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The Conversation

Phillipa C. McCormack

(she/her)

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Future Making Fellow, Environment Institute, University of Adelaide

Phil is a Future Making Fellow in the Environment Institute at The University of Adelaide; and a 2023 Early Career Research Fellow at Natural Hazards Research Australia. She researches climate change adaptation law and governance, with a particular focus on legal frameworks for bushfire and for facilitating adaptation-oriented biodiversity conservation. Her recent work focuses on legal aspects of bushfire prevention and preparation, ecological restoration and government accountability. Phil’s current research includes analyses of legal mechanisms for the beneficial use of fire, and a comparison of Australia and California’s fire mitigation and hazard reduction laws. She has published with lawyers, scientists and policy makers in a range of scientific and legal journals. Phillipa is a Global Associate with the Centre for Environmental Law, and sits on the editorial boards of Frontiers in Climate: Law & Policy; and the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy. She is Vice President of the National Environmental Law Association, and a member of the governance boards for Tasmania’s southern regional body, Natural Resource Management (NRM) South, and the International Association of Wildland Fire, Diversity & Equity Committee. She is also an affiliated member of the Centre for Marine Socioecology.

Experience

  • 2023–present
    Future Making Fellow, Environment Institute, The University of Adelaide
  • 2021–present
    Adjunct Lecturer, Law School, University of Tasmania
  • 2021–2023
    Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Adelaide Law School, The University of Adelaide
  • 2018–2021
    Lecturer, Law School, University of Tasmania

Education

  • 2022 
    Australian Institute of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies, Core Cultural Learning Foundation Course
  • 2018 
    University of Tasmania, PhD in Law
  • 2018 
    University of Tasmania, Graduate Certificate in Research
  • 2009 
    Victorian Supreme Court and High Court of Australia, Admission to Legal Practice
  • 2007 
    University of Tasmania, BA / LLB (1st class hons)

Grants and Contracts

  • 2023
    Using Conservation Covenants for Ecosystem Restoration and Climate Adaptation
    Role:
    CI
    Funding Source:
    ARC Discovery (DP240100719)
  • 2022
    Legal and Policy Barriers to Marine and Coastal Restoration and Nature Based Solutions in Australia
    Role:
    CI
    Funding Source:
    National Environmental Science Program (Project 3.7)

Professional Memberships

  • International Association of Wildland Fire
  • Director, Environment, Natural Resources and Energy Law Research Theme
  • IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law
  • Women's Environment and Climate Law Network
  • National Environmental Law Association (NELA)
  • International Disaster and Emergency Law Network (IDEAL)
  • Centre for Marine Socioecology