The Hon Susan Crennan AC

The Hon Susan Crennan AC is a highly regarded lawyer and judge as well as an influential supporter of the humanities.

Beginning her career as a teacher of English literature, teaching at both the secondary and tertiary levels, Justice Crennan then went on to complete a Law degree, and a Postgraduate Diploma in History, focusing on constitutional law. Susan was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in 1979 and joined the Victorian Bar in 1980. She was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1989, a time frame described as exceptional.

Justice Crennan has been an Associate of the Institute of Patent Attorneys, one of Her Majesty's Counsel in Victoria and New South Wales, was the first Victorian woman appointed to the High Court of Australia (2005), and the first female Chair of both the Victorian Bar Council and the Australian Bar Association.

Justice Crennan has contributed significantly to the legal profession through her voluntary committee work. She has served as a member of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, the Victorian Law Foundation, the Board of the Victoria Legal Aid Commission and the Legal Practice Board of Victoria. She has also given her time and expertise to the University sector and was a member of the Council of the University of Melbourne.

Justice Crennan was been awarded The University of Melbourne's Doctor of the University (Honoris Causa), the University's highest honour, in recognition of her extraordinary service to the judiciary, to the legal profession and to the Australian community.

In January 2008, Justice Crennan received the highest Australian civilian honour, a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), for outstanding service to the law and the judiciary, particularly through leadership and mentoring roles with legal and professional associations, as a contributor to reform, and to the community.