Dr Louise Floyd

Barrister and A/Professor of Law

Dr Louise Floyd (class of 1984) is a barrister to the Supreme Court of Queensland and an associate professor of law at James Cook University. She has held visiting fellowships at Cornell University, Southern Methodist University and the University of Hong Kong. She was also the first Australian to be granted the MacCormick Fellowship to the University of Edinburgh Law School.

Specialising in employment and labour law, Dr Floyd has written extensive research articles and is an author of the Cambridge University Press book, Employment, Labour and Industrial Law in Australia. The focus of her articles has included the working conditions of judges, upstream bullying and most recently, emerging working conditions such as the increase of technology use and working from home. Dr Floyd said that this work is about how to "wed older forms of work with newer opportunities". Another topic she has researched is academic and other freedoms of speech. Dr Floyd called her work at James Cook University as the "best of a lot of worlds" in the sense that she has job security and the academic freedom to argue what she believes in and support it with evidence.

Dr Floyd is a prosecutor for the RSPCA on the animal law pro bono panel for the Bar Association of Queensland. Dr Floyd explained that although dealing with animal abusers takes a significant emotional toll, she is passionate about the work because "we need good people on the side of the animals." As well as advocating for animals in court, Dr Floyd has her own two dogs that are very important to her; west highland terriers, Mackie and Petal.

Dr Floyd is also thankful for the opportunity to travel in her work, such as taking trips to Japan during the cherry blossom season. She is currently continuing her education by taking an online management course at Cornell University.

At State High, Dr Floyd captained the senior A debating team and graduated with academic results in the top 1% of students statewide. She has fond memories of hanging out with her friendship group, 'The Tree People', underneath a large tree behind E Block. She is still very involved in the State High community and was the president of the Past Students Association. She believes the school has become more diverse and more embracing of different skills and pathways.

Dr Floyd's advice is to "never underestimate the importance of serendipity" and "make your own luck." She believes you should plan, work hard and know your skills and interests. However, you should also take "calculated risks" and never "shut yourself off to chance," because in her experience, that is when the best opportunities arise.

Written by Angeli Lamont*

*NB: This alumni profile was crafted by a State High student as part of the school's student/alumni interview project during the 2021 Centenary celebration.