Eddie Cubillo

Professor Eddie Cubillo, a Larrakia, Wadjigan, and Central Arrernte man from the Northern Territory, is Director of The Mabo Centre and the Indigenous Law and Justice Hub at Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne. Admitted as a lawyer to the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, he earned a Bachelor of Laws from Northern Territory University in 2000 and completed his PhD in 2022 at the University of Technology Sydney. His doctoral thesis, titled What Does ‘Self-determination’ Mean in the Context of Legal Service Provision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, received the UTS Chancellors Gold Medal for its significance and quality, drawing on interviews with key stakeholders in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services movement.

Cubillo's distinguished career encompasses key leadership positions in Indigenous justice and governance. He has served as Chair of the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, Chair of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee, Anti-Discrimination Commissioner of the Northern Territory in 2010, Executive Officer of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, and Director of Community Engagement for the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory in 2017. Elected to the ATSIC Yilli Rreung Regional Council in 2002, he subsequently became its Chair. Presently, he acts as an Independent Representative on the Justice Policy Partnership under the Closing the Gap Agreement, co-chairs the Indigenous Governance Awards for Reconciliation Australia, and participates on the panel appointing members to the Victorian Treaty Authority. His research focuses on Indigenous governance and justice service delivery to First Nations peoples. Notable publications include the article '30th Anniversary of the RCIADIC and the “White Noise” of the Justice System' in the Alternative Law Journal (2021) and contributions to Pursuit by the University of Melbourne, such as 'Indigenous legal services continue to challenge Australia’s colonial justice system' (2026). Awards include National Indigenous Legal Professional of the Year (2015), a United Nations Indigenous Fellowship (2016), and the 2025 National NAIDOC Education Award. Recognized nationally and internationally for his expertise, Cubillo significantly influences Indigenous policy and legal education.

Professional Email: eddie.cubillo@unimelb.edu.au