Emeritus Professor Paul Martin

Biography

Emeritus Professor Paul Martin is the former Director of the Australian Centre for Agriculture and Law in the School of Law at the University of New England (UNE). Although now retired from UNE, he continues to play an active role as an Emeritus Professor, working closely with the Agriculture & Law (AgLaw) Research Hub.

His research focuses on rural governance, particularly the governance of natural resources and the rights and interests of rural communities, especially Indigenous peoples. Through his ongoing involvement with the AgLaw Research Hub, Emeritus Professor Martin continues to contribute to research that informs policy and practice in agriculture, environmental management and rural governance.

The AgLaw Research Hub uses unique multidisciplinary methods to understand the 'real world' dynamics of governance systems. The issues researched are as diverse as biodiversity protection, invasive species, and economic opportunities for indigenous people. Among many research issues we have addressed are environmental financing and tax reform, transboundary agreements for biodiversity protection in Central Asia, soils governance in China and Mongolia, water governance in Australia, and reforms to regulatory 'architecture' and process. Team members have worked on issues in Australia, the United States, Bangladesh, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Mongolia, China and other jurisdictions. We have a diverse adjunct team and excellent collaborators in many countries.

The Hub also researches the governance of agricultural technology, including agricultural chemicals and machinery; and institutional aspects of rural innovation.

During more than two decades as Director of the former Australian Centre for Agriculture and Law (AgLaw Centre), Emeritus Professor Paul Martin drew on an extensive and distinguished career as a corporate lawyer, corporate adviser, venture capitalist, and chairman of both public and private companies. His leadership experience also encompasses environmental organisations and public policy research.

Professor Martin is the author of more than 100 scholarly publications. His international contributions have included conducting seminars in China, Brazil and the United Kingdom on methodologies for non-doctrinal environmental law research; providing academic leadership for a joint International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL) and Environmental Law Centre project evaluating environmental law.