
Master of Laws (USyd); Bachelor of Arts in Law (Hons) (N. London)
Focus of Mary’s research has been on consumer legal protection in China since 1993 when the first national consumer legislation was passed. Chinese legal study demands examination of the prevailing political, social and economic situations in the country. Therefore, Mary adopts multi-lenses research approach. Given China’s legal reform has adapted Western ideas into a Chinese framework, Mary also study Chinese laws on a comparative basis. The number of Australian scholars doing Chinese law research is small, and the number of those using a comparative and multi-lenses study methodology is even smaller. Thus, Mary’s research is unique and has attained varied recognitions.
Mary’s research standing is highlighted as follows:
ASB Profile:
http://www.asb.unsw.edu.au/schools/Pages/MaryIp.aspx
Notion of Unconscionability – a comparative analysis from the perspectives of common law and civil law systems. UNSW Law School Centre for Law, Markets and Regulation Summer Research Grant 2019 (Chief investigator)
Security in old age for single older women without children. CP Australia – Global Research Perspective Program 2018 (Project instigator and co-researcher)
International Guidelines in E-Commerce- An Enhancement for Developing Chinese Consumer Legal Regime in Digital Market. UNSW Business School Special Research Grant 2017 (Chief investigator)
Economic efficiency and the law reform process in China, Indonesia and Thailand. Commissioned by the Ministry of Justice, France 2005 (Chief coordinator and co-researcher)
Implication of the WTO membership on the consumers – A Case study of China. The University of Sydney, Faculty of Business Grant 2003 (Chief investigator)
A review of Chinese consumer law after accession to the World Trade Organisation. The University of New South Wales, Faculty of Economics and Business Grant 2002 (Chief investigator)
Mary is passionate in examining efficiency of legal protection for consumers. Her passion is prompted by the on-going infringement of consumers’ rights notwithstanding most countries already have enacted consumer law. Since Mary adopts comparative and cross-disciplinary research methodology for her studies, her research findings appeal to legal scholars as well as researchers in business discipline. Mary’s research has also appealed to local and overseas students who sought supervision for their higher degree study.
Mary’s recent research interest in old age, gender and housing is built on her enduring study about consumers vulnerability and disadvantages in consumption.
Journal editor
2018 – present, Associate editor, The Chinese Economy,
Assistant guest editor
2018 – E-journal for the 13th Atax International Tax Administration Conference, Sydney.
Invited reviewer for book proposal
2020 – invitation from Bentham Science Publishers
Invited referee for journal article
2018 – The Chinese Journal of Comparative Law (Oxford University Press)
Conference session chair
2019 - Asian Law and Society Association Conference, Japan
Invited participation
2018 - National Consumer Congress, hosted by Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
Share research findings
Periodical requests from overseas scholars for my publications, especially the article entitled The Revised Contract Law and Its Implications on Consumerism in China
Membership
My Teaching
Mary has incorporated her research activities to teaching. She develops a unique course namely ‘Asian Business Law’ with comparative approach. Given UNSW has considerable number of international students who come from Asian countries, those students have found the special teaching method pertinent and interesting. It is because the course assessment regime provides students an opportunity to evaluate and analyze their own country legal approaches in a chosen area of law with another country. Through such comparative exercise, students could identify the strengths and weaknesses of both countries’ laws and suggest changes.
Mary also specializes teaching first year law subjects to business students. Mary brings her cross-disciplinary research methodology into classroom so that students can appreciate the relevancy and importance to understand legal implication in doing business.