Corporate Law and Governance in the 21st Century

A Symposium in Honour of Professor Ian Ramsay

In 2021 Professor Ian Ramsay (Harold Ford Professor of Commercial Law and Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor at Melbourne Law School and Director of Studies, Commercial Law, Corporate Law for the Melbourne Law Masters Program and Director, Centre for Corporate Law) retired after a distinguished career in academia. Professor Ramsay’s contributions to legal academia have been both prolific and significant and include 18 books and over 250 highly cited research reports, book chapters and journal articles, as well as extensive contributions on a number of external panels, boards, committees and inquiries.

To honour Professor Ramsay’s extraordinary contribution, a symposium was held at Melbourne Law School on Wednesday 30 March 2022 from 2-5.45pm, followed by informal drinks. The symposium was be convened by Professor Rosemary Langford and included:

Two keynote speakers:
- Joseph Longo (Chair, Australian Securities and Investments Commission)
- Dr Robert Austin (Former judge, Supreme Court of New South Wales and co-author with Professor Ramsay of Ford, Austin and Ramsay’s Principles of Corporations Law)
A panel discussing the contours and implications of important changes to directors’ duties with eminent directors and practitioners:
- Priscilla Bryans (Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills)
- Diana Nicholson (Senior Partner, King & Wood Mallesons)
- Catherine Walter AM (Non-executive director with appointments including director of the Reserve Bank’s Payments System)
- Jon Webster AM (Consultant, Allens Linklaters and director of AMCIL Ltd)
A panel on contemporary issues in corporate governance with senior academics:
- Professor Jean Du Plessis (Faculty of Business and Law, Deakin University)
- Dr Andrew Godwin (Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne)
- Professor Jason Harris (University of Sydney Law School)
- Professor Pamela Hanrahan (UNSW Business School)
- Professor Jennifer Hill (Monash University Faculty of Law)
- Professor Michelle Welsh (Monash Business School)

Keynote speakers

Panel speakers

Convenor

Rosemary Langford

Time	Activity
1.30pm	Arrival and registration
2pm - 2.15pm	Welcome by Professor Rosemary Langford View the presentation here.
2.15pm - 3pm	Presentation by Mr Joseph Longo View the presentation here. Read the presentation transcript here.
3pm - 3.45pm	Panel on Directors' Duties View the presentations by Priscilla Bryans, Diana Nicholson, Catherine Walter AM and Jon Webster AM here.
3.45pm - 4.15pm	Afternoon tea
4.15pm - 5pm	Presentation by Dr Robert Austin View the presentation here. View the accompanying slides here.
5pm - 5.45pm	Panel on Corporate Governance View the presentations by Professor Jean Du Plessis, Dr Andrew Godwin, Professor Jason Harris, Professor Pamela Hanrahan, Professor Jennifer Hill and Professor Michelle Welsh here.
5.45pm - 6.45pm	Informal drinks
6.00pm	Toast by Emeritus Professor Michael Crommelin AO View the presentation here.