During his time at the University, Professor Blakeney became the first person in the history of the UWA Law School to be awarded a Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree and he was also appointed a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia (FSSAA).
The LLD, which was awarded in July 2023 recognized Professor Blakeney’s research over a period of thirty years in the field of international IP law.
Professor Blakeney has, in each of these fields, produced a number of substantial works that helped to define the problems for future research and formed part of the framework for the advancement of knowledge in the field. He is the original and leading scholar in IP and agriculture, demonstrating how the practices of IP have reformed modes of knowledge exchange traditionally rooted in the idea of a free and public domain.
His scholarship has ranged across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Pacific islands. Respect for his scholarship has seen him commissioned to advise international organisations such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the UN Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the World Trade Organization and the European Commission and national governments of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the 16 Member States of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), the Melanesian Spearhead Group of Countries – Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu – and Australia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Tanzania, Vietnam and Zambia, Consulting Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
Most important experiences while at UWA
Running the University of Western Australia Law Review.
Where did you think you would end up, when you began your career?
I started out as a professional lawyer (barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales) then I worked for a specialized agency of the United Nations before shifting to academic positions at Queen Mary University of London and then at UWA.
What are some of your most significant achievements?
Drafting intellectual property legislation for a number of countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific as well as publishing 25 books in the area of international intellectual property law.
What has been the most interesting aspect of your career?
Preparing intellectual property policies for a number of developing countries.
Where are you planning to go from here? Are there new interests you are looking to get involved in?
Continuing my assistance to developing countries under the auspices of the United Nations.