Dr Patrick Parkinson AM, MA, LLM, LLD is an Emeritus Professor of Law at the University of Queensland. He was Dean of Law at UQ from 2018 – 2021 and prior to this was a professor of law at the University of Sydney. He is a specialist in family law, child protection, law and religion and the law of equity and trusts. His books include Australian Family Law in Context (8th ed, 2023), Tradition and Change in Australian Law (5th ed, 2013), Family Law and the Indissolubility of Parenthood (2011), The Voice of a Child in Family Law Disputes (with Judy Cashmore, 2008), Child Sexual Abuse and the Churches (2nd ed, 2003) and Principles of Equity (editor, 2nd ed., 2003).

Professor Parkinson has been a member of the NSW Child Protection Council, and was Chairperson of a major review of NSW law concerning child protection which led to the enactment of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW). From 2004-2007 he was Chairperson of the Family Law Council, an advisory body to the federal Attorney- General, and also chaired a review of the Child Support Scheme in 2004-05 which led to the enactment of major changes to the child support system. He was appointed as a member of the Order of Australia in 2009. He was President of the International Society of Family Law from 2011-14.  In 2017-18 he was a member of the Independent Advisory Council for Redress for Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse which advised the federal Government on the design of the Redress Scheme.

He now lives in the Launceston area and is Executive Director of Publica (www.publica.org.au). He is also in part-time practice as a lawyer.