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Associate Professor

Jane Kotzmann

Associate Professor

Faculty of Business and Law/Deakin Law School/Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation

Orcid identifier0000-0003-1834-5480
  • Associate Professor
    Faculty of Business and Law/Deakin Law School/Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation
  • +61 3 924 43906 (Work)
  • Melbourne Burwood Campus, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125

BIO

Jane Kotzmann’s research focuses on both animal rights and human rights. This includes the potential extension of international human rights to non-human animals, and what this tells us about the theoretical underpinnings of human rights law. She teaches into these areas, as well as international law and administrative law. Before becoming an academic, Jane was in private legal practice in commercial litigation.

Jane is a Senior Lecturer in Deakin Law School and was previously an Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellow. She obtained degrees in Commerce, Law (with Honours), and a PhD in human rights law from Deakin University, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching (Teach for Australia) from the University of Melbourne.

Since commencing at Deakin Law School in 2012, Jane has published research in relation to the human right to education, the human rights of disabled people, animal rights, and animal related laws. She has taught a variety of units, including human rights law, administrative law and contract law. She was a finalist for 'Academic of the Year' in the Australian Law Awards in 2019 and 2020. Her article titled 'Recognising the Sentience of Animals in Law: A Justification and Framework for Australian States and Territories' (2020) (42(3) Sydney Law Review 281) was given an Australian Legal Research Award in 2022 for Best Early Career Research Article.

Before embarking on her career in academia, Jane served as an associate in the inaugural Teach for Australia program. Prior to this, she was in private legal practice for a number of years, principally in commercial litigation.

DEAKIN UNIVERSITY CURRENT APPOINTMENT

  • Associate Professor
    Deakin University, Deakin Law School

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

  • Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Law)
    Deakin University, Geelong, AustraliaMar 2022 - Feb 2024

DEGREES

  • Doctor of Philosophy
    Deakin University
  • Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Commerce
    Deakin University
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching (Teach for Australia)
    University of Melbourne, Melbourne, AustraliaDec 2009 - Dec 2011

FIELDS OF RESEARCH (2020)

  • International and comparative law
  • Public law
  • Environmental and resources law
  • Animal law
  • International humanitarian and human rights law

AVAILABILITY FOR SUPERVISION

  • Masters by Research and PhD supervision

AREA/FACULTY

  • Faculty of Business and Law

DEPARTMENT/SCHOOL/INSTITUTE

  • Deakin Law School

STRATEGIC RESEARCH AND INNOVATION CENTRE

  • Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation