Special Counsel, Environmental Defenders Office, Sydney
Emma studied Arts/Law at the University of NSW, where she was awarded the Stephen Seidler Memorial Prize for the Best Achievement in Environmental Law. Her other qualifications include a doctorate in Creative Writing (English/French) awarded by the University of Adelaide. She was admitted as a solicitor in 2003.
Emma joined the law reform team in 2011 after several years working as an in-house lawyer and consultant for various government departments. Her work for EDO NSW includes the provision of legal advice, writing submissions, responding to government inquiries and appearing before parliamentary committees.
She has broad experience advising on all aspects of environment and planning law, as well as particular expertise in water law and policy. As a result, she is frequently called on to advise landholders and community groups across the Murray-Darling Basin, as well as peak conservation and scientific organisations, about State and Commonwealth water laws. She also acts as special advisor for water-related litigation.
Emma regularly publishes book chapters and journal articles in both English and French on various aspects of water law and policy. Her articles are frequently included on reading lists at some of Australia’s top law schools, where she also guest lectures on water law.
In parallel to her work at EDO NSW, Emma serves as legal advisor to the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Switzerland. She is also a member of the policy group within the Alliance for Global Water Adaption and a fellow of the Peter Cullen Trust, having completed their Science to Policy Leadership Program in 2013.
Emma studied Arts/Law at the University of NSW, where she was awarded the Stephen Seidler Memorial Prize for the Best Achievement in Environmental Law. Her other qualifications include a doctorate in Creative Writing (English/French) awarded by the University of Adelaide. She was admitted as a solicitor in 2003.
Emma joined the law reform team in 2011 after several years working as an in-house lawyer and consultant for various government departments. Her work for EDO NSW includes the provision of legal advice, writing submissions, responding to government inquiries and appearing before parliamentary committees.
She has broad experience advising on all aspects of environment and planning law, as well as particular expertise in water law and policy. As a result, she is frequently called on to advise landholders and community groups across the Murray-Darling Basin, as well as peak conservation and scientific organisations, about State and Commonwealth water laws. She also acts as special advisor for water-related litigation.
Emma regularly publishes book chapters and journal articles in both English and French on various aspects of water law and policy. Her articles are frequently included on reading lists at some of Australia’s top law schools, where she also guest lectures on water law.
In parallel to her work at EDO NSW, Emma serves as legal advisor to the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Switzerland. She is also a member of the policy group within the Alliance for Global Water Adaption and a fellow of the Peter Cullen Trust, having completed their Science to Policy Leadership Program in 2013.