Two academics win prestigious awards
Two UTS Law academics have been recognised for their work as legal scholars and professionals.
Success and recognition
Associate Professor Linda Steele was named the 2023 Legal Academic of the Year by the Women Lawyers’ Association of NSW. Dr Robin Bowley was selected as the 2023 recipient of the Insurance Law Prize by the Australian Insurance Law Association.
Associate Professor Steele receiving her award at the Women Lawyers Association of NSW 2023 Achievement Awards from President and Alumna Justine Anderson
Bi-annually, the Women Lawyers’ Association of NSW recognises leading women lawyers across the diverse roles within the profession. Associate Professor Linda Steele was recognised for her advocacy and support for the legal rights of all women including the promotion of access to justice and the eradication of all forms of discrimination against women. As an academic lawyer with a passion for social justice, Associate Professor Steele applies her research, teaching and engagement to advocate for the benefit of women. Many of the communities that she works with are forgotten groups in which women are the dominant number.
As an educator, Associate Professor Steele inspires students to be reflective and critical thinkers about their role as lawyers and the role of the legal profession in shaping a more equitable society. In the subject Law and Mental Health, which Associate Professor Steele designed, students learned from women with lived experience of institutionalisation through an immersion at the Parramatta Female Factory Precinct’s ‘site of conscience’ (the site of the notorious Parramatta Girls’ Home). Students consistently expressed the profound impact on them, for the first time in their law degree moving beyond the classroom to engage with institutional places and institutionalised communities materially impacted by legislation and judicial decision-making.
In her acceptance speech, Associate Professor Steele reminded the audience of the role of the profession in seeking justice. She shared:
Having this opportunity to stand before so many members of the legal profession it would be irresponsible of me not to acknowledge that while tonight, we are celebrating the achievements of women in the legal profession, we do this against the disturbing reality that too often our legal profession and legal and justice systems are part of the problem when it comes to violence against women with disability. I urge us all to think about how we can address and redress these harms, and work with the disability community for justice and repair.
Dr Robin Bowley was selected as the 2023 recipient of the Insurance Law Prize by the Australian Insurance Law Association (AILA). This acknowledgement was given by AILA at the XVI World Congress of the Association Internationale de Droit des Assurances (AIDA) held this year in Melbourne. The Insurance Law Prize is awarded annually by AILA to a person who has made a substantial contribution to the field of insurance law or to the insurance industry.
Dr Robin Bowley receiving the 2023 Insurance Law Prize from Cameron Roberts, President of the Australian Insurance Law Association
Dr Bowley’s sustained contribution to insurance law covers education, research and engagement. Drawing on his prior experience as a lawyer with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, he brings a practical and industry-focused approach to his work. Dr Bowley’s engagement with the industry is an example of the benefits of the connection between academia and the profession. His long-standing involvement in the profession through his connection with AILA includes the organisation of conferences and seminars and the delivery of professional training.
Dr Bowley teaches the elective Insurance Law to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Insurance Law is a popular elective known for its practical focus. Dr Bowley designed the subject with the aim of introducing students to professional practice, bringing in industry experts as guest lecturers. Insurance Law is a specialist subject that is only offered by a small number of law schools. Dr Bowley’s expertise in both Insurance Law and Corporate Law enables students to be well-equipped for commercial practice. His teaching inspires students to consider a career in the insurance industry.
Dr Bowley’s teaching and active involvement in AILA also inform his research, which focuses on insurance and financial services regulation.
Reflecting on this award, Dr Bowley said:
It was a great honour to be selected as the 2023 recipient of the AILA Insurance Law Prize. Over the years, AILA has provided a very rewarding avenue for me to engage with colleagues in the insurance industry both within Australia and internationally. This has enabled me to bring a current and practical approach to my teaching and research, and to highlight to my students the wide range of future opportunities for them to utilise their legal skills and knowledge in the practice of insurance law.
In congratulating her colleagues, Dean of the Law Faculty, Professor Anita Stuhmcke, noted:
The acknowledgement of Associate Professor Steele and Dr Bowley as leaders in their areas of expertise by their professional peers is testament to their significant impact beyond the university. Their respective achievements demonstrate the diversity and impact of the UTS Law Faculty across research, education and engagement.
