancellor Society at UNSW Sydney.
Professor Davis is a Sydney Peace Prize Laureate.
A renowned constitutional lawyer, Professor Davis specialises in Indigenous peoples and the law, democracy, and the constitutional recognition of First Nations. She designed the Referendum Council’s deliberative process that led to the Uluru Statement from the Heart and has been a leading expert on the recognition of First Nations peoples for two decades.
Events
Constitutions are important. They are an effective tool in ensuring citizens flourish. They provide the material conditions for a dignified human life... When we strip away the fear of change, these documents are designed to evolve
The Uluṟu Statement from the Heart
As Co-Chair of The Uluṟu Dialogue, Professor Davis has led a dedicated team since 2017, working tirelessly to deliver on its mandate of Voice (constitutional recognition of First Nations peoples through a Voice to Parliament) and Makarrata (agreement-making and truth-telling). This effort has focused on four key areas: engaging with First Nations communities, building support across public and private sectors, providing legal and technical expertise, and educating the Australian community about the long journey toward meaningful recognition of Australia’s First Nations Peoples.
The Uluṟu Statement from the Heart remains as powerful and relevant an invitation as it ever was.
To stay informed visit ulurustatement.org and follow here:
News
Research
- Awards
- Associations
- Qualifications
- Projects & grants
- Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom PeaceWomen Award 2024
- TIME Next 100 List of the Next Generation of Global Leaders 2023
- Marie Claire “Powerhouse of the Year” 2023
- AFR Power List, Legal Powerbrokers 2022
- Sydney Peace Prize Laureate 2021-2022
- Fellow, Australian Academy of Law.
- Fellow, Australian Academy of the Social Sciences.
- Fellow, Australian Academy of the Humanities.
- International Law Association (Australia Branch).
- International Law Association, Indigenous Rights Committee.
- Australasian Law Teachers Association.
- Australian Lawyers for Human Rights.
- Foundation for Aboriginal Islander Research Action (FAIRA) (since 1998).
- National Gallery of Australia (since 2000), joined their Board in 2024.
- Editorial Board, Genocide Journal
- Editorial Board, Federal Law Review
- Editorial Board, Australian Indigenous Law Review (2004 – present).
- Editorial Board, Indigenous Law Bulletin (2006 – present).
- Honorary Doctorate (Law), University of Queensland (2021).
- Doctor of Philosophy (Law) (PhD) Australian National University (2011).
- Master of Laws (LLM) (International Law) Australian National University (2003).
- Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (GDLP) Australian National University (2000).
- Solicitor of the Supreme Court of the ACT (admitted 2000 currently non practicing).
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB) University of Queensland (1999).
- Bachelor of Arts (Australian History) University of Queensland (1998).
| Year | Project name | Funding body | Who | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Recognition after Uluru: what next for First Nations? | Australian Research Council | M Davis and G Williams | IN190100075 |
| 2019 | Improving family violence legal and support services for Indigenous women. | ANROWS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Grant Round | Professor Marcia Langton, Professor Megan Davis and Dr Kristen Smith | $199,415 |
| 2016 | Major research equipment and infrastructure initiative (MREII) | University Of New South Wales | M Davis | RG152923 |
| 2016 | ‘After the referendum: what next for indigenous public law reform?’ |
Goldstar-Arc, University Of New South Wales |
M Davis and G Williams | RG153010 |
2013-2016 |
The role of cultural factors in the sentencing of Indigenous sex offenders in the Northern Territory |
Australian Research Council |
K Cripps, M Davis (Chief Investigator), A Cossins |
IN130100054 |
2015 |
Australian Indigenous Law Library Major Research Equipment and Infrastructure Initiative (MREII) |
|
M Davis, with P Chung, K Bowrey and S Brennan |
$90,000 |
2014 |
Australian Indigenous Law Library Major Research Equipment and Infrastructure Initiative (MREII) |
|
M Davis (Chief Investigator) with P Chung |
$97,672 |
2012 |
20th Anniversary of the Mabo Decision |
Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department Law and Justice |
M Davis (Chief Investigator), S Brennan and L Terrill |
$25,000 |
2012 |
Aboriginal Community/Civics legal education guide |
Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department Law and Justice |
M Davis (Chief Investigator) |
$20,000 |
2011 |
Use of Aboriginal customary law in the courts |
ILC and NSW Aboriginal Legal Service |
M Davis (Chief Investigator) |
|
2009-2011 |
Understanding Aboriginal women and children’s experiences in the justice system |
Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department Law and Justice |
M Davis (Chief Investigator) with Dr K Cripps |
$71,885 |
2010 |
Constitutional reform and Indigenous peoples |
Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department Law and Justice |
M Davis (Chief Investigator) with Dylan Lino |
$70,000 |
2010 |
Constitutional law reform and Indigenous peoples |
UNSW Faculty of Law Early Career Researcher scheme |
M Davis |
$8,500 |
2008 |
A study of how Aboriginal women fare in liberal democracies |
Australian Research Council (ARC) / Discovery Indigenous |
M Davis |
$12,243 |
2008 |
Aboriginal people and wills |
Office of Public Trustee |
M Davis with P Vines |
$10,000 |
2008 |
A comparative study of Aboriginal women in Canada and Australia and constitutional reform |
UNSW Faculty of Law Early Career Researcher scheme |
M Davis |
$8,000 |
Team
Megan Davis AC
UNSW Division of VC & President | DVC Indigenous
Professor Davis AC is currently the Harvard University Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser Chair in Australia Studies and Visiting Professor at Harvard Law School.
Scientia Professor Megan Davis is Pro Vice-Chancellor Society at UNSW Sydney and the Balnaves Chair in Constitutional Law. Professor Davis is a Sydney Peace Prize Laureate.
In 2025, Professor Davis will be a Bok Visiting International Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
A renowned constitutional lawyer, Professor Davis specialises in public law and public international law focusing on Indigenous peoples and the law, democracy, and the constitutional recognition of First Nations. Prof Davis designed the Referendum Council’s deliberative dialogue process that led to the Uluru Statement from the Heart and has been a leading expert on the recognition of First Nations peoples for two decades.
Internationally, Professor Davis has served as an expert member and Chair of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2011–2016) and as a member and Chair of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2017–2022). Prof Davis has taught regularly on diplomacy and peace-making with the United Nations Institute on Training and Research (UNITAR). And she was formerly a United Nations Indigenous Fellow of the High Commission for Human Rights in Geneva.
Professor Davis is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, the Australian Academy of Social Sciences, and the Australian Academy of the Humanities. And she is an Acting Commissioner of the New South Wales Land and Environment Court.
Her previous roles include serving on the Referendum Working Group, Referendum Engagement Group, and the Attorney General’s Constitutional Expert Group from 2022–2023, and previously the Prime Minister’s Referendum Council (2015-2017) and the Expert Panel on the Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution (2011). She is Co-Chair of the Uluru Dialogue – the group of First Nations leaders who led the Uluru Statement from the Heart work.
Professor Davis has extensive experience on Indigenous peoples and regulatory systems including as a Commissioner on the QLD Commission of Inquiry into Youth Detention Centres in 2016 alongside co-Commissioner Kathryn McMillan KC. Many of their inquiry recommendations have been implemented. Professor Davis was also the Chair and author of ‘Family is Culture’, an inquiry into NSW Aboriginal Children in Out of Home care (2017-2019). Many of the recommendations in her Family is Culture report are being implemented and monitored by the NSW government.
In addition to her legal work, Professor Davis is involved in sports governance as a Commissioner on the Australian Rugby League Commission, a director on the North Queensland Cowboys Community Foundation Board, a Commissioner for South Australian Rugby League, and formerly a director on the Western Australia Rugby League Commission.
