Michael Spence (academic)
Encyclopedia
The Reverend Dr Michael J. Spence (born 10 January 1962) is an Australia
n-born academic. Dr Michael Spence began as the 25th Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sydney
on 11 July 2008.
in 1988 to undertake doctoral studies, Dr Spence lectured in law at the University and also worked for the Australian Copyright Council
.
At Oxford, Dr Spence obtained his DPhil and continued to develop his career over the next 20 years. He became a Fellow of St Catherine's College
and a Lecturer of the University of Oxford in 1992. Three years ago he also obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Theology from the University of Oxford.
During his time at Oxford, Dr Spence became internationally recognised as a leader in the field of intellectual property theory. His work includes articles and books on both intellectual property law and the law of obligations, with a critical focus on suggested ethical and economic justifications of the existing regimes. He remains a consultant to the London law firm, Olswang
and serves as a WIPO
Arbitration and Mediation Centre Panelist. He has lectured on intellectual property
-related topics around the world, and held a number of visiting appointments in Boston
, Munich
and Siena
. He has twice been a Parsons Fellow at the Sydney Law School
.
He served as head of the Law Faculty at the University of Oxford and most recently, was Head of the Social Sciences Division, one of the four divisions that make up the University. Dr Spence oversaw significant growth of research activity and funding in the Social Sciences, and the strengthening of links between the social science departments, and between them and the University more broadly.
One of Dr Spence's priorities at Oxford was actively to encourage fundraising and substantial sponsorship from benefactors and corporate groups. He was a driving force behind the establishment and financial support of a number of Oxford's new research centres and institutes, such as the Oxford Centre for Educational Assessment and the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment
. His responsibilities included oversight of some of the University of Oxford's most innovative research units, including the James Martin 21st Century School and the Oxford-Man Institute for Quantitative Finance
.
priest
having trained for the priesthood at St Stephen's House, Oxford
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n-born academic. Dr Michael Spence began as the 25th Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
on 11 July 2008.
Education
Dr. Spence is an alumnus of the University of Sydney, having graduated with first class Honours in English, Italian and Law (BA (Hons) in 1985 and Law, LLB (Hons), in 1987. Before leaving for the University of OxfordUniversity of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1988 to undertake doctoral studies, Dr Spence lectured in law at the University and also worked for the Australian Copyright Council
Australian Copyright Council
Australian Copyright Council is an Australian non-profit organisation established in 1968 promoting the value of copyright.- Members :The council consists the following 23 members:* Aboriginal Artist Agency Limited...
.
At Oxford, Dr Spence obtained his DPhil and continued to develop his career over the next 20 years. He became a Fellow of St Catherine's College
St Catherine's College, Oxford
St Catherine's College, often called Catz, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its motto is Nova et Vetera...
and a Lecturer of the University of Oxford in 1992. Three years ago he also obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Theology from the University of Oxford.
During his time at Oxford, Dr Spence became internationally recognised as a leader in the field of intellectual property theory. His work includes articles and books on both intellectual property law and the law of obligations, with a critical focus on suggested ethical and economic justifications of the existing regimes. He remains a consultant to the London law firm, Olswang
Olswang
Olswang is an international law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom and with additional offices in the Thames Valley, Berlin, Brussels, Madrid, Paris and most recently Munich. It also works closely with a network of firms across eighty countries. The Lawyer ranked the firm 32nd largest in...
and serves as a WIPO
World Intellectual Property Organization
The World Intellectual Property Organization is one of the 17 specialized agencies of the United Nations. WIPO was created in 1967 "to encourage creative activity, to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world"....
Arbitration and Mediation Centre Panelist. He has lectured on intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
-related topics around the world, and held a number of visiting appointments in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
. He has twice been a Parsons Fellow at the Sydney Law School
Sydney Law School
Sydney Law School is the law faculty of the University of Sydney and is regarded as one of the most prestigious institutions of legal education in Australia and the Asia Pacific. Located in the main Camperdown campus of the University, with some operations at the St...
.
He served as head of the Law Faculty at the University of Oxford and most recently, was Head of the Social Sciences Division, one of the four divisions that make up the University. Dr Spence oversaw significant growth of research activity and funding in the Social Sciences, and the strengthening of links between the social science departments, and between them and the University more broadly.
One of Dr Spence's priorities at Oxford was actively to encourage fundraising and substantial sponsorship from benefactors and corporate groups. He was a driving force behind the establishment and financial support of a number of Oxford's new research centres and institutes, such as the Oxford Centre for Educational Assessment and the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment
Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment
The Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment is an interdisciplinary department of the University of Oxford that brings together leaders from academia, government, and enterprise to address global environmental challenges...
. His responsibilities included oversight of some of the University of Oxford's most innovative research units, including the James Martin 21st Century School and the Oxford-Man Institute for Quantitative Finance
Oxford-Man Institute
The Oxford-Man Institute of Quantitative Finance is an interdisciplinary research institute of the University of Oxford, England. Founded in June 2007, it brings together faculty, post-docs and students throughout the University who are interested in quantitative analysis of finance problems.The...
.
Personal life
Dr Spence is an ordained AnglicanChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
having trained for the priesthood at St Stephen's House, Oxford
St Stephen's House, Oxford
St Stephen’s House, Oxford , is an Anglican theological college and one of six religious Permanent Private Halls of the University of Oxford, England...
.