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Western Sydney University names new law school dean
Professor Catherine Renshaw has been appointed as the new dean of the School of Law at Western Sydney University.
Jerome Doraisamy
Western Sydney University has appointed Professor Catherine Renshaw (pictured) as its new dean of the School of Law.
She has been serving as the Interim dean of the School of Law since early 2024, and she joined the university in 2020.
In those years, the university said in a statement, Renshaw has “made significant contributions”, including the development of strategies for student retention, implementation of a support program for early-career researchers, and the future establishment of an external advisory committee for the School of Law.
Further, as associate dean of research, she led initiatives to enhance research productivity and excellence, resulting in increased citations and publications in prestigious journals, the university noted.
She is also a founding member of the Australia-Myanmar Constitutional Democracy Project.
In the 2022 federal election, Renshaw stood for the Labor Party in the seat of North Sydney.
In the lead-up to that election, she appeared on The Lawyers Weekly Show to discuss her candidacy, as well as her journey in law and as a human rights advocate.
Speaking about her appointment, Renshaw said: “The School of Law is producing high-quality graduates and robust, impactful research, with a strong commitment to the communities of Greater Western Sydney.
“I’m proud to continue advancing teaching and research outcomes alongside my colleagues.”
Acting provost Professor Deborah Hatcher said: “Under Professor Renshaw’s leadership, the School of Law will continue to thrive and achieve new heights in research, education, transnational education, and engagement with the community and the profession.”
“Before entering academia, Professor Renshaw practised as a lawyer at large commercial law firms and at the Legal Aid Commission of New South Wales. At a time of significant change in the legal profession, Professor Renshaw will bring to the education of the next generation of lawyers a deep commitment to developing the skills, ethics, and capacity for critical analysis of law students.
“As a distinguished expert in human rights and democracy in south-east Asia, Professor Renshaw will also greatly enhance our world-class teaching and research, fostering the next generation of legal experts.”
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
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