2023 Laureate Profile: Professor Jane McAdam

Administering Organisation: The University of New South Wales

Fellowship Project Summary

FL230100011 - Evacuations in International Law: Disasters, Conflict & Humanitarian Crises

Professor McAdam is addressing the emergency nature of evacuations which result in governments focussing on immediate assistance and may lead them to overlook longer-term needs, potentially leaving people without homes, livelihoods, or support networks. As recent global conflicts and Australia’s floods and fires have shown, without careful planning and oversight, evacuations can also displace people – often for prolonged periods and at great social, economic, and personal cost. By incorporating the perspectives of affected communities, Professor McAdam will provide the first sustained, integrated analysis of evacuations across multiple countries and contexts. It will lead to the development of more protective legal and policy frameworks, providing law/policymakers with conceptual clarity and direction about whom to evacuate, when and for how long. This will yield socio-economic benefits for Australia by improving preparedness for crises, boosting community resilience, enhancing our region’s stability, and saving millions of dollars in post-disaster recovery and humanitarian assistance.

Australian Research Council funding: $3,146,592