Celebrating academic excellence in the 2026 Monash Law promotions round
There are moments in the academic year when a faculty pauses to recognise not only achievement, but the people behind it. This year’s Monash University promotions round offers one of those moments.
Six members of the Faculty of Law have been recognised for their sustained contributions to research, teaching, and community. Their promotions, effective from 1 July 2026, reflect a shared commitment to excellence shaped by care, generosity, and a deep sense of purpose.
Julie Debeljak and Genevieve Grant have been promoted to Professor; Paul Burgess and Mel Marquis are promoted to Associate Professor; and Sally Andersen and Tamara Wilkinson have been promoted to Senior Lecturer.
Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Steven Vaughan, described the promotions as a reflection not just of achievement but of character.
He said he is less interested in what people do than how they do it. He pointed to the values they demonstrate and the way they contribute to the community around them.
“What makes our newly promoted colleagues' achievements all the more remarkable is the care, thoughtfulness, and humanity that they all bring to their work. Excellence and kindness, indeed,” Vaughan said.
Julie Debeljak promoted to Professor
Professor Julie Debeljak’s career at Monash spans nearly three decades, grounded in a sustained commitment to human rights scholarship and practice.
Currently Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Deputy Director of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, her work has shaped conversations around international, national and comparative human rights law, constitutional law, and public law.
Her research primarily explores how human rights obligations are implemented domestically, including through instruments such as the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities. She has contributed extensively to scholarship on issues ranging from trafficking in persons to human rights in closed environments to the rights scrutiny obligations of governments and parliaments in policy and law making, alongside authoring books, chapters, and policy submissions.
Her leadership also extends beyond academia. She has been closely involved in human rights capacity-building across government, the judiciary, and the broader community.
Reflecting on her promotion, Professor Debeljak acknowledged the collective effort behind her journey.
“I wish to acknowledge and thank everyone that has supported, guided and encouraged me over the years, including my academic colleagues, my many mentors, the current and former Deans, my family and my friends,” Debeljak said.
“And a special mention of the students and PhD candidates that continue to challenge my thinking and bring fresh perspectives.”
Genevieve Grant promoted to Professor
Professor Genevieve Grant’s work sits at the intersection of empirical research and civil justice.
As inaugural Director of the Warren Centre for Civil Justice, she leads research that examines how justice systems function in practice, using qualitative, quantitative and interdisciplinary methods to improve outcomes for community members, practitioners, regulators, and courts and tribunals.
Genevieve’s scholarship spans dispute resolution, civil procedure, legal technology and injury compensation. A co-author of major legal texts, she brings both academic rigour and practical insight to her work.
Her research tackles the gap between the law’s promise on the books and its reality in practice, reflecting a commitment to improving the systems people rely on during some of the most challenging moments in their lives. She is also committed to developing the next generation of socio-legal scholars through her award-winning graduate research supervision.
Professor Grant described her promotion as a shared achievement.
“Thank you to my friends and colleagues in the Warren Centre for Civil Justice and within and beyond Monash Law, research participants and partners, PhD students and all my litigation and dispute resolution students,” Grant said.
“Thank you most of all to my family, especially my always supportive partner Michael Eager and kids Maxwell and Agnes.”
Paul Burgess promoted to Associate Professor
Associate Professor Paul Burgess’s promotion reflects a career defined by curiosity about how law responds to technological change.
As Deputy Director of the Digital Law Group and co-founder and Lab Lead of the Technology and AI in Legal Education Research (TAILER) Lab, his work explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping legal systems, decision-making, and education. His research addresses a central question: how can legal frameworks adapt while preserving principles such as fairness, transparency, and accountability?
His 2024 book, AI and the Rule of Law: The Necessary Evolution of a Concept, examines how traditional safeguards must evolve as AI becomes more embedded in governance. Across his research, he emphasises the importance of maintaining human oversight and critical thinking in AI-assisted environments.
Dr Burgess is equally committed to teaching and education – something that is central to the TAILER Lab. He has led innovations in AI-driven legal education, integrating emerging technologies into the classroom while equipping students to evaluate their ethical and practical implications.
Through this work, he is helping shape generations of lawyers – from law students to judges – who can engage thoughtfully with technology while holding firm to core legal values.
