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Dr. Alexandra McEwan

BA: Anthropology (Hons I) (Uni Syd); LLB (Hons I) (JCU); GDLP (ANU); PhD (ANU)
Lecturer - Law
School of Business and Law
Melbourne
120 Spencer St - Room 4.17
Melbourne
About Me

I am an cross disciplinary scholar and Lecturer in Law at the College of Law, Criminology, and Justice. My research focuses on animals and the law and is informed by Pierre Bourdieu’s social theory. My recent research and publications have focused on wildlife trafficking in Vietnam, ag-gag laws, and legal education.

I teach Equity and Trusts in the CQU LLB program. In 2021, I introduced Animal Law into CQU’s undergraduate law program and in December 2022, led an international study tour focusing on wildlife law and protection in Vietnam  supported by New Colombo Plan funding. 

I am recognised as one of the School of Business and Law’s best performing lecturers for, amongst other things, designing and implementing learning activities that effectively enhance students’ learning and outcomes. In 2022 I received a Vice Chancellor Commendation for incorporating transformative learning principles into my teaching stratgies. I am currently leading a research project focusing on transformative learning principles towards achievement of sustainable development goals, centring on the question ‘How do we grow lawyers for nature?’

Completed HDR supervision

2018 Reem Lascelles: Masters by Research: Animal Law and Society, Univeristat de Autònoma Barcelona. Principal and Sole Supervisor. Student awarded High Disinction. 

2023 Joanna Maier: Graduate Certficate in Research CQU: Student awarded High Disinction. 

2024 Marion Cornish, PhD Western Sydney University: Social Capital of Not-For Profit Directors in Australia, Principal Supervisor: Prof George Lafferty, UWS, Associate Supervisor Alexandra McEwan, CQU, Associate Supervisor: Gary Buttriss, ANU

General
Background

I had an extensive professional background as a health clinician, educator, and health coordinator in the areas of sexual and reproductive and health, primary health care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island health, harm minimisation, health outreach, and community development. During this period (1992-2005) I was the recipient of a Sexual Health Society of NSW award (1996) and a New South Wales Nurses Association scholarship (1996). I was an Executive Member of the Australian Sexual Health Nurses Association (ASHNA) (1997-2001), sat on statewide advisory committees for Queensland Health (2004-2005), and was a peer reviewer for the Health Care Complaints Commission NSW (1999-2000). 

 

Universities Studied At

PhD (Law) (ANU) 2017

Grad Dip Legal Practice (ANU) 2011

LLB (Hons I) (JCU) 2008

BA: Anthropology (Hons I) (Uni Syd) 2000

 

Universities Worked At

University of Queensland 

Australian National University

James Cook University 

 

Awards

2011 APA Scholarship

2010 Scholarship: Law, Anthropology, and Indigenous Peoples Program, University of Rouen, France

2009 Marylyn Mayo Medal for Bachelor of Laws with Honours

2008 Wettenhall Silva Human Rights Law Award

2008 Aurora Internship: Public Interest Advocacy Centre NSW

 

Media Citations

Alexandra McEwan and Jayanath Ananda, ‘Greyhound racing: despite waning public support, governments are spending big to keep the industry running.The Conversation (16 June 2022).

Alexandra McEwan, 'Greyhound Pups must be Tracked from Birth to Death, so we Know How Many are Killed' The Conversation (25 Sept 2020).

Australian National University, ANU Reporter (Dec 2016).

Alexandra McEwan, ‘Gone to the Dogs: What are the Implications of the NSW Ban on Greyhound Racing for Other Animal Use Industries?’ Policy Forum (4 Sept 2016).

Alexandra McEwan, ‘How Animal Protection Law Finally Moved into the Fast Law: The NSW Ban on Greyhound Racing’ Humane Society International Australia (25 Aug 2016)

Alexandra McEwan, ‘Whistleblower Law Needs More Bite to Fight Greyhound Cruelty and Corporate FraudThe Conversation (4 Jan 2016).

Alexandra McEwan, 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being a Greyhound' The Conversation (2 Dec 2012).

Nomination 2016 ANU Media and Outreach Prize for Public Policy: for my analysis of the greyhound racing industry. Awarded Highly Commended.

Previous teaching

2015–2017 College of Business, Law and Governance James Cook University

Environmental Law and Policy (2017) and Environmental Law (2017)

Clinical Legal Placement (2017)

Advanced Criminal Law (2017)

Policy Analysis and Development (2016-17)

Legal Institutions and Processes (2016)

Legal Research, Writing and Analysis (2015-16)

Law of Trusts (2015)

2015 School of Law, Australian National University 

Lecturer: Foundations of Australian Law

ANU Research School of Social Sciences

Tutor: Corruption in Our World

Professional Memberships

Associate Member, Queensland Law Society: 

Executive Committee Member, Australia Animal Studies Association, 2023 -

Committee Member, Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee, Melbourne Lost Dogs' Home, Feb 2020 - ongoing

Management Committee Member, Environmental Defender’s Office North Queensland, October 2018 - October 2019

Member, Australasian Animal Law Teachers’ and Researchers’ Association Inc

Registered Nurse (1983-2017)

Registered Midwife (1988-2010)

Responsibilities

LLB Credit Assessor for College of Law, Crimology and Justice: November 2017 - February 2022

Research Coordinator: College of Law, Crimology and Justice: March 2023 -

Learning and Teaching Cooridnator, College of Law, Crimology and Justice : April 2024 -

Consultancy Work

Consultancy World Bank (June 2014) with Kym Kelly and Prof Adam Graycar: Corruption Prevention: An Australian Case Study.

Torres Hip Hop Health Promotion Project Evaluation (2011) Evaluation Report submitted to Qld Health June 2011.

Cape York Health Service District (CYHSD), Men’s and Women’s Health Program Review, Qld Health: (2010-2011) Lead responsibility for CYHSD Men’s and Women’s Health Program and service model review.

Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health Queensland (2010) Research Consultancy The Reproductive and Mental Health of Young Women Living in Rural and Remote Australia.

Recent Research Projects
No Dramas: participatory action research using applied theatre to enable Indigenous youth-led communication on health and justice priorities (YRGP003)
From: 27/06/2022 to 30/04/2023
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Scheme: Department of Environment and Science (QLD) Youth Research Grants Program
Total Funding: $200,000.00
Research Supervision
Accreditation

I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:

  • 4899 Other Law and Legal Studies
  • 4401 Anthropology
  • 4804 Law in context

Current Capacity
I am currently available to supervise more research candidates
Current Supervision
Graduate Certificate in Research
Comparative analysis of the impact of conservation status on planning and environment regulations in Queensland and Victoria
Principal Supervisor
Research Interests
Education

Specialist Studies in Education - Specialist Studies in Education not elsewhere classified
Transformative learning principles; legal education; Sustainable Development Goals

Law And Legal Studies

Law - Environmental and Natural Resources Law
Wildlife Protection; wildlife trafficking

Law And Legal Studies

Law - Law and Society
Animal Law

Law And Legal Studies

Law - Legal Theory, Jurisprudence and Legal Interpretation
Critical Criminal Law; Legal theory

Law And Legal Studies

Other Law and Legal Studies - Law and Legal Studies not elsewhere classified
Pierre Bourdieu; Sustainability

Publications
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Teaching
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