Alex Gardner is Emeritus Professor of Law at The University of Western Australia where has he taught and researched natural resources and environmental law since 1988.

He also taught constitutional law, administrative law and comparative law. Alex taught students in the LLB, Juris Doctor and Masters programs, and supervised to completion 8 higher degree by research students.

 

He has contributed to the UWA Law School’s Centre for Mining, Energy and Natural Resources Law since its inception in 1991. 

Alex became a UWA Emeritus Professor in 2025. In February 2025, the Law Council of Australia gave Alex the “Eminent Environmental Lawyer Award for Excellence 2025”.  In November 2025, Alex was awarded lifetime membership of the National Environmental Law Association for extraordinary contributions to Environmental Law.  

Alex is credited with 113 research outputs on his UWA staff profile. He has been a researcher in four national research

programs addressing interdisciplinary work in water resources, environment and mining. His work has been cited by the WA State Administrative Tribunal, WA Supreme Court, the High Court, State and Commonwealth Parliamentary Committees, and the Productivity Commission

Most recently, the Productivity Commission cited Alex’s submission in its National Water Reform Inquiry Report 2024.  

Alex has been an active legal professional, holding a legal practice certificate since 1994.

 

His professional service includes: 
•    member since 1988 of the Australian Mining and Petroleum Law Association (now the Energy and Resources Law Association) and the Editor of the Australian Resources and Energy Law Journal from 2012-2017; 
•    a foundation member in 1989 of the National Environmental Law Association (WA); 
•    helping found the Environmental Defenders Office (WA) in 1995, serving as convenor of the EDO (WA) Management Committee (2015-2018); 
•    senior sessional member of the Western Australian State Administrative Tribunal 2005-2017;
•    consultant to Western Australian and Australian government agencies, to the Environmental Defenders Office and private parties.   

Alex was born and raised on a farm in the Western Australian wheatbelt and now enjoys spending time with his wife on a small family farm at York.