A property law expert who arrived at the University of the Sunshine Coast 18 months ago from Melbourne’s Monash University is the new Head of the USC Law School.

Professor Pamela O’Connor was appointed to the role last month (February) after the retirement of USC’s inaugural Law School Professors Anne and Neil Rees.

Professor O’Connor, who teaches Property Law and Administrative Law at USC and is a member of its Sustainability Research Centre, worked for more than 20 years in the Faculty of Law at Monash and practised law in Victoria for 11 years.

She is interested in the sustainable management of natural resources, has an international reputation for publications in property law, and has advised law reform commissions in England, Scotland and New Zealand.

“I’m looking forward to building on the practical focus of our program, and offering a broad range of law subjects to meet the diverse interests and career directions of our students,” she said.

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Birgit Lohmann congratulated Professor O’Connor on her appointment and paid tribute to the contributions of Professors Anne and Neil Rees.

“Their work was critical to the successful establishment of our Law School in 2014 and its strong connection to the Sunshine Coast community,” Professor Lohmann said.

“USC now has 200 Law students and continues to receive tremendous support from the local community, with our centrepiece Law Clinic operating in conjunction with the Suncoast Community Legal Service at Maroochydore.”

— Julie Schomberg