Associate Professor Burgess talks about the importance of working together and blending research and education.
“The best kind of research leads to the best kind of education. The work I do, especially with the TAILER Lab, brings together different universities, different faculties, and different colleagues to do research that benefits education. I’m thrilled to be able to work with such an amazing team of talented and passionate colleagues,” Burgess said.
Mel Marquis promoted to Associate Professor
Associate Professor Mel Marquis, returning from a research mission to Japan, brings an international perspective to competition law and policy, underpinned by a career that spans academia, legal practice, and global collaboration.
He has authored and edited a substantial body of work, including recent volumes on Australian competition law and economics. His new 18-chapter edited book, Australian Competition Law in Transition, will be published by Thomson Reuters. His research examines competition law systems and their effectiveness in many jurisdictions, with a particular focus on Australia, Asia, and Europe.
He collaborates regularly with the ACCC, for example to provide strategic advice and capacity-building support to the ASEAN Member States, and contributes to major international research collaborations including, among others, projects examining the regulation of digital markets.
His career, spent mostly in Belgium, Italy and now Australia, reflects both academic distinction and public impact. He has advised organisations such as the United Nations, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the European Commission. He is also an academic non-governmental advisor to the International Competition Network.
“This is a pinch-me moment, and I’m humbled by this recognition from my fabulous colleagues in the Law Faculty. Monash gives me the perfect platform to serve the community in these challenging times, champion the success of our extraordinary students, and contribute to the emerging debates shaping my field of research,” Marquis said.
Sally Andersen promoted to Senior Lecturer
Sally Andersen’s promotion recognises her deep commitment to legal education and student experience.
An education-focused academic, she has taught across core areas of law for more than 15 years, including criminal law, ethics, and contract law. Her work spans both coursework teaching and clinical legal education, where she supervises students engaged in real-world legal advocacy.
Andersen is Deputy Associate Dean (Clinics Strategy and Growth) and her leadership roles reflect the scale of her impact. She currently leads Foundations of Law, one of the faculty’s largest units, and oversees multiple clinical placement programs involving hundreds of students each year.
She has also contributed to initiatives such as the Open Justice Project, Street Law and the Monash Justice Bus, bringing legal education into regional communities.
Her work is grounded in a clear purpose: supporting students to become capable, ethical, and community-minded legal professionals.
“Thank you to everyone who helped me along the way, including my supervisor and my work colleagues in both the clinics and teaching program. I am grateful to be part of such a supportive and talented community of colleagues,” Andersen said.
“I love what I do, and I look forward to what comes next and to working with others across the Faculty to continue to grow our clinical programs and enhance opportunities for students,”
Tamara Wilkinson promoted to Senior Lecturer
Dr Tamara Wilkinson’s work explores how law can shape economic and social outcomes through the design of incentives.
A specialist in corporate, regulatory, and taxation law, her research examines how governments structure policies to encourage innovation, investment, and diversity. Her scholarship spans venture capital, angel investment, and broader frameworks for private investment.
Her recent interdisciplinary projects include work on increasing diversity in the Australian media landscape and exploring funding options for community-based climate resilience initiatives.
Alongside her research, Dr Wilkinson teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate programs, connecting her expertise to areas such as corporations law, global trade, and legal ethics.
Within the faculty, she also contributes to leadership and governance, including chairing the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Committee.
"I am really proud of this achievement, and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my wonderful, brilliant, generous colleagues at Monash Law (and, of course, my family!)," Wilkinson said.
"Being part of the Centre for Commercial Law and Regulatory Studies in particular has given me so many opportunities to broaden my research, my networks, and my service to the University. I am so pleased and proud to continue my career development at Monash - my alma mater" .
A faculty defined by excellence and generosity
This year’s promotions reflect a faculty where research excellence sits alongside a strong commitment to teaching, where global scholarship connects with local impact, and where innovation is balanced by a deep respect for the values that underpin the legal profession.
As Professor Vaughan highlighted, what stands out is not only what these colleagues have achieved, but how they have achieved it.
The Monash Law community is stronger for the work of these six scholars, and their influence will continue to shape the faculty’s future.