Professor Megan Davis

Professor Megan Davis

Pro Vice-Chancellor - Society
Division of VC & President
DVC Indigenous

Scientia Professor Dr Megan Davis is the Pro Vice-Chancellor Society (PVCS) at UNSW Sydney. Professor Davis is also a UNSW Scientia Professor and holds the Balnaves Chair in Constitutional Law and the Whitlam Fraser Harvard Chair in Australian Studies at Harvard University and is a Visiting Professor at Harvard Law School. She has also been appointed a Penn Carey Law Bok Visiting International Professor, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (Penn Carey Law).

Professor Davis is a renowned constitutional lawyer and public law expert, specialising on Indigenous peoples and the law, the constitutional recognition of First Nations and democracy.

Professor Davis is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences, and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. Prof Davis is an Acting Commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court.

She has been the leading Australian lawyer on constitutional recognition of First Nations peoples for two decades and designed the Referendum Council’s deliberative process that led to the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

From 2022-2023 she served on the Referendum Working Group, the Referendum Engagement Group and the Attorney General’s Constitutional Expert Group. She was a member of the Prime Minister’s Referendum Council (2015-2017) and the Prime Minister’s Expert Panel on the Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution (2011-2012). She is the Co-Chair of the Uluru Dialogue – the group of First Nations leaders who led the Uluru Statement from the Heart work.

Professor Davis was a Commissioner on the QLD Commission of Inquiry into Youth Detention Centres in 2016 alongside Kathryn McMillan KC. Many of their inquiry recommendations have been implemented. Professor Davis was also the Chair and author of ‘Family is Culture’, an inquiry into NSW Aboriginal Children in Out of Home care (2017-2019). Many of the recommendations in her Family is Culture report are being implemented and monitored by the NSW government.

She is a globally recognised expert in Indigenous peoples legal rights and was elected by the UN Economic and Social Council as an expert member of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (2011-2016). Professor Davis was also appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council to the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous peoples twice (2017-2022).

Professor Davis is actively involved in sports governance and sports administration in Australia for the National Rugby League. Prof is a Commissioner on the Australian Rugby League Commission, a director on the North Qld Cowboys Community Foundation Board, a Commissioner for South Australian Rugby League and formerly director on the Western Australia Rugby League Commission.

Professor Davis is a Sydney Peace Prize Laureate for the Uluṟu Statement from the Heart, and was awarded a 2024 PeaceWomen Award by the Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom (WILPF).

In 2023 Professor Davis was named on TIME Magazine’s TIME NEXT100 list of the Next Generation of Global leaders. She was also named Marie Claire “Powerhouse of the Year” in 2023. She is a previous Overall Winner of the AFR Women of Influence (now AFR Women of Leadership) awards in 2018 and was previously named on the AFR Annual Cultural Power list and AFR's Australia's top 5 Legal Powerbrokers list.

