Asia-Pacific Judicial Seminar & Exchange
About the project
The Resilient Democracy Hub at UNSW Sydney, in partnership with Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) and a network of regional universities and judiciaries, is establishing an annual Asia-Pacific Judicial Seminar and Exchange. The initiative is designed to strengthen judicial understanding and capacity to uphold democratic constitutionalism and the rule of law across the Asia-Pacific region. Through structured seminars and professional exchange, the program will foster a mutually supportive judicial community equipped to navigate political pressure and complex constitutional environments. The program will:
- Build enduring connections among judges across the Asia-Pacific, strengthening regional cooperation and shared professional standards.
- Support judicial independence and resilience in jurisdictions facing democratic and constitutional challenges.
- Enhance the international profile and influence of New Zealand legal scholarship.
- Create new opportunities for research and teaching collaboration between VUW and partner institutions.
By convening senior judges, scholars, and practitioners, the Asia-Pacific Judicial Seminar and Exchange will contribute to the long-term strengthening of the rule of law and judicial capacity in the region.
Grant amount
$75,000 for work in 2026–2029
About the researchers
The seminar would be directed by UNSW Professor Rosalind Dixon, and supported by a range of judicial and academic co-chairs, including representative members of the Australian and New Zealand judiciary, and Professors Wojciech Sadurksi (USyd), Lisa Burton Crawford (Usyd), Gabrielle Appleby (UNSW), Dean Knight (Victoria University Wellington) and Dinesha Samararatne (University of Colombo). The seminar would also be supported by an international advisory board from regional partner institutions, and the Te Kura Pacific Justice Sector Programme and their Director Toli Sagaga. Advisory board The board would include:
- Professor Maartje de Visser, SMU (co-chair) (Singapore)
- Professor Aparna Chandra, National Law School of India, Bengaluru (co-chair) (India)
- Professor Cora Chan, HKU (HKSAR)
- Wen-Chen Chang, National Taiwan University College of Law &. National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University School of Law (Taiwan)
- Professor Akiko Ejima, Meiji (Japan)
- A/Professor Dian Shah, NUS (Malaysia)
- Dr Ayesha Wijayalath, Usyd (Sri Lanka)
- Shanil Wijesinha, UNSW/University of Colombo (Sri Lanka)
- Dr Ridwan Hoque, Independent advisor (Bangladesh)
- Dr Mala Malagodi, Warwick (Nepal)
- Dr Angbeen Atif Mirza, Shaikh Ahmad Hassan School of Law, LUMS (Pakistan)
- Dr Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang, Chulalongkorn University (Thailand)
- Professor Jeong-In Yun, Korea University (S Korea)
- Professior Simon Butt, University of Sydney (Indonenisia)
- Abdurrachman Satrio Pratomo, Universitas Trisakti (Indonesia)
- Professor Guy Fiti Sinclair, Auckland (New Zealand, Pacific)
- Dr Mele Tupou Vaitohi (New Zealand, Pacific)
- Dr Anna Dziedzic, Independent advisor (Pacific)
Contact
Rosalind Dixon, Professor, Faculty of Law & Justice, University of New South Wales Rosalind.dixon@unsw.edu.au