Foundation Board
The Foundation was established in 1984 for the encouragement and promotion of excellence in education, study, teaching and research in the Faculty of Law, now known as Melbourne Law School.
Overview
Melbourne Law School (MLS) is a community of legal academics, professional staff and law students who come together to engage in teaching, learning and research that changes people and our world for the better.
As Australia’s oldest law school (with its 165th anniversary in 2022), MLS has a long history of excellence: in both teaching and research. It consistently strives to innovate, embrace excellence, work for the public good and eschew elitism. Its philanthropic ambitions are therefore twofold: to enable outstanding students, whatever their financial position, to join MLS and to support exceptional and impactful research and innovative clinical programs that can improve our world for the better.
MLS aspires to establish the most generous and enabling scholarship program in any Australian law school. As Australia’s premier law school, there is a pressing need to assist exceptional students to join us. We wish to establish scholarships targeting first in family to university, students facing socio-economic hardship, students from regional and remote locations, Indigenous Australian students and students holding an humanitarian visa.
MLS also welcomes philanthropy to advance innovative research initiatives that confront the legal challenges of our times.
The Melbourne University Law School Foundation Board saw new membership in 2021 to assist Melbourne Law School's alumni engagement and provide leadership on fundraising for the Foundation.
Foundation Board members
Mr Neil Young KC
Foundation Board Co-Chair
Barrister, Victorian Bar
Melbourne Law School alumnus 1973
Foundation Board member from 2014
Mr David Laidlaw
Foundation Board Co-Chair
Melbourne Law School alumnus 1976
Foundation Board member from 2019
Ms Emma Hossack
Foundation Board Member
CEO, Medical Software Industry Association
Melbourne Law School alumna 1986
Foundation Board member from 2021
Ms Andrejka Kapusta
Foundation Board Member
In-house Counsel, OneDigital (Wesfarmers)
Melbourne Law School alumna 2008
Foundation Board member from 2021
Ms Stella Loong
Foundation Board Member
Corporate Counsel, CenITex
Melbourne Law School alumna 2010
Foundation Board member from 2021
Ms Sonia Petering AM
Foundation Board Member
Chair Vitrafy Life Sciences Ltd and member, Vic. Council, AICD
Melbourne Law School alumna 1993
Foundation Board member from 2021
Mr James Waters
Foundation Board Member
Barrister, Victorian Bar
Melbourne Law School alumnus 2012
Foundation Board member from 2021
Associate Professor Gary Cazalet
Foundation Board Member
MLS Co-Director of Studies, Dispute Resolution
MLS Co-Director of the Digital Citizens Research Network
MLS Director, Civil Justice Research Group
Foundation Board member from November 2020
Professor Heather Douglas AO
Foundation Board Member
MLS Associate Dean (Advancement and Engagement)
Fellow, Academy of Social Science in Australia and the Australian Academic of Law
Mr Michael Perez
Foundation Board Member
Tax Partner
King Wood Mallesons
Melbourne Law School alumnus 1990
Foundation Board member from November 2025
Mr Henry Dow
Foundation Board Member
Lawyer
Marrawah Law
Melbourne Law School alumnus 2018
Foundation Board member from November from 2025
Mr Alexander Mackinnon
Foundation Board Member
Partner, Melbourne Corporate Group
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Melbourne Law School alumnus 2009
Foundation Board member from November 2025
Emeritus Professor Gillian Triggs AC
Foundation Board Member
Melbourne Law School alumna 1968
Foundation Board member from April 2025
Professor Michelle Foster
Foundation Board Member
Dean, Melbourne Law School
Foundation Board member from October 2024