  • Books | 2015
    Davis M; Williams G, 2015, Everything you Need to Know About the Referendum to Recognise Indigenous Australians, NewSouth
  • Book Chapters | 2018
    Brennan S; Davis M, 2018, 'First Peoples', in Saunders C; Stone A (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Australian Constitution, Oxford University Press, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/law/9780198738435.003.0002
    Book Chapters | 2017
    Davis MJ, 2017, 'Deploying and Disputing Aboriginal Feminism in Australia', in Green J (ed.), Making Space for Indigenous Feminism, Fernwood Publishing
    Book Chapters | 2017
    Davis MJ, 2017, 'Self-determination and the right to be heard', in Pearson N; Morris S (ed.), A Rightful Place: A Roadmap to Recognition, Melbourne University Publishing
    Book Chapters | 2017
    2017, 'Indigenous Women and constitutional recognition', in Irving H (ed.), Constitutions and Gender, Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, Cheltenham, UK, pp. 357 - 386, http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781784716967.00022
    Book Chapters | 2016
    Davis MJ; Langton M, 2016, 'Introduction', in Davis M; Langton M (ed.), It's Our Country Indigenous Arguments for Meaningful Constitutional Recognition and Reform, Melbourne Univ. Publishing, pp. 1 - 26
    Book Chapters | 2016
    Davis MJ, 2016, 'Intersectional Theory: Where Gender meets Race, Ethnicity and Violence', in Appleby G; Dixon R (ed.), The Critical Judgments Project Re-Reading Monis V the Queen, Federation Press
    Book Chapters | 2016
    Davis MJ, 2016, 'Political Timetables Trump Workable Timetables: Indigenous Constitutional Recognition and the Temptation of Symbolism Over Substance', in Young S; Nielsen J; Patrick J (ed.), Constitutional Recognition of Australia's First Peoples Theories and Comparative Perspectives
    Book Chapters | 2016
    Davis MJ, 2016, 'Putting Meat on the Bones of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples', in Esmaeili H; Worby G; Tur S (ed.), Indigenous Australians, Social Justice and Legal Reform Honouring Elliott Johnston, pp. 265 - 265
    Book Chapters | 2016
    Davis MJ, 2016, 'Ships that Pas in the Night', in It's Our Country Indigenous Arguments for Meaningful Constitutional Recognition and Reform, Melbourne Univ. Publishing, pp. 86 - 96
    Book Chapters | 2016
    2016, 'Constitutional reform in Australia: Recognition of Indigenous Australians and Reconciliation', in Macklem P; Sanderson D (ed.), From Reconciliation to Recognition: Essays on the Constitutional Entrenchment of Aboriginal and Treaty Rights, University of Toronto Press, pp. 449 - 449
    Book Chapters | 2015
    Brennan S; Davis M; Edgeworth B; Terrill L, 2015, 'The Idea of Native Title as a Vehicle for Change and Empowerment', in Brennan S; Davis M; Edgeworth B; Terrill L (ed.), Native Title from Mabo to Akiba A Vehicle for Change and Empowerment?, pp. 2 - 13
    Book Chapters | 2015
    Davis MJ, 2015, 'To recognise or not to recognise: The place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution', in Tonkinson R (ed.), The Wentworth Lectures Honouring Fifty Years of Australian Indigenous Studies, pp. 298 - 298
    Book Chapters | 2013
    Davis MJ, 2013, 'Climate change impacts to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia', in Abate R; Kronk EA (ed.), Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK, pp. 493 - 507, https://www.e-elgar.com/bookentry_main.lasso?currency=US&id=14774
    Book Chapters | 2013
    2013, 'Climate change impacts to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia', in Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples: The Search for Legal Remedies, pp. 493 - 507
    Book Chapters | 2012
    Davis MJ; Cottrell R, 2012, 'Affirmative Action', in Tushnet M; Fleiner T; Saunders C (ed.), Routledge Handbook of Constitutional Law, edn. Original, Routledge, UK, pp. 325 - 336, http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415782203/
    Book Chapters | 2012
    Davis MJ, 2012, 'Identity, Power and Rights: The State, International Institutions and Indigenous Peoples in Canada', in Gomez T; Sawyer S (ed.), The Politics of Resources Extraction: Indigenous Peoples, Multinational Corporations, and the State, edn. Original, Palgrave, UK, pp. 229 - 251, http://us.macmillan.com/thepoliticsofresourceextraction/SuzanaSawyer
    Book Chapters | 2011
    Davis MJ, 2011, 'Justifying Designated Parliamentary Seats: International Law and Indigenous Peoples` Right to Self-Determination', in Tham J-C; Costar B; Orr G (ed.), Electoral Democracy: Australian Prospects, edn. Original, Melbourne University Publishing, Victoria, pp. 78 - 98, http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/38301208?selectedversion=NBD46191883
    Book Chapters | 2010
