Professor of International Law Guest Lecturer

Strengthening university HSIE relationships

The HSIE Department was thrilled to welcome Dr Tim Stephens, a distinguished academic and Santa Sabina parent, as a guest speaker on Tuesday 27 May. Dr Stephens generously shared his expertise in international law with our HSC Legal Studies and IB Global Politics students, offering them a unique opportunity to engage with real world insights beyond the classroom. These examples are valuable for students to incorporate into future examination answers.

Dr Stephens is Professor of International Law at The University of Sydney and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law. In 2023, he was appointed to the List of Arbitrators under the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty by the Attorney General. His contributions to international environmental law have been widely recognised, including awards from the International Union for Conservation. He has authored and edited over a dozen influential books.

As both a leading academic and a member of our parent community, Dr Stephens brought a personal and professional richness to his engaging presentation. His lecture deepened students’ understanding of complex global issues within the context of International Law, World Order, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Dr Stephens also answered many student questions and his insights will enrich future classroom discussion and be valuable examples in upcoming assessments and examinations. Thank you to Shirley Chan for her background work to support this event.

We look forward to continuing to build strong connections between the HSIE Faculty and the broader academic community.

Brigida Zagora
Head of HSIE (Humanities and Social Sciences)

Student Reflections

Prof. Dr Tim Stephens’ lecture extended my understanding of the role international law plays in sculpting global governance, emphasising the legitimacy of judicial systems such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and their capacity in resolving disputes. His discussion underscored environmental challenges that are constantly negotiated such as the case study of Nuclear Tests (Australia v. France) which argued that France’s nuclear tests in the South Pacific were a violation of international law and a breach of Australia’s state sovereignty, demonstrating the interdependence between states and international organisations.
Emma Kearns
Year 11 IB Global Studies

The presentation was engaging and offered riveting insights into international law and state sovereignty. Professor Stephens most definitely furthered my understanding and contributed to a more nuanced perspective of major global issues and reinforced the concepts we have discussed in global politics class.
Caitlin Leong
Year 11 IB Global Politics

Dr Tim Stephens was incredibly captivating and insightful, offering a deep understanding of the roles of international courts by illustrating real-time cases that highlighted their global impact. His ability to bridge academic knowledge with practical, real-world examples brought our understanding of international law to life. As a university lecturer, he provided a unique perspective that allowed us to see how scholarly expertise directly informs international legal practiceHe also gave us a glimpse into the university teaching style, which left us all feeling inspired and eager for future studies.
Valantia Antonakopoulos
Year 12 HSC Legal Studies

Dr Stephens was extremely engaging, discussing global issues such as nuclear threats and territory disputes, the whaling issue between Australia, Japan and the Antarctic.
Emilie Tyson
Year 11 IB Global Politics