‘It’s a great honour and pleasure to be appointed Director of ACIL,’ Andrea says. ‘I’m stepping into the footsteps of my predecessors, who have developed the center into one of the leading institutes for international law worldwide.’ One of ACIL’s key strengths, she explains, is its breadth of research, from detailed doctrinal analysis to studies examining how international law interacts with society, economics, and global politics. ‘That diversity makes ACIL a uniquely rich environment.’

Approach to leadership

‘There’s a cheesy pop culture meme that says, "How can I help?”, and that’s how I see my role. My main task is to support and enable colleagues to do their best work, foster collaboration, and keep the good energy flowing.’ Andrea emphasises the importance of optimism and connection. ‘I want ACIL to remain a place where people feel part of something bigger than their individual projects.’

Research in changing times

International law faces both unprecedented relevance and pressure. ‘It’s invoked everywhere—in war, trade, and investment—yet often ignored in practice. We also need to engage with new realities: the growing power of corporations, the impact of technology, and the financialisation of global life.’

Her ambition is for ACIL to continue producing excellent scholarship while also reflecting on how international law can stay meaningful and relevant.

Collaboration and community

A central focus of her directorship will be strengthening collaboration and support for early-career researchers. Recent initiatives include ACIL’s case discussion group and small mentoring sessions connecting PhDs and postdocs with leading international law scholars. ‘During my own PhD in Melbourne, I learned how important it is to be truly intentional about supporting early-career researchers. I benefited enormously from that experience, and I want to continue this legacy of good academic citizenship, one in which we actively nurture and uplift the next generation of scholars.’

She also plans to launch an annual ACIL conference designed to bring colleagues together around shared themes and foster new partnerships.

‘I’m an interdisciplinary thinker and a team player,’ she says. ‘If colleagues have ideas for projects or events, this is the moment. I’m full of energy and eager to build things together. Let’s celebrate our individual achievements as collective successes and continue making ACIL a place where collaboration and curiosity thrive.’