Stuart John Wood AM KC (Born 1967) is an Australian

barrister A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include taking cases in superior courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching law and ...

. In 2019, Wood was appointed for Australia Day Honours as a Member in the General Division of the

Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

"for significant service to the legal profession, particularly in the area of industrial relations". Wood is a current member of the board of the

National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery may refer to: *National Portrait Gallery (Australia), in Canberra *National Portrait Gallery (Sweden), in Mariefred *National Portrait Gallery (United States), in Washington, D.C. *National Portrait Gallery, London, with s ...

, non-executive chairman of Great Southern Press, and the Secretary of the

Samuel Griffith Society The Samuel Griffith Society was founded in 1992 by a group led by former Chief Justice of Australia Sir Harry Gibbs, former Senator John Stone, businessman Hugh Morgan and legal academic Greg Craven. Named after Sir Samuel Griffith, one of th ...

. He first signed the Bar roll on 25 May 1995 and was appointed King's Counsel on 22 November 2011. His principal chambers are in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

Education

In 1992, Wood graduated with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...

. Previous to studying the law, Wood had completed a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Chemistry at the same institution.

Career

Wood successfully represented Professor Peter Ridd against

James Cook University James Cook University (JCU) is a public university in North Queensland, Australia. The second oldest university in Queensland, JCU is a teaching and research institution. The university's main campuses are located in the tropical cities of Cairn ...

in 2019. The Federal Circuit Court ordered James Cook University to pay the

marine scientist Oceanography (), also known as oceanology and ocean science, is the scientific study of the oceans. It is an Earth science, which covers a wide range of topics, including ecosystem dynamics; ocean currents, Wind wave, waves, and geophysical flu ...

$1.2 million in compensation for what it ruled to be an unlawful sacking. Proponents have claimed this decision to be a historic win for freedom of speech in Australia. He, together with Eddy Gisonda and Nico Burmeister, represented sacked rugby union player Israel Folau.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wood, Stuart Officers of the Order of Australia Australian King's Counsel Australian barristers Melbourne Law School alumni Living people 1967 births