Roger Magnusson

Roger Magnusson is Professor of Health Law and Governance at Sydney Law School, The University of Sydney. He earned a BA/LLB (Hons) from the Australian National University in 1988, a PhD from the University of Melbourne in 1994, and a Graduate Diploma in Managing Development from the University of Melbourne in 2007. Throughout his career at the University of Sydney, he has held positions including senior lecturer and coordinator of the postgraduate Health Law Program. From 2013 to 2024, Magnusson served as Co-Director of Sydney Health Law. He teaches courses in the Master of Health Law program, such as Critical Issues in Public Health Law and Law, Business and Healthy Lifestyles.

Magnusson's research focuses on health law, public health law and governance, regulatory responses to non-communicable diseases, tobacco control, obesity prevention, public health nutrition, global health law, and health development. His seminal book, Angels of Death: Exploring the Euthanasia Underground (Melbourne University Press, 2002), investigates underground physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia practices among health professionals in HIV/AIDS care in Australia and San Francisco. Other key publications include Role of law in global response to non-communicable diseases (The Lancet, 2011, co-authored with David Patterson); Explaining resistance to regulatory interventions to prevent obesity and improve nutrition: A case-study of a sugar-sweetened beverages tax in Australia (Food Policy, 2020); Identifying a human rights–based approach to obesity for States and civil society (Obesity Reviews, 2019); Legal capacities required for prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2018); Framework legislation for noncommunicable diseases: And for the Sustainable Development Goals? (Public Health, 2017); and An audit of food and beverage advertising on the Sydney metropolitan train network (BMC Public Health, 2017). His research has been supported by an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant. Magnusson contributes to editorial and professional leadership in public health law.

Professional Email: roger.magnusson@sydney.edu.au