Dr Sally Varnham is a Professor of Law at the University of Technology, Sydney. She is a leading expert in both Australia and New Zealand in law and policy relating to all sectors of education. Her work is recognised internationally by her invitations to speak at conferences, roundtables and symposia in the UK, Europe and the US. She has researched and written widely on issues in compulsory education relating to educational choice, human rights education, the right to and rights in education, restorative practice and the right to participation and practising citizenship in education. She has a strong interest in the university/student relationship and she was a Chief Investigator on an ALTC funded project on student grievances. This work led to a good practice guide used by Australian universities in reviewing their policies and procedures in this area. She is the representative providing input from Australia on the global steering group of the European Network of Ombudsmen in Higher Education (ENOHE), the US Education Law Association and a past President and Director of the Australia and New Zealand Education Law Association. From 2011 to 2014 she was Chair of the University Academic Board and this has led to her current research leading an OLT funded project on student engagement in decision making and governance. She is drawing on her wide international network for direction in the Australian context.

Together with Professor Jim Jackson, Sally is the author of "Law for Educators: School and University Law in Australia" (LexisNexis, 2007). She was invited Guest Editor for the Europa World of Learning (Routledge, 2014) and invited author of chapters in several US and South African scholarly books in the field of rights in education. She is a co-editor of Higher Education and the Law (Federation Press, 2015 forthcoming), the first book dedicated to this area in Australia.

Professor Varnham has a commitment to research which is strongly practical, timely and relevant. She draws on comparative international experience for the Australia context. Her research is aimed a system of education which is both socially just and inclusive, of a high standard, and is strongly focussed on the development of citizens and leaders for a democratic society.