Chancellor

The Hon Martin Daubney AM KC

The Honourable Martin Daubney AM KC served as a judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland from 13 July 2007 to 31 December 2021. He was also President of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal from October 2017 until November 2021.

His appointment as Chancellor of Australian Catholic University took effect on 1 January 2022.

Mr Daubney was educated at Downlands College, Toowoomba. He initially undertook studies at the Yarra Theological Union (Diploma of Theological Studies) before attending the University of Queensland from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws. After 18 months practising as a solicitor, he was admitted to the Bar in 1988. In 2000 he was appointed Senior Counsel. In addition to an extensive practice as a commercial barrister, Mr Daubney became prominent as a mediator, particularly in commercial disputes. From 1994, he was also admitted to practise in Fiji, and appeared in numerous trials and appeals in that jurisdiction. In 2005, he chaired a Commission of Inquiry into the Queensland thoroughbred racing industry. Before his appointment to the bench, Mr Daubney served on the Council of the Bar Association of Queensland for more than 10 years in various roles, including as President from July 2006 until his appointment to the Supreme Court.

He has served on a wide range of community and philanthropic boards, including two terms on the Senate of the University of Queensland and his current appointment as a member of the Queensland Art Gallery Board of Trustees.

Among his awards and honours are the prestigious Australian Insurance Law Association Prize awarded in 2017 and the 2019 Colleges’ UQ Alumni Award. He is a Fellow of King’s College UQ. In 2018 Mr Daubney was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the law, and to the judiciary, to education, and to the community.

Mr Daubney has served the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane on the Archdiocesan Finance Council (since 2011; Chair since 2018). He was National Vice-President and Queensland Chair of the Australian Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (2009-2014; 2016-2017).

As Chancellor of ACU Mr Daubney is committed to ensuring effective corporate governance practices and strategic management in leading the ACU Senate and supporting the Vice-Chancellor and President and senior university management. He looks forward to representing ACU across industry and the broader community to strengthen ties and create awareness of opportunities, and working closely with the Catholic Church to ensure that ACU stays true to its mission, strong sense of identity, and distinctive Catholic vision.