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Senior research associate, University of Sydney

Dr Rob Nicholls is a senior research associate in media and communications at the University of Sydney. His research interests focus on the intersection of regulation and technology. Rob has had a forty-year career concentrating on competition, regulation and governance. His first degree was in electronics and communications engineering from the University of Birmingham and he was awarded his PhD and MA by UNSW Sydney. Before moving to academia, he worked for Webb Henderson, the ACCC and spent twelve years as a client-facing consultant at Gilbert + Tobin, including as a partner. Rob is an accredited mediator.

Experience

  • 2024–present
    Senior research associate, University of Sydney
  • 2015–2023
    Associate professor, UNSW Business School
  • 2012–2020
    Independent Telecommunications Adjudicator, ITA Co
  • 2015–2015
    Postdoctoral research fellow, Swinburne University of Technology
  • 2014–2015
    Research fellow, Centre for International Finance and Regulation
  • 2013–2015
    Postdoctoral research associate, UNSW Law

Education

  • 2011 
    University of New South Wales, PhD in Policy and Regulation
  • 2005 
    University of New South Wales, Master of Arts in International Relations
  • 1983 
    University of Birmingham, Bachelor of Science with Honours in Electronics and Communications Engineering

Grants and Contracts

  • 2023
    International Digital Policy Observatory
    Role:
    CI
    Funding Source:
    Australian Research Council
  • 2015
    Spectrum after Scarcity
    Role:
    Researcher
    Funding Source:
    Australian Research Council
  • 2014
    Competition law and financial services regulation
    Role:
    CI
    Funding Source:
    Centre for International Finance and Regulation

Professional Memberships

  • American Bar Association - Associate Member
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - Senior Member
  • International Telecommunications Society
  • Resolution Institute - Practitioner member

Research Areas

  • Law (1801)
  • Policy And Administration (1605)