The next step

“In the early stages of the deanship, the two most important qualities are humility and the willingness to listen” — Dean Fiona Kelly

Every journey begins with a single step, but for Fiona Kelly, it has also started with 14,000 kilometers and a transcontinental move from Melbourne to Edmonton. Stepping into the role of dean of the U of A Faculty of Law is far more than a change in geography; it signifies Kelly’s bold embrace of new challenges and a genuine eagerness to build on the Faculty’s storied reputation. As she starts her term, Kelly hopes to forge a dynamic path forward for the Faculty of Law — one built on collaboration and consultation. 

“In the early stages of the deanship, the two most important qualities are humility and the willingness to listen,” says Kelly, who earned a reputation for her approachability and transparency while serving as dean at La Trobe University Law School in Melbourne. 

She’s excited to take on the new adventure at the U of A. “The day I had my interview, I really enjoyed meeting people,” says Kelly. “There was good energy.” When she received the offer to serve as the 14th dean of the U of A Faculty of Law, “it was very easy to say yes!”

TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS

While her family pursued careers in science, Kelly felt a different pull. “I was educated in a strong tradition of justice and focus on community service, so I think that really influenced me as a young person,” she says. “I had a sense of obligation to serve the community.” Kelly found her calling law, earning a LLB from the University of Melbourne after graduating with a bachelor of arts. 

An impactful experience while clerking at the Family Court of Australia cemented the direction for her academic career. She assisted a judge with a case involving a custody and access dispute between a lesbian couple and their sperm donor. At the time, Australia did not have laws addressing same-sex families. “It really opened my eyes to the ways in which family law didn’t speak to the changing nature of our society,” says Kelly. “When there is no law, it is incredibly difficult for people to plan their lives and make decisions, and judges are working in the dark to determine an outcome.”

She went on to pursue an LLM and PhD from the University of British Columbia, specializing in the areas of family law and health law. Her research examines the legal regulation of assisted reproduction and donor linking, the process allowing donor-conceived people, donors and recipient parents to access each other’s identity. Kelly served as an associate professor at UBC before returning to Australia to take up the role of professor at La Trobe University.

She began her term as dean at La Trobe Law School in February 2020, shortly before Melbourne entered a strict lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. For a new dean, it was a trial by fire. While Kelly didn’t sign up to lead through a multi-year crisis, she was up to the challenge, prioritizing transparent communication to faculty, students and staff as she made critical decisions.

What initially inspired her to step into a leadership role at La Trobe was the “unrealized potential” of the law school. “It was an incredible opportunity to transform the school. I went in with a lot of excitement,” says Kelly. “I made some big promises, but I really trusted that the people in the school could deliver.” Kelly lived up to her promises, helping La Trobe Law School move up the Times Higher Education's World University Rankings, hiring impressive junior scholars and transforming the student experience.

Central to Kelly’s leadership philosophy is the belief that progress is achieved through inclusive decision-making and empowering others to contribute their unique insights and expertise. “Having a capable leadership team around me is how I do my best work, building a good team and then using their skill set along with my own to get the best outcomes for the school,” she says.

SETTING HER SIGHTS HIGH

Kelly has ambitious hopes for the U of A Faculty of Law, acknowledging that it is already well established and “is punching well above its weight” in terms of influential research and student success. She hopes to continue to grow the Faculty’s reputation as a national and international leader in cutting-edge research.

She also aims to build a reputation for a distinctive JD experience at the U of A, one shaped around experiential learning. She sees a lot of potential in looking beyond traditional opportunities, having found success at La Trobe in placing students with sporting organizations, including Tennis Australia and some of Australia’s largest football clubs. “It takes a lot of work to build those relationships, but it speaks to a greater number of students,” says Kelly. She also created the groundwork for a placement guarantee at La Trobe and is confident that U of A law students would greatly benefit from a similar initiative. 

Equity, diversity and inclusion and Indigenous initiatives are also top of mind for Kelly, as she notes that law schools have a “key role to play in shaping the culture of the profession.” “Engagement with Indigenous knowledge and legal traditions are now central to what it means to be a proficient lawyer in Canada,” says Kelly. “It is an imperative of the law school to equip the next generation of lawyers to answer [the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action].”

With keen awareness of the challenges students face, mental health will undoubtedly be a cornerstone of Kelly’s tenure. “Law schools have an obligation to ensure students’ wellbeing is part of the curriculum and their everyday experience of law school as we prepare them for a profession that experiences incredibly poor mental health,” she says. She wants to help equip law students with coping strategies while also questioning some of the traditions of law school and the profession.

A DREAM SITUATION

As Kelly settles into Edmonton with her daughter and two cats, she’s excited to take advantage of a vibrant city with a lot to offer, including the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. She also has plans to hike and camp her way across Alberta, and you’ll likely find her running the trails of the river valley. When she’s not outdoors, Kelly is an avid reader and is on the hunt for a new book club. “I’m a huge fan of women’s soccer, so I’m excited to hear Canada is getting a league in 2025,” says Kelly. “But I’m not yet willing to give up my Australian national team, the Matildas.”

Kelly feels incredibly lucky to have arrived in a community with such a strong alumni presence. “It is a bit of a dream situation for a dean to be presented with,” says Kelly. In the months ahead, her priority will be connecting with as many alumni as possible and listening carefully to what the alumni community wants from the Faculty of Law. “Alumni are key to providing feedback on what we’re doing in the faculty,” she says.