    Davis MJ, 2010, 'Restorative Justice in South Australia: An Indigenous Bill of Rights', in Berg S (ed.), Coming to Terms: Aboriginal Title in South Australia, edn. Original, Wakefield Press, pp. 227 - 245
    Book Chapters | 2009
    Davis MJ, 2009, 'International Law', in Indigenous Legal Issues Commentary and Materials, Lawbook Company, pp. 649 - 649
    Book Chapters | 2009
    Davis MJ, 2009, 'Introduction', in McRae H; Nettheim G (ed.), Indigenous Legal Issues: Commentary & Materials, edn. 4th, ThomsonReuters, Australia, pp. 649 - 675
    Book Chapters | 2008
    Davis MJ, 2008, 'Self-determination and the Demise of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission', in Johnston E; Hinton M; Rigney D (ed.), Indigenous Australians and the Law, edn. Original, Routledge Cavendish, London, pp. 217 - 232
    Book Chapters | 2008
    Davis MJ, 2008, 'The Globalisation of International Human Rights Law, Aboriginal Women and the practice of Aboriginal Customary Law', in Cain M; Howe A (ed.), Women, Crime and social harm: Towards a Criminology of the Global Age, edn. Original, Hart Publishing, Oxford, UK, pp. 137 - 160
    Book Chapters | 2008
    2008, 'A Home at the United Nations: Indigenous Peoples and International Advocacy', in Cooper AF; Hocking B; Maley W (ed.), Global Governance and Diplomacy: Worlds Apart?, edn. Studies in Diplomacy and International Relations, Palgrave Macmillan, London, pp. 211 - 223, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000282879500013&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a
    Book Chapters | 2007
    Davis MJ, 2007, 'Arguing over Indigenous Rights: Australia and the United Nations', in Altman J; Hinkson M (ed.), Coercive Reconciliation: Stabilise, Normalise, Exit Aboriginal Australia, edn. 1, Arena Publications, Australia, pp. 97 - 107
    Book Chapters | 2006
    Davis MJ, 2006, 'Chained to the Past: The Psychological Terra Nullius of Australia`s Public Institutions', in Protecting Rights Without a Bill of Rights: Institutional Performance and Reform in Australia, edn. Original, Ashgate, Aldershot, England, pp. 175 - 195
    Book Chapters | 2005
    Davis MJ, 2005, 'Slouching towards Australian Public Libraries: The World Trade Organisation General Agreement on Trade in Services', in Nakata M; Langton M (ed.), Australian Indigenous Knowledge and Libraries, edn. Original, Australian Academic & Research Libraries, Australia, pp. 129 - 147
  • Edited Books | 2016
    2016, It's Our Country Indigenous Arguments for Meaningful Constitutional Recognition and Reform, Melbourne Univ. Publishing
    Edited Books | 2015
    Brennan S; Davis MJ; Edgeworth B; Terrill L, (eds.), 2015, Native Title from Mabo to Akiba: A Vehicle for Change and Empowerment
    Edited Books | 2009
    Davis MJ; Brennan S; McCrae H; Nettheim G; Beacroft L; Janke T; Anthony T, (eds.), 2009, Indigenous Legal Issues, Thomson Reuters, Sydney
  • Journal articles | 2021
    Moodie N; Ward J; Dudgeon P; Adams K; Altman J; Casey D; Cripps K; Davis M; Derry K; Eades S; Faulkner S; Hunt J; Klein E; McDonnell S; Ring I; Sutherland S; Yap M, 2021, 'Roadmap to recovery: Reporting on a research taskforce supporting Indigenous responses to COVID-19 in Australia', Australian Journal of Social Issues, 56, pp. 4 - 16, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajs4.133
    Journal articles | 2020
    2020, 'Equitable Expanded Carrier Screening Needs Indigenous Clinical and Population Genomic Data', American Journal of Human Genetics, 107, pp. 175 - 182, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.06.005
    Journal articles | 2019
    2019, 'First nations voice', Company Director, 35, pp. 37 - 39
    Journal articles | 2018
    Appleby G; Davis M, 2018, 'The uluru statement and the promises of truth', Australian Historical Studies, 49, pp. 501 - 509, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1031461X.2018.1523838
    Journal articles | 2015
    Davis MJ, 2015, 'Australia’s Reconciliation Process in its International Context: Recognition and the Health & Wellbeing of Australia’s Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People', Australian Indigenous Law Review, 18
    Journal articles | 2015
    Davis MJ, 2015, 'Closing the Gap in Indigenous Disadvantage: A Trajectory of Indigenous Inequality in Australia', Georgetown Journal of International Law, XVI, pp. 34 - 44
    Journal articles | 2015
    Davis MJ, 2015, 'Indigenous Constitutional Recognition from the Point of View of Self-Determination and Its Exercise through Democratic Participation', Indigenous Law Bulletin, 8, pp. 10 - 14
    Journal articles | 2015
    Davis MJ, 2015, 'Listening but not hearing: When process trumps substance', Griffith Review, pp. 73 - 73
    Journal articles | 2015
