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Robynne Quiggin

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Robynne Quiggin
OccupationsPro-Vice Chancellor, Indigenous Leadership and Engagement, UTS
EmployerUniversity of Technology, Sydney
Known forLaw and social justice

Robynne Melva Quiggin is an Indigenous Australian lawyer and social justice advocate. She is known for her advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their community through governance roles, for social policy, and the rights of First Nations people. In 2025 she was honoured as Officer of the Order of Australia. As of 2026 she is Pro-Vice Chancellor, Indigenous Leadership and Engagement, at the University of Technology, Sydney.

Early life and education

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Robynne Melva Quiggin[1] is a descendant of the Wiradjuri nation,[2] located in the central western region of New South Wales.[3]

She was focused on social justice from an early age. When she was young, she "saw inequality and unfairness in the world", and decided that working in law was one of the most useful careers she could undertake to have an impact on equity for First Nations people.[4]

In her twenties, she saw Marcia Langton passionately discussing land rights, and the value of education as a way to improve outcomes for First Nations people. She was also inspired by Jenny Munrow, a First Nations community worker. Solicitors such as Margaret Donaldson and Terri Janke also inspired her.[5]

Career

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Quiggin started her career at the solicitors Terri Janke and Company, which is one of the few Australian Aboriginal-owned and operated legal companies in Australia.[6]

During 2000 to 2013, Quiggin worked at her self-founded legal and consulting firm, which focussed on cultural and legal issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. She also has lectured in both Indigenous issues and law, at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). She has expertise in copyright and consumer law, wills, and conveyancing. Quiggin has worked in policy, human rights advocacy, as well as being on boards and the chair for various Indigenous and Sustainability organisations.[7][8][9]

Quiggin was the chair of the board of the NSW Aboriginal Housing Office, Westpac's Indigenous Advisory Committee, the Human Rights Law Centre, as well as a board member for Bangarra, Supply Nation, The Australian Sustainable Finance Institute.[7] Quiggin was also a trust member of the Powerhouse Museum, as well as the Australian Museum.[10] She was the first Indigenous trustee of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (Powerhouse) in the museum's history.[11]

Quiggin was also Deputy Commissioner to the Acting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Professor Gillian Triggs.[12]

As of October 2026 she is a professor, and the pro-vice-chancellor of Indigenous Leadership and Engagement at UTS, a position she has held for some years.[13][14]

Quiggin was a member of the First Nations Clean Energy Network Steering Group. She was also a previous member of the Net Zero Economy Agency advisory board,[15] and as of October 2026 is a board member of the subsequently legislated statutory authority, the Net Zero Economy Authority.[14]

Recognition and honours

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  • 2013: AFR/Westpac's 100 Women of Influence awards[7]
  • 2025: Officer of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day honours, "for distinguished service to the law and human rights, to tertiary education, and to the Indigenous community through leadership and governance roles"[16][17]

Publications

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Quiggins has published on democracy, Indigenous knowledge, and intellectual property and Indigenous culture.[18]

  • Quiggin R. Indigenous Knowledge and the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education. 2008;37(S1):46-55. doi:10.1375/S1326011100000363[19]
  • Quiggin R, Quiggin, J (2007). Intellectual property and Indigenous Culture. Research in Agriculture and Applied Economics. doi:10.22004/ag.econ.151515[20]
  • Quiggin, R. (2005). Legal issues for indigenous artists - an update. Ngoonjook, (26), 25–34. doi/10.3316/informit.912395998558504[21]

References

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  1. ↑ Filomeno, K. (30 January 2025). "Australia Day 2025 Honours List". Copyright Agency. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  2. ↑ "Robynne Quiggin | Westpac Wire". www.westpac.com.au. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  3. ↑ "Professor Robynne Quiggin". First Nations Clean Energy Network. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  4. ↑ "'First question to ask yourself is do you have a culturally safe workplace?'". Law Society Journal. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  5. ↑ "AustLII" (PDF).
  6. ↑ "NSW lawyers recognised in Australia Day Honours for ground-breaking contributions to law and community". Law Society Journal. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 "Robynne Quiggin". Bangarra. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  8. ↑ "Listen to us: we know what we need | Australian Human Rights Commission". humanrights.gov.au. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  9. ↑ "GG AO awards" (PDF).
  10. ↑ "Chair Professor Robynne Quiggin as the first Aboriginal trustee to Sydney's Powerhouse Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences Trust | Aboriginal Housing Office". www.aho.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  11. ↑ Macdonald, Anna (11 August 2022). "Movers & Shakers: Tassie's first female police commissioner". The Mandarin. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  12. ↑ "Robynne Quiggin: Deputy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commissioner". defence.humanrights.gov.au. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  13. ↑ "2022 Human Rights Day Oration by Larissa Behrendt | Australian Human Rights Commission". humanrights.gov.au. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  14. 1 2 "Board members". Net Zero Economy Authority. Archived from the original on 4 October 2026. Retrieved 4 October 2026.
  15. ↑ "Net Zero".
  16. ↑ "Professor Robynne Melva QUIGGIN: Officer of the Order of Australia". Australian Government. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
  17. ↑ "These are the First Nations recipients of January 26 honours". NITV. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  18. ↑ "Google Scholar". scholar.google.com.au. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  19. ↑ Quiggin, Robynne (January 2008). "Indigenous Knowledge and the Convention on Biological Diversity". The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education. 37 (S1): 46–55. doi:10.1375/S1326011100000363. ISSN 1326-0111.
  20. ↑ Quiggin, Robynne; Quiggin, John (25 February 2007). "Intellectual Property and Indigenous Culture". AgEcon Search. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  21. ↑ Quiggin, Robynne (9 November 2020). "Legal issues for indigenous artists - an update". Ngoonjook (26): 25–34.
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