Ms Fleur Kingham

CITATION

Chancellor,

Ms Fleur Kingham is a highly respected legal professional and judicial leader whose distinguished career has helped to shape Queensland’s legal system and advance access to justice.

Ms Kingham graduated from The University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) in 1982 and was admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1985. She returned to UQ to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in 1988 before completing a Master of International Law with Distinction at the University of Nottingham in 1990.

During her time as a student at UQ, Ms Kingham began to show her commitment to civic engagement when she was elected as Secretary of the UQ Student Union in 1982, before being elected in 1983 as the Student Union’s first female President. She was subsequently elected to serve on the UQ Senate for 2 separate terms.

In 1984, Ms Kingham became a founding member of Women’s Legal Service Queensland, and she went on to found the Arts Law Centre of Queensland in 1991. During the 1990s, Ms Kingham lectured at UQ, including as director of the Master of Environmental Management Program for 3 years.

Ms Kingham’s judicial career spans 24 years, leading tribunals and courts, most recently as President of the Land Court of Queensland from 2016 until 2024. In that role, she transformed the Court into a model of efficiency.

As President of the Australian Association of Women Judges from 2021 to 2024, she was part of an international campaign to evacuate women judges in Afghanistan at risk after the Taliban took control.  She instigated a program to support the 20 women judges and their families who were granted refugee status in Australia.

In her current role as Chair of the Queensland Law Reform Commission, Ms Kingham leads the independent agency that advises government on works to achieve a just, clear and modern legal system.

Her contributions have been recognised with the Queensland Law Society’s Agnes McWhinney Award in 2010, an Honorary Doctorate from Griffith University in 2016, and the Law Council of Australia’s Eminent Environmental Lawyer Award in 2024.

Chancellor, I present to you Ms Fleur Kingham, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws with honours of this University, Master of International Law with distinction of the University of Nottingham and Doctor of the University honoris causa of Griffith University, for the award of Doctor of Laws honoris causa, bestowed by the Senate of The University of Queensland.