    Davis MJ, 2015, 'Seventh Annual Michael Kirby Lecture: Indigenous Australians and the Constitutional Project: The Politics of Discrimination and Why Recognition' is Not Enough', Southern Cross University Law Review, 17, pp. 1 - 1
    Journal articles | 2014
    Davis MJ, 2014, 'Competing Notions of Constitutional Recognition: Truth and Justice or Living ‘off the Crumbs that Fall off the White Australian Tables’?', Papers on Parliament, pp. 113 - 129
    Journal articles | 2014
    Davis MJ, 2014, 'Future Challenges on the Path to Constitutional Recognition', Public Law Review, pp. 233 - 233
    Journal articles | 2014
    Davis MJ, 2014, 'The Royal Commission and international child rights law', Indigenous Law Bulletin, pp. 19 - 22
    Journal articles | 2014
    2014, 'Koowarta:Constitutional landmark, transition point or missed opportunity?', Griffith Law Review, 23, pp. 79 - 91, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10383441.2014.944008
    Journal articles | 2013
    Davis MJ, 2013, 'Community control and the work of the national Aboriginal community controlled health organisation:Putting meat on the bones of the undrip?', Indigenous Law Bulletin, 8, pp. 11 - 14
    Journal articles | 2013
    Davis MJ, 2013, 'Speaking Ill of the Dead: A Comment on S 25 of the Constitution', Public Law Review, pp. 231 - 231
    Journal articles | 2012
    Davis MJ, 2012, 'Constitutional Recognition does not foreclose on Aboriginal sovereignty', Indigenous Law Bulletin, http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/IndigLawB/2012/25.html
    Journal articles | 2012
    Davis MJ, 2012, 'NARRM Oration 2012 - Aboriginal Women: The Right to Self-Determination', Australian Indigenous Law Review, 16
    Journal articles | 2011
    Davis MJ, 2011, 'A Reflection on the Limitations of the Right to Self-determination and Aboriginal Women', Indigenous Law Bulletin, 7, pp. 6 - 8, http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=973741426130633;res=IELHSS
    Journal articles | 2011
    Davis MJ, 2011, 'Constitutional reform and aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people: Why do we want it now?', Indigenous Law Bulletin, 7, pp. 8 - 22, http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=440534634881509;res=IELHSS
    Journal articles | 2010
    Davis MJ; Lemezina , 2010, 'Indigenous Australians and the Preamble: Towards a More Inclusive Constitution or Entrenching Marginalisation', University of New South Wales Law Journal, 33, pp. 239 - 266, http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=676023811832775;res=IELHSS
    Journal articles | 2009
    Davis MJ, 2009, 'ATSIC and Indigenous Women: Lessons for the Future', Balayi: Culture Law and Colonialism, 10, pp. 73 - 86
    Journal articles | 2009
    Davis MJ, 2009, 'Essay: A Woman's Place', Griffith Review: a quarterly review of writing & ideas, 24, pp. 156 - 162
    Journal articles | 2009
    Davis MJ, 2009, 'International Human Rights Law, Women's Rights and the Intervention', Indigenous Law Bulletin, pp. 11 - 11
    Journal articles | 2009
    Davis MJ, 2009, 'United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples'', Melbourne Journal of International Law, 9, pp. 439 - 471
    Journal articles | 2008
    Davis MJ, 2008, 'Indigenous Rights and the Constitution: Making the Case for Constitutional Reform', Indigenous Law Bulletin, 7, pp. 6 - 8
    Journal articles | 2008
    Davis MJ, 2008, 'Indigenous Women`s Representation and the Proposal for a New National Representative Body', Indigenous Law Bulletin, 7, pp. 6 - 9
    Journal articles | 2007
    Davis MJ, 2007, 'Aboriginal or Institutional Silence?: A Brief Comment on the National Emergency Response to the Anderson Wild Report', Indigenous Law Bulletin, 6, pp. 2 - 3
    Journal articles | 2007
    Davis MJ, 2007, 'How Do Aboriginal Women Fare in Australia Democracy?', Indigenous Law Bulletin, 6, pp. 9 - 11
    Journal articles | 2007
    Davis MJ, 2007, 'Indigenous Policy - Unfinished Business', Australian Journal of Public Affairs, Digest
    Journal articles | 2007
    Davis MJ, 2007, 'Parliamentary Inquiries of Free Trade Agreements and Indigenous Peoples', Journal of Indigenous Policy, 7, pp. 90 - 98
    Journal articles | 2007
    Davis MJ, 2007, 'The Challenges of Indigenous Women in Liberal Democracies', Indigenous Law Bulletin, 7, pp. 20 - 22
    Journal articles | 2007
    Davis MJ, 2007, 'The Recognition of Aboriginal Customary Law and International Law Developments', Indigenous Peoples: Issues in International and Australian Law, pp. 25 - 30
    Journal articles | 2007
    Davis MJ, 2007, 'The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples', Australian Indigenous Law Review, 11, pp. 55 - 63
    Journal articles | 2006
