George Williams

Who is George Williams?

George John Williams AO is the Anthony Mason Professor of Law and Foundation Director of the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law at the Faculty of Law, University of New South Wales, and is also a Scientia Professor and Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow.

Williams was educated at Macquarie University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws with Honours. He also holds a Master of Laws from the University of New South Wales and a Doctor of Philosophy from the Australian National University.

He appeared in the High Court of Australia as counsel in Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the Hindmarsh Island Bridge Case and Plaintiff S157/2002 v Cth and in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal of Fiji, including in Republic of Fiji v Prasad.

In 2008, Williams was a delegate in the governance stream at the Australia 2020 Summit. In 2005, he chaired the Victorian Human Rights Consultation Committee that led to the enactment of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities. He also writes for The Sydney Morning Herald online vehicle, the National Times.