PROFILE
Professor Natalie Skead
Started at UWA: 2002
National award-winning law teacher and prolific researcher
At UWA Law School we are fortunate to teach some of Australia’s brightest students. I love law and I love teaching, so having the opportunity to immerse myself in both of these loves is an immense privilege.Professor Natalie Skead
Professor Natalie Skead is Dean of the Law School at UWA. She is a national award-winning teacher and prolific researcher in the areas of equity, trusts, property, remedies, confiscation of proceeds of crime, and legal education. Professor Skead practised law in South Africa for 10 years before moving to Australia and completing her doctorate at UWA. She is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Fellow and Director of the Australian Academy of Law. She is also Chair of the Australasian Law Academics Association and Deputy Chair of the Council of Australian Law Deans.
As a dedicated teacher, a professional highlight was receiving a national Excellence in Teaching Award from the Federal Minister for Education and Training in December 2017. Professor Skead describes UWA Law School as a collegial, supportive environment that fosters, recognises and celebrates excellence in legal research, teaching and service.
Qualifications:
B.Com, LLB, SJD, GradCertTertTeach
Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2019
Federal Department of Education and Training, Australian Award for University Teaching, Award for Teaching Excellence, 2017
UWA Award for Teaching Excellence, 2016
Federal Office of Learning and Teaching, Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, 2012
Dean of UWA Law School’s therapy dog initiative
News
Natalie Skead: innovation and excellence in teaching
In January 1990, I walked into a large corporate law firm for the first day of my articles of clerkship, the dream of many a young law graduate at that time. I was ambitious and idealistic, brimming with excitement and confidence, thinking my law studies had equipped me with the knowledge and skills that I needed to be an excellent lawyer from day one.
Read moreCongratulations to the Dean and Head of School, Natalie Skead
Professor Natalie Skead is now a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), following the success of her application to Advance HE for Principal Fellowship at the recent Recognition Panel.
Read moreProfessor Skead wins national award
Professor Skead, Dean of the Law School, received a National Award for Teaching Excellence from the Minister for Education and Training at the Australian Awards for University Teaching.
Read moreThe Law Report, Proceeds of Crime Legislation
Natalie Skead speaks with Damien Carrick about the federal Proceeds of Crime Act and its use to freeze the bank account of former Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks following the publication of his autobiography, Guantanamo My Journey.
Read moreFeatured project
Confiscation of Proceeds of Crime
Confiscation of Proceeds of Crime legislation has been touted as Australia’s most effective weapon against serious and organised crime. Professor Skead’s research examines this claim, analysing effectiveness of the legislation and its impact, specifically on innocent third parties. This project is being run by a collaboration of researchers from UWA’s Law School, funded by the Australian Institute of Criminology.
Funding
2017
Australian Institute of Criminology
- Pocketing the Proceeds of Crime: The Legislation, Criminological Perspectives and Experiences
2015
Federal Office of Learning and Teaching
- Promoting Excellence in Sessional Teaching in Law
2014
Federal Office of Learning and Teaching
- Towards Excellence in Sessional Teaching in Law
Teaching
Supervisor opportunities
Professor Skead has been supervising PhD students since 2014. She has supervised topics focused on heritage protection, property law, legal education, fiduciary duties, and charitable trusts.
Professor Skead welcomes expressions of interest from prospective PhD students interested in private law, confiscation legislation or legal education.
If you’re interested in a PhD opportunity with Professor Skead, get in touch using the contact details below.

Related research hubs
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Law Research Hub
Sharing exciting, effective, current innovative teaching practices in the areas of law, socio-legal studies and criminology.
Read morePerth Centre for Energy and Resources Arbitration
Professor Skead is Director of the Perth Centre for Energy and Resources Arbitration, a not-for-profit established to coordinate and facilitate the resolution of disputes in the energy and resources sectors and related industries.
Read more