Join Professor Steve Dovers, Director, ANU Disaster Risk Institute, Dr Arnagretta Hunter, Clinical Senior Lecturer, ANU Medical School, Professor Judy Jones, ANU College of Law and Dr Peter Burnett, Adviser – Environment, ANU Public Policy and Societal Impact Hub, as they tackle climate change, social justice and health and how policy is impacted (or impacts) these issues. The discussion will be moderated by Shelby O'Connor, final year ANU Law Juris Doctor student.

Meet the panellists

Emeritus Professor Stephen Dovers FASSA (PhD, LittB Hons '87)

Stephen Dovers was Director of the Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, from 2009-2017, and is now an Emeritus Professor with the University. A Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, he has published ~250 research works including the texts Environment and sustainability: a policy handbook (with K Hussey, 2^nd edition 2013) and The handbook of disaster policies and institutions (with J Handmer, 2^nd edition 2013). The inaugural Chair of the Management Committee of Future Earth Australia, the Chair of the Science Advisory Council of The Mulloon Institute and member of Panel A of the Academy of the Social Sciences, he is also a Senior Associate with the firm Aither and a researcher with the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre. In 2020 he took on the role of coordinating ANU’s bushfire response, working with the University’s Disaster Risk Science Institute.

Dr Arnagretta Hunter

A physician and cardiologist with a strong focus on patient centered care with preventative medicine focus. Trained in non-invasive cardiac imaging, particularly non-invasive cardiac assessment. Research interest in health and public policy development, particularly the influence of public policy approaches to health outcomes. Passionate about the social determinants of health. Raised in Melbourne, completed a BA(Hons) in international relations before embarking on Medicine at the University of Sydney. Medical training at St Vincents Hospital NSW and St Vincents Hospital VIC before working as a consultant physician in Wagga Wagga, regional NSW. Medical education and training is a key interest with previous position as Director of Physician Training in Wagga Wagga. Interested and involved with clinical oversight and quality improvement in the hospital and within the local health district, for me some of the solutions in medicine come from improving the structures and systems that are used, and I enjoy being part of that process.

Dr Peter Burnett (MPubLaw ‘91, LLB ‘80, BA ‘78)

Peter is an Honorary Associate Professor at the ANU College of Law, where he researches Australian environmental policy and law.His current research interests include the reform of environmental impact assessment and the role of environmental accounting in policy integration.Before coming to the ANU, Peter held a number of senior executive positions in the federal Environment Department, most recently in 2011-2012 as a First Assistant Secretary leading a Regulatory Reform Taskforce. Peter holds a PhD from the ANU in environmental policy. He also holds undergraduate degrees in arts and law and a Master degree in public law.

Professor Judy Jones

Harnessing her dual background in both science and law, Judith Jones began her research career as an environmental and planning lawyer by focusing on uncertainty, precaution and risk assessment. This included over a decade (1999 – 2014) of service, in different capacities, on federal non-statutory and statutory bodies that provide advice to the Gene Technology Regulator on legal and ethical issues relating to risk assessment and the regulation of gene technology in Australia. Judith has a range of scholarly publications in the areas of environmental impact assessment, risk regulation and precaution. The emphasis in those publications is designing regulation in conditions of scientific and other uncertainty. She is also a member of the ANU Institutional Biosafety Committee.More recently, Judith’s research has taken a new direction, combining her environmental law research interests with Australian legal history to examine the impact of historical and current landuse practices on Australian soils, water and vegetation. In terms of the colonial era, this research focuses on the impact of colonial property law and culture on land use practices and consequent environmental degradation. In terms of Contemporary agricultural land use, this research focuses on law and culture relevant to encouraging sustainable land use practices in regions of high agricultural value. 

Shelby O'Connor (Moderator)

Shelby O'Connor is a law student at the ANU who plans to work in the environmental law space. She has an interest in how interdisciplinary approaches can aid innovation within the law especially in relation to climate change and sustainable development. She will be admitted to practice in October.