Professor Dr. Lauren Butterly

Biography

Lauren Butterly is an award-winning researcher and teacher specializing in environmental law, governance, heritage law, administrative law, mining law, and native title legal history. She graduated with a BA in Australian history and an LLB with Class Honours from the University of Western Australia (UWA). Following her graduation, she served as the Principal Associate to Chief Justice Wayne Martin of the Supreme Court of Western Australia and has practiced as an environmental and heritage lawyer in a top-tier firm in Sydney and for the national not-for-profit Environmental Defenders Office. She has held academic positions at the Australian National University College of Law and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Law. In 2018, she received top teaching accolades including the UNSW Law Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence and the Vice Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award (Rising Star). In 2020, she completed her PhD at UNSW Law, focusing on 'Reconciling Indigenous Settler-State Assertions of Sovereignty over Sea Country in Australia’s Northern Territory', which earned her the UNSW Law PhD Excellence Award and was recognized at the Australian Legal Research Awards for doctoral excellence. Currently, she is a Chief Investigator on an ARC Linkage Grant aimed at Indigenous-led management of Australia’s marine estate.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards