Rate My Professor George Williams

Distinguished Professor George Williams AO is the Vice-Chancellor and President at Western Sydney University, having commenced in the role in July 2024. He is an Australian academic specialising in constitutional law who began his academic career at the Australian National University before joining the University of New South Wales as the Anthony Mason Professor of Law and later a Scientia Professor. He served as Dean of the UNSW Law Faculty and as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Planning and Assurance) at UNSW. Professor Williams holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from Macquarie University, a Master of Laws from the University of New South Wales, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the Australian National University. He was the first legal academic selected as an Australian Laureate Fellow and has held visiting positions at Columbia University, Durham University, Osgoode Hall Law School and University College London.

Professor Williams has authored or edited 43 books, including Australian Constitutional Law and Theory, The Oxford Companion to the High Court of Australia and Human Rights under the Australian Constitution. His research and public contributions focus on human rights, federalism, Indigenous justice, electoral law and national security. He practised as a barrister for over 25 years and has appeared in the High Court of Australia and courts in Fiji. In 2011 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the law. He has chaired major public inquiries, including the Victorian Human Rights Consultation Committee, and served on the Australian Government’s Constitutional Expert Group. Professor Williams is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.