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
Partner, Maddocks
Melbourne Law School alumnus 1976
Foundation Board member from 2019
Mr Philip Crutchfield KC
Foundation Board Member
Barrister, Victorian Bar
Melbourne Law School alumnus 1986
Foundation Board member from 2015-2016, 2020
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
MLS Young Alumni Committee member
Ms Marie McDonald
Foundation Board Member
Director, Nufarm, CSL Limited, Nanosonics Limited
Melbourne Law School alumna 1982
Foundation Board member from 2021
Ms Sonia Petering
Foundation Board Member
Chair, QANTM IP, Virtus Health; Director, TAL Australia
Melbourne Law School alumna 1993
Foundation Board member from 2021
Mr Luke Raffin
Foundation Board Member
Partner, BCG
Melbourne Law School alumnus 2006
Foundation Board member from 2021
Mr David Shafer
Foundation Board Member
CFO, COO and Executive Director, Kogan.com
Melbourne Law School alumnus 2005
Foundation Board member from 2021
Mr James Waters
Foundation Board Member, ex officio, Chair, Young Alumni Committee
Barrister, Victorian Bar
Melbourne Law School alumnus 2012
Foundation Board member from 2021
MLS Young Alumni Committee Chair
Melbourne Law School Members
Associate Professor Gary Cazalet
Foundation Board Academic Staff Member
Co-Director of Studies, Dispute Resolution
Foundation Board member from 2018
Professor Alison Duxbury
Foundation Board Vice-Chancellor’s Nominee
Deputy Dean, Melbourne Law School
Melbourne Law School alumna 1992
Foundation Board member from 2019
Professor Matthew Harding
Foundation Board Chair, delegated to Co-Chairs (current)
Dean, Melbourne Law School
Melbourne Law School alumnus 1998
Foundation Board member from April 2022