    Davis MJ; Watson N, 2006, '`It`s the same old song`: Draconian Counter-Terrorism Laws and the Deja vu of Indigenous Australians', Borderlands e-journal, 5
    Journal articles | 2006
    Davis MJ, 2006, 'A Culture of Disrespect: Indigenous Peoples and Australian Public Institutions', UTS Law Review, 8, pp. 136 - 154
    Journal articles | 2006
    Davis MJ, 2006, 'International Trade, The World Trade Organisation and the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples', Balayi: Culture Law and Colonialism, pp. 5 - 30
    Journal articles | 2006
    Davis MJ, 2006, 'Treaty, Yeah? The utility of a treaty to advancing reconciliation in Australia', Alternative Law Journal, 31, pp. 127 - 136
    Journal articles | 2005
    Davis MJ, 2005, 'International Trade Law and Indigenous Peoples: A New Direction in Human Rights Advocacy?', Australian Indigenous Law Review, 8, pp. 16 - 22
    Journal articles | 2004
    Davis MJ, 2004, 'Indigenous Australia and the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement', Indigenous Law Bulletin, 5, pp. 20 - 23
    Journal articles | 2003
    Davis MJ, 2003, 'New Developments in International Advocacy: Amicus Curiae and the World Trade Organisation', Indigenous Law Bulletin, 5, pp. 14 - 17
    Journal articles | 2003
    Williams G; Davis MJ, 2003, 'A Statutory Bill of Rights for Australia? Lessons from the United Kingdom', University of Queensland Law Journal, 22, pp. 1 - 19
    Journal articles | 2003
    2003, 'Civics Education and Human Rights', Australian Journal of Human Rights, 9, pp. 236 - 255, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1323238X.2003.11911099
    Journal articles | 2002
    Davis M, 2002, 'Book Review of `Sceptical Essays on Human Rights` edited by Campbell, KD Ewing and A Tomkins', Adelaide Law Review, 23, pp. 183 - 188
    Journal articles | 2002
    Davis M, 2002, 'New South Wales Bill of Rights Inquiry', Public Law Review, 13, pp. 11 - 14
    Journal articles | 2002
    Davis M, 2002, 'Rights Reluctance: Utilitarianism and the Future of Human Rights in Australia', Drawing Board-An Australian Review of Public Affairs
    Journal articles | 2002
    Davis M, 2002, 'The Awaas Tingni Decision: Case of the Mayagna (Sumo) Awas Tingni Community v The Republic of Nicaragua', Indigenous Law Bulletin, 5, pp. 15 - 17
    Journal articles | 2002
    Davis M, 2002, 'The Awas-Tingni Decision: Case of the Mayagna (Sumo) Awas Tingni Community v The Republic of Nicaragua', Indigenous Law Bulletin, 5, pp. 15 - 18
    Journal articles | 2002
    Davis M, 2002, 'The United Nations Draft Declaration 2002', Indigenous Law Bulletin, 5, pp. 6 - 9
  • Working Papers | 2010
    2010, Sexual violence and Indigenous victims: women, children and the criminal justice system, UNSW Indigenous Law Centre, Sydney, 1, http://dx.doi.org, http://www.ilc.unsw.edu.au/sites/ilc.unsw.edu.au/files/mdocs/Sexual%20Violence%20Research%20Brief%20No.1.pdf
  • Conference Presentations | 2010
    2010, 'Indigenous Sexual Assault Cases & the Australian Justice System: Exploring patterns in procedure, precedent and legal reasoning in cases involving women & children', presented at Healing Our Spirit Worldwide Conference, 6th Gathering, Honolulu, Hawaii, 03 September 2010 - 10 September 2010
    Reports | 2009
    2009, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Parallel NGO Report: The Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), YWCA, Melbourne
    Other | 2007
    Davis MJ; Brennan S, 2007, A Narrative of Exclusion: Indigenous Rights in Australia, Australian Human Rights Centre,
    Reports | 2005
    Davis MJ, 2005, International Human Rights law and the Recognition of Aboriginal Customary Law, Law Reform Commission of Western Australia, Aboriginal Customary Law Reference

ARC Discovery Indigenous, 2018 – Professor Megan Davis and Professor George Williams - $399,600: Recognition after Uluru: what next for First Nations?

ANROWS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Grant Round, 2017 – Professor Marica Langton, Professor Megan Davis and Dr Kristen Smith - $199,415: Improving family violence legal and support services for Indigenous women.

UNSW Major Research Equipment and Infrastructure Initiative, 2015-16 – Megan Davis - $97,672: Australian Indigenous Law Library.

ARC Discovery Indigenous, 2013-16 – Dr Kyllie Cripps, Professor Megan Davis and Associate Professor Anne Cossins - $230,000: The role of cultural factors in the sentencing of Indigenous sex offenders in the Northern Territory.

Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom (WILPF) PeaceWomen Award 2024

TIME NEXT100 list of the Next Generation of Global leaders 2023

Marie Claire "Powerhouse of the Year" 2023

Sydney Peace Prize 2021

ANU 2018 Indigenous Alumna of the Year

Overall Winner - The Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence 2018