Dr Shawkat Alam is Professor of Law and Director of the Centre for Environmental Law at Macquarie Law School, Macquarie University, Australia. Professor Alam is also Director of International Engagement at Macquarie Law School. Dr Alam holds an LLB with Honours from Rajshahi University, LLM from Dhaka University and PhD from Macquarie University.

Dr Alam's primary teaching and research expertise lies in the areas of international law, international environmental law, trade and environment law, human rights and sustainable development. His research focuses on the opportunities and challenges faced by developing economies to achieve sustainable development by examining international legal, institutional and policy frameworks.

Prof Alam is the author of a monograph, Sustainable Development and Free Trade (Routledge, 2008), and has co-edited several books:  International Natural Resources Law, Investment and Sustainability (Routledge, London, 2018); International Environmental Law and the Global South (Cambridge University Press, 2015); International Trade Law and the WTO (Federation Press, 2013); Routledge Handbook of International Environmental Law (Routledge, 2012); and Globalisation and the Quest for Social and Environmental Justice: The Relevance of International Law in an Evolving World Order (Routledge, 2011).

Prof Alam has published in leading journals including  Netherlands International Law Review, Georgetown International Environmental Law Review, Journal of Business Ethics, Asian Journal of International Law, Journal of World Investment and Trade, Marine Policy, Review of European, Comparative and International Environmental Law, and Journal of World Trade Law.

Public international law, international environmental law, international trade and environment nexus, WTO and sustainable development, international human rights law, regional trade and investment agreements and the environment, globalisation and sustainable development, law and development, governance and public policy, environmental governance, sustainable forest management.

• LAW 852 - Trade and Environment Law

• LAW 860 - International Environmental Law

• LAWS8015- International Law

Current Supervisions 

Primary Supervisor 

• Md. Saif Uddin Ahammad, Thesis Title, 'Implementation of Trade Facilitation Framework under the WTO: An Assessment of National Regulatory Framework in Bangladesh' (PhD).

• Sheikh Mohammad Towhidul Karim, Thesis Title, 'Improving Patient Safety in Healthcare in Bangladesh': Opportunities and Challenges' (PhD).

• Md. Abdul Mannan, Thesis Title, 'Is Organisational culture a barrier to civil service reform in Bangladesh?: A legal and policy analysis'  (PhD).

• Abdullah Al Arif, Thesis Title, 'Achieving Sustainable Marine Fisheries in Bangladesh: A Legal and Policy Analysis" (PhD).

•  Badiul Alam, Thesis Title, 'Management of International Climate Change Adaptation Finance under the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol from the Perspective of the Least Developed Countries: A case study of Bangladesh' (PhD).

• Huda Alqasmi, Thesis Title, 'The Relationship between Consumer Law and Sustainable Consumption' (PhD).

• Najnin Begum, Thesis Title, 'Access to Environmental Information and Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making Process in Bangladesh' (PhD).

• Zara Bending, Thesis Title, 'Governing the International Illegal Trade in Wildlife: How the law of treaties and rules of the WTO contend with the trade in rhino horn' (PhD).

• Kirsten Davies, Thesis Title, 'What Value Can Customary Law Add to Rebuild Coupled Nature Human Systems in Climate Change Adaptation?' (PhD).

• Peerapon Jaderojananont, Thesis Title, 'The Cooperative Management and Conservation of Transboundary Heritage Sites in the Southeast Asia Region' (PhD).

• Rhys Manley, Thesis Title, 'Liberalisation of Trade in the Era of Increasing Supervision of the Financial System: A Model for Promoting Financial Stability and Inclusion' (PhD).

• Sheikh Noor Mohammad, Thesis Title, 'An Evaluation of the Integration of Ecosystem Based Approach in Legal and Policy Framework for the Sustainable Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystem: A Case Study of the Sundarbans of Bangladesh'. (PhD).

• S M Atia Naznin, Thesis Title, 'Judging the Right to Housing: Towards an Appropriate Judicial Remedy in Litigations on Forced Slum Evictions in Bangladesh' (PhD).

Associate Supervisor

• Ummey Tahura, Thesis Title, 'Case Management in Reducing Backlog: Potential Adaptation from the NSW District Court to the Bangladeshi Civil Trial Courts' (PhD).

• Hau Nguyen, Thesis Title, 'Vietnamese Corporate Governance Mechanisms Through Transplanting Australian Corporate Governance' (PhD).

• Nadira Sultana, Thesis Title, 'A Critical Exploration of Policy and Practice Pertaining To Climate Justice, Sustainable Development And Gender Mainstreaming: A Case Study of Bangladesh' (PhD).

Past Supervisions

Primary Supervisor

• Muhammad Towhid Islam, Thesis Title, 'The TRIPs Agreement of the WTO: Implications and Challenges for Bangladesh' (PhD).

• Sharmin Jahan Tania, Thesis Title, 'The Interface between Market Access and Sustainable Development: Implications for Sustainable Development for Least Developed Countries' (PhD).

• Mia Mahmudur Rahim, Thesis Title, 'Corporate Social Responsibility: Small and Medium Enterprises, Challenges and Options' (PhD).

• Yuri Suzuki, Thesis Title, "Regional Legal Framework on ABS (Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing) in Small Islands Developing Countries in the South Pacific Region" (PhD).

• Tanzim Afroz, Thesis Title, "Legal Framework for Coastal Zone Management in Bangladesh" (PhD).

• Pradip Royhan, Thesis Title, "The Interface between the Environmental and Health Related Requirements and Market Access: The Challenges for the Least Developed Countries' Market Access under WTO" (PhD).

• Charu Sharma, Thesis Title, "Civil Liability for Environmental Damage: An Analysis of Environmental Claims under Private and Public Law in India" (PhD) (completed).

• Shireen Daft, Thesis Title, " 'The Relationship between Human Security Discourse and International Law: A Principled Approach" (PhD).

• Laely Nurhidayah, Thesis Title, "Transboundary Haze Pollution in ASEAN Region: An Assessment of Regional and National Legal Framework in Indonesia" (PhD).

Associate Supervisor:

• Nakib Mohammad Nasrullah, Thesis Title, 'Corporate Social Responsibility in Bangladesh: The Concerns of Private Enterprises' (MPhil).

• Harold Baroi, Thesis Title, 'The Right to Information Act: Issues & Challenges of its Implementation in Bangladesh', (PhD).

• Rizwanul Islam, Thesis Title, 'Trade Cooperation within SAARC and Possibility of Integration: A Historical, Legal and Economic Perspective' (PhD).

• Trish Blazey, Thesis Title, 'The Value of Carbon Sinks in Mitigating Green House Gas Emissions' (PhD).

• Shima Zaman, Thesis Title, 'Mainstreaming Human Rights Issues in the WTO Agreements: A New Era to Enforce Human Rights Obligation in International Trade' (PhD).

• Jakerul Abedin, Thesis Title, 'International Watercourses Law and the Utilisation of Fresh Water Resources in the Ganges Basin' (PhD).

• Natalia Rodriguez Uribe, Thesis Title, 'Rights-Based Environmental Protection in Colombia: Implementation Challenges in Environmental and Cultural Diversity Issues' (PhD).

• Mostafa Mahmud Naser, Thesis Title, 'Climate Change and Forced Migration' (PhD).

• Iman Prihandono, Thesis Title, 'Violation of International Human Rights Law by TNCs in Indonesia: The Prospect of Transnational Litigation' (PhD).