In this profile we speak to Dr Madeline Taylor about her current research on ensuring the transition to net-zero is just for wider communities, and her recent success including winning the coveted Excellence Award and Academic/Researcher of the Year at the Lawyer’s Weekly Women in Law Awards 2023.

  1. What is your background and what brought you to Macquarie?

    I came to Macquarie Law School in 2021 following Professor Tina Soliman Hunter leading and establishing energy law as an area of strength for Macquarie. I have been immensely proud of the continuing excellence of Macquarie in leading research examining the energy transition – one of the greatest intergenerational and technical challenges and opportunities of our time. Macquarie’s leading research is showcased in the establishment of the Centre for Energy and Natural Resources Innovation and Transformation (CENRIT) and the Transforming Energy Markets Consilience Research Centre.

  2. How did you originally become interested in your area of research, and what keeps you interested in it?

    I have always been fascinated by the need for socio-legal approaches to our energy transition. My research journey and interest in energy was ignited by the socio-legal conflicts concerning coal seam gas extraction in prime agricultural regions of Queensland and British Columbia. Since then, I have continued to focus on elements of justice on how to create legal frameworks to promote sustained benefits in the race to reach net zero emissions. Each of these complex policy goals requires regulatory innovation to embed justice across the energy supply chain and continues to ignite my passion to ensure our laws and policies produce a just transition. Australia’s pursuit to become renewable energy superpower, hydrogen exporter, and a leader in critical minerals development positions the energy transition as an enduring source of fascination for me.

  3. Tell us a bit about your current research and what makes it so important?

    My research focuses on embedding energy justice law and policymaking in response to the urgent need to reach net-zero energy systems while ensuring wider community-level sustained benefits. This overarching research objective is informed by my engagement with industry, government, and communities to disseminate knowledge on how the law can create a more just energy transition. The aim of my research is to develop innovative and positive symphonies of knowledge exchange and research translation toward the global push to net zero emissions and beyond. Creating an energy transformation that embeds communities at its heart is crucial for its sustained success against the backdrop of the federal government’s recent announcement to upgrade the Capacity Investment Scheme to produce 32GW of renewable energy generation and storage – consisting of 9GW of battery capacity and 23GW of variable renewable energy capacity. My most recent research examines the need for energy justice in legal frameworks advocating for mandatory benefit sharing, enforceable corporate energy transition plans, and examining how regulatory frameworks can encourage solar energy proponents to explore potential co-location with agricultural activities. Research underpinning the energy transition in Australia and beyond is fundamental to creating more resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure while addressing increasing climate change impacts.

  4. Is there something you would like staff to know about?

    Macquarie Law School hosts CENRIT, one of the only interdisciplinary research centres in Australia focused on trifold areas of importance in the energy transition – energy, natural resources, and innovation to lead research and academic discourse in this critical field.

  5. What is something you have recently accomplished?

    I am extremely honoured to have recently been awarded the coveted Excellence Award and Academic/Researcher of the Year at the Lawyer’s Weekly Women in Law Awards 2023. I am so proud to have been recognised among so many exceptional and inspiring women across the Australian legal industry, and grateful to Lawyer’s Weekly and the judging panel for providing an opportunity to champion and celebrate talents and achievements.

    I am also proud to have been selected as one of the four recipients of the 2023 Chloe Munro Scholarship for Transformational Leadership. My scholarship cohort and I will undertake the Executive Ready course, a seven-month development program for middle to senior leaders. I believe in supporting and mentoring other women in the energy transition, developing leadership skills, and a network of supportive women is crucial to ensuring female leadership drives our energy system transformation to net-zero. I have been extremely lucky to have been heavily mentored throughout my career and I look forward to paying that honour forward.

  6. What is something you’ve read recently that has had an impact on you?

    Powering Up by Alan Finkel – a fascinating read which makes the case for Australia’s position in potentially becoming a clean energy leader and exporter to the world.

  7. What is your definition of success?

    Success takes so many forms – from exercising pure tenacity and grit when it feels as if you are facing barriers to feeling supported by your mentors and empowering others when your success is truly their success. Overall, I believe true success transforms us to be the best version of ourselves.

  8. A moment you felt proud?

    I felt extremely proud to win the Vice Chancellor’s Learning and Teaching ECR Award recently. My students are a constant source of strength and passion for me and working closely with Jada Bennett this year to develop our first YarnPod with Indigenous leader and my dear friend Associate Professor of Practice and Associate Dean (Indigenous Strategy and Services) Faculty of Medicine and Health at University of Sydney, Rick Macourt, was extremely rewarding. I feel honoured to provide a motivating and inspiring student-centred approach, guiding students to develop holistic skills necessary to thrive in their careers through career development learning opportunities.

  9. What is on your agenda for the rest of 2023 and into 2024?

I am looking forward to continuing to support our graduate researchers at Macquarie Law School in my role as Director of Research Training, contributing to our research excellence and leadership in energy at Macquarie University within my roles in CENRIT and the Transforming Energy Markets Research Centre. I am very excited to be undertaking the Executive Ready leadership course, striving for continued research impact in my research by engaging with industry, government, and NGOs, and continuing to collaborate with my incredible colleagues researching our energy transition for a more sustainable and secure future.