Beyond Borders: How International Law Shapes Australia's Highest Court
A conversation with Dr Christopher Ward SC on how the High Court of Australia has shaped — and been shaped by — international law since 1903
The Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, along with the Victorian Chapter of the International Law Association (Australia Branch), invite you to an evening conversation with Dr Christopher Ward SC on his new book, International Law and the High Court of Australia (Melrose Legal Publishers, 2026), the first comprehensive examination of the High Court's engagement with public international law since the Court's establishment in 1903.
Tracing the development of the Court's approach from early uncertainty to a modern and coherent framework, the book covers constitutional foundations, human rights, indigenous rights, refugees and citizenship, criminal law and extradition, and state immunities — offering a detailed picture of international law's role in contemporary Australian domestic legal analysis. The foreword is by The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG.
Dr Ward will be in conversation with Dr Elizabeth Sheargold, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Monash University.
Dr Christopher Ward SC
Dr Christopher Ward SC is a Senior Counsel at 6 St James Hall Chambers, Sydney, and an Associate Member of 3 Verulam Buildings Barristers, London. He is Vice-Chair of the International Law Association and an Honorary Professor at the Australian National University, with an extensive practice spanning public international law, constitutional law, human rights, extradition, and
international criminal law.
Dr Ward holds a BSc from the University of Sydney, an LLB (First Class Honours, Pitt Cobbett Prize for International Law) from the University of Sydney, an LLM (First Class, Clive Parry Prize for International Law) from Cambridge University, and a PhD from the Australian National University.
His new book, International Law and the High Court of Australia, published in June 2026, is the first systematic account of the High Court's treatment of international law across its entire history.
Dr Elizabeth Sheargold
Dr Elizabeth Sheargold is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at Monash University, specialising in international economic law. Her research focuses on the intersection between international trade and investment agreements and environmental and climate policy, public health and national security issues. She is currently part of an Australian Research Council Discovery Project examining the intersection of national security issues with international trade and investment. Dr Sheargold has previously held positions as a Vice-Chancellor's Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Wollongong, Research Fellow with the Global Economic Law Network at the University of Melbourne, and Associate Director of the Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University. She has also practiced law at Allens Arthur Robinson and served as a Legal Adviser at the Iran–United States Claims Tribunal. She holds a BA/LLB (First Class Honours) from the University of Melbourne, an LLM from Columbia University (James Kent Scholar and Lawrence A. Wien Corporate Responsibility Fellowship), and a PhD from the University of Melbourne.
Event Details
📅 Date: Tuesday, 10 November 2026
⏰ Time: 6 pm – 7 pm AEST (registration from 5.30 pm)
📍 Venue: Monash Law Chambers (555 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne)
Registration closes: COB Friday, 6 November 2026
About the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law
The Castan Centre is a world-renowned academic centre using its human rights expertise to create a more just world where human rights are respected and protected, allowing people to pursue their lives in freedom and with dignity. The Centre’s innovative approach to public engagement and passion for human rights are redefining how an academic institution can create important and lasting change.
The Centre is named after the late Ron Castan AM QC, a passionate advocate of human rights.
The International Law Association
The International Law Association is a global association, with branches all over the world. The ILA aims to bring people together who are interested in international law, to promote greater respect for adherence to international law and to foster an understanding of international law. The Victorian Chapter of the ILA (Australian Branch) hosts events in Victoria focusing on a wide range of international legal topics.
Event Details
- Date:
- 10 November 2026 at 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Venue:
- Monash University Law Chambers, 555 Lonsdale St, Melbourne
- Open to:
- all audiences, alumni
- Register here:
- https://go.monash.edu/33yc6g
Description
A conversation with Dr Christopher Ward SC on how the High Court of Australia has shaped — and been shaped by — international law since 1903
The Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, along with the Victorian Chapter of the International Law Association (Australia Branch), invite you to an evening conversation with Dr Christopher Ward SC on his new book, International Law and the High Court of Australia (Melrose Legal Publishers, 2026), the first comprehensive examination of the High Court's engagement with public international law since the Court's establishment in 1903.
Tracing the development of the Court's approach from early uncertainty to a modern and coherent framework, the book covers constitutional foundations, human rights, indigenous rights, refugees and citizenship, criminal law and extradition, and state immunities — offering a detailed picture of international law's role in contemporary Australian domestic legal analysis. The foreword is by The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG.
Dr Ward will be in conversation with Dr Elizabeth Sheargold, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Monash University.
Dr Christopher Ward SC
Dr Christopher Ward SC is a Senior Counsel at 6 St James Hall Chambers, Sydney, and an Associate Member of 3 Verulam Buildings Barristers, London. He is Vice-Chair of the International Law Association and an Honorary Professor at the Australian National University, with an extensive practice spanning public international law, constitutional law, human rights, extradition, and
international criminal law.
Dr Ward holds a BSc from the University of Sydney, an LLB (First Class Honours, Pitt Cobbett Prize for International Law) from the University of Sydney, an LLM (First Class, Clive Parry Prize for International Law) from Cambridge University, and a PhD from the Australian National University.
His new book, International Law and the High Court of Australia, published in June 2026, is the first systematic account of the High Court's treatment of international law across its entire history.
Dr Elizabeth Sheargold
Dr Elizabeth Sheargold is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at Monash University, specialising in international economic law. Her research focuses on the intersection between international trade and investment agreements and environmental and climate policy, public health and national security issues. She is currently part of an Australian Research Council Discovery Project examining the intersection of national security issues with international trade and investment. Dr Sheargold has previously held positions as a Vice-Chancellor's Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Wollongong, Research Fellow with the Global Economic Law Network at the University of Melbourne, and Associate Director of the Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University. She has also practiced law at Allens Arthur Robinson and served as a Legal Adviser at the Iran–United States Claims Tribunal. She holds a BA/LLB (First Class Honours) from the University of Melbourne, an LLM from Columbia University (James Kent Scholar and Lawrence A. Wien Corporate Responsibility Fellowship), and a PhD from the University of Melbourne.
Event Details
📅 Date: Tuesday, 10 November 2026
⏰ Time: 6 pm – 7 pm AEST (registration from 5.30 pm)
📍 Venue: Monash Law Chambers (555 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne)
Registration closes: COB Friday, 6 November 2026
About the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law
The Castan Centre is a world-renowned academic centre using its human rights expertise to create a more just world where human rights are respected and protected, allowing people to pursue their lives in freedom and with dignity. The Centre’s innovative approach to public engagement and passion for human rights are redefining how an academic institution can create important and lasting change.
The Centre is named after the late Ron Castan AM QC, a passionate advocate of human rights.
The International Law Association
The International Law Association is a global association, with branches all over the world. The ILA aims to bring people together who are interested in international law, to promote greater respect for adherence to international law and to foster an understanding of international law. The Victorian Chapter of the ILA (Australian Branch) hosts events in Victoria focusing on a wide range of international legal topics.