ILS International Law and Practice Course 2026 | May – November 2026, Sydney and Online
Session 5 – Professor Steven Freeland
Session 5:
Does Multilateralism Work? Developing Global Principles for the Governance of Space Activities
As space activities expand at an unprecedented pace, the challenge of ensuring their safe, sustainable and equitable governance has never been more important. This seminar will explore whether multilateral approaches remain effective in addressing the complex legal, political and commercial issues arising from the rapidly evolving space sector. Examining efforts to develop global principles for the governance of space activities, the discussion will consider the role of international cooperation in managing emerging challenges, promoting responsible behaviour in outer space, and balancing the interests of states, private actors and the broader international community. Join us for a timely and thought-provoking conversation on the future of space governance in an
increasingly contested and interconnected world.
Date
Tuesday,
8 September 2026
Time
7:45 am – 9:00 am
AEST
Location
Norton Rose Fulbright,
Level 5, 60 Martin Place,
Sydney NSW
Meet the Speaker
Professor Steven Freeland
Steven Freeland is Emeritus Professor of International Law at Western Sydney University, where he was previously the Dean of the School of Law, and Professorial Fellow at Bond University. He also holds Visiting or Adjunct positions at various other Universities/Institutes in Copenhagen, Vienna, Toulouse, Hong Kong, Montreal, Kuala Lumpur, Vancouver, Mumbai and London. Prior to becoming an academic, he had a 20-year career as an international commercial lawyer and an investment banker. He is a government-appointed Member of the Australian Space Agency Advisory Board and has been an advisor to the Australian, New Zealand, Norwegian and several other Governments on issues relating to national space legislative frameworks and policy.
He has represented the Australian Government at Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) meetings and, in June 2021, was appointed by UNCOPUOS as Vice-Chair of a 5-year Working Group addressing issues related to the exploration, exploitation and utilisation of space resources. He has also been a Visiting Professional within the Appeals Chamber at the International Criminal Court, and a Special Advisor to the Danish Foreign Ministry in matters related to the International Criminal Court.
He is a co-Principal of specialised space law firm Azimuth Advisory and is also a Director of the International Institute of Space Law, a Member of the Space Law Committee of the International Law Association and a Member of the Space Law and War Crimes Committees of the International Bar Association. In addition to co-Editing the Annotated Leading Cases of International Criminal Tribunals book series, he also sits on the Editorial Board / Advisory Board of several internationally recognised academic journals.