Greg Craven (academic)

Craven was educated at St Kevin's College in the Melbourne suburb of Toorak and graduated from the University of Melbourne with a BA (1980); a LL.B (1981); a LL.M (1984); and a PhD candidate.[5]

Craven has researched and written on constitutional law, government, public policy, constitutional history and federalism. He was a leading advocate of republicanism in the leadup to the (eventually unsuccessful) 1999 referendum on the proposed change in Australia from being a constitutional monarchy to a republic. He is also noted as a key Australian Catholic layman for opinions on important issues.

Before joining ACU, he was foundation dean and Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame Australia, and deputy vice-chancellor (strategy and planning) at Curtin University of Technology in Western Australia. He also served as executive director of the John Curtin Institute of Public Policy.[6]

Craven has published numerous books and articles, mainly in the field of constitutional law and constitutional history. He is a regular columnist for The Australian newspaper.[7][8]

Craven has served on a range of public bodies. He chaired the Teacher Education Ministerial Advisory Group and was deputy chair of the COAG Reform Council. He currently is a member of the Commonwealth Higher Education Standards Panel (HESP) and the lead vice-chancellor for Universities Australia on quality and regulation.[9]

In February 2019, following the 2018 trial and conviction of Cardinal George Pell for child abuse, Craven provided one of 10 positive character references for the purposes of the sentencing hearing.[10][11] Pell was eventually acquitted and all the convictions quashed by the High Court of Australia on 7 April 2020.[12]

Within the Australian Catholic community, Craven is a member of the National Catholic Education Commission and the Truth, Justice and Healing Council.

An expert in public law, Craven has published numerous journal articles and books.

• Craven, Gregory (2004). Conversations with the Constitution: not just a piece of paper. ISBN 978-0-86840-439-4.
• Secession: the ultimate states' right. Melbourne University Press. 1986. ISBN 978-0-522-84317-0.
• The High Court of Australia: a study in the abuse of power, Alfred Deakin Lecture Trust, 1997, ISBN 978-0-909888-27-5
• The Convention debates, 1891-1898: commentaries, indices and guide, Legal Books (published 1986), 1987, ISBN 978-0-949553-17-1
• "A Bill of Rights for Victoria?: some issues", Victorian Parliament. Legal and Constitutional Committee, Government Printer, 1986, ISBN 978-0-7241-4193-7
• Craven, G, ed. (1992). Australian federation: towards the second century : a work to mark the centenary of the Australasian Federation Conference held at Parliament House, Melbourne, 6-14 February 1890. Melbourne University Press.

• Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Melbourne (1980)
• Bachelor of Laws (LLB), University of Melbourne (1981)
• Master of Laws (LLM), University of Melbourne (1984),
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Gregory the Great (GCSG) (2015),[13]
• Officer of Order of Australia (AO) 2017[14]