Her achievements include the Sydney Peace Prize for the Uluru Statement from the Heart, TIME Magazine’s NEXT100 list as the next generation of global leaders in 2023, the Australian Financial Review's Australian Women of Influence Overall winner in 2018, and the Marie Claire “Powerhouse of the Year” in 2023. Megan was named on the AFR’s Cultural Power list in 2018 and named as one of Australia’s top 5 Legal Powerbrokers by the Australian Financial Review in 2023. In 2024, Professor Davis was awarded the 2024 PeaceWomen Award by the Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom (WILPF).
Pat Anderson
Pat Anderson is an Alyawarre woman and an internationally renowned advocate for the rights and health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. With extensive experience in Aboriginal health, community development, policy, and research ethics, she has dedicated her life to social justice. Ms Anderson was awarded the NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 and named ACT Senior Australian of the Year in 2021. She co-chaired the Referendum Council's final report in 2017 and continues to lead the Uluru Dialogue in partnership with the ILC UNSW.
Geoff Scott
Geoff Scott is a Wiradjuri man from Narromine in NSW with more than thirty years of experience working in Aboriginal Affairs. Geoff’s previous positions include: CEO of the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council; CEO of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples; CEO of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council; Director General NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs; and Deputy CEO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. Geoff was the Executive Officer to the Referendum Council and was a key leader throughout the Uluru Dialogue process.
David Lee
David is the Executive Officer to the Pro Vice Chancellor Society and has held this position since October 2022. David plays a critical role in providing dedicated and strategic executive support and advice to Professor Davis on matters relating to the university and beyond.
David spent 6 years with the Office of the Premier of Queensland as a principal advisor to the Premier. He specialised in protocol and logistics for the Premier, managing a small team to support and deliver key government deliverables as well as manage strategic relationships with key partners.
David has previous experience working with Aboriginal communities in New South Wales and Queensland through the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council and PBCs. David has worked in Land Rights, Aboriginal Housing and Consumer Rights over the years.
David has substantial experience working within the United Nations Special Procedures and Mandates, in particular the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York and the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Geneva. David has been a Pacific Representative on the Organising Committee of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples (Alta, Norway) and has completed his Human Rights and Diplomacy Training in Timor Leste.
Bridget Cama
Bridget Cama is a Wiradjuri and Indigenous Fijian woman born and raised in Lithgow with connections to the Cudgegong River and Wellington in NSW. Bridget is a lawyer and has been working with the Uluru Dialogue since March 2019. She is currently Legal Research Officer to Prof Megan Davis, Pro Vice Chancellor Society UNSW and is an Associate of the Indigenous Law Centre based at UNSW Law and Justice.
Bridget is also the Co-Chair of the Uluru Youth Dialogue alongside Allira Davis, who led the youth movement in support of a constitutional Voice to Parliament and who advocate for and are involved in the work of the implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart reforms more broadly.
Allira Davis
Allira Davis is a proud Cobble Cobble woman from the Barrungum and Birri Gubba nations.
She was born, raised, and is now based in Logan, Queensland and grew up in Beenleigh. Allira has over 5 years’ experience working in the public and private sectors completing her Diploma in Government specialising in Project Management working specifically on policies, grants and managing programs.
Allira is currently the Youth Manager and Co-chair alongside Bridget Cama in leading and co-convening the Uluru Youth Dialogue, managing and supporting First Nations young people around the country to inform and educate all Australians on the Uluru Statement from the Heart and providing First Nations youth with the skills and knowledge to make substantive change to the lives of our people and a better future for all.
Emily Perrett
Emily has been part of the Uluru Dialogue team since 2021, bringing her expertise in Media and Communications to amplify our message. With over two decades of experience in leading creative agencies across Sydney, London, and New York, Emily’s career highlights include her most recent role as Managing Director at Clemenger BBDO Sydney, where she worked with Clients including Austrade, Qantas and Tourism Australia.
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