Since 1994, Alex has been an environmental legal consultant, especially to the Environmental Defender's Office (WA) and to Western Australian Government Agencies responsible for water resources management. He was a member of the Advisory Council to the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia from June 1995 to August 1999 and was a senior sessional member of the State Administrative Tribunal from 2005-2017.
From October 2006 to June 2008, Alex advised the State Department of Water on water resources law reform. In 2009-10 he assisted with advice to the Commonwealth Government on issues relating to the Murray Darling Basin. In 2013-15, he assisted the National Water Commission and the Commonwealth Department of Environment.
Alex is a contributing editor to the Environmental and Planning Law Journal and was from 2012-2017 the editor of the Australian Resources and Energy Law Journal.
Most important experiences while at UWA
My academic work at the UWA has always been challenging, requiring much determination and dedication to perform my functions at a standard expected by our students, colleagues and the wider community. UWA has also provided the physical, social and institutional environment to commit to meeting those challenges and to build a rewarding academic and professional career in Australia and internationally.
Where did you think you would end up, when you began your career?
I did not envision an academic career when I began my legal career in 1984. My goal was to practice in Environmental Law. When doing my LLM in Canada, the opportunity arose to apply for a UWA position, with prospect of Environmental Law teaching and research. A five-year plan became a career path for academic and professional work in Environmental Law.
What are some of your most significant achievements?
Getting established academically and personally by 1993. In the decades since:
• special academic and professional relationships,
• elected NELA (WA) President,
• litigation to stop old growth logging,
• consulting on water law to the WA Government,
• adjunct appointment at the ANU,
• sessional member of the State Administrative Tribunal,
• publishing Water Resources Law,
• participation in national research projects, and
• helping found and save the Environmental Defenders Office in WA.
What has been the most interesting aspect of your career?
Supervising talented research students and helping them achieve notable publications.
Where are you planning to go from here? Are there new interests you are looking to get involved in?
I have been working on water resources law reform since 1995. In December 2023, the WA Minister for Water declared that WA did not need to reform its water law. My goal is to see the WA Parliament enact a modern Water Resources Act that meets national policy objectives and provides the framework for ecologically sustainable use of water resources under the growing pressures of climate change.