Professor Adams’ extensive career spans across multiple countries, from working with former IRA prisoners during the Northern Ireland peace process to implementing methods of preventing war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity with the United Nations. 

His mission at Murdoch University is to inspire and train the next generation of freedom champions. 

“At this stage in my career, I’m really interested in what I can do to help train the next generation,” he said. 

I want to create more upstanders, rather than bystanders. And so, if coming to Murdoch is going to enable me to create a new generation of upstanders – that would be a legacy that I’d be very proud of. 

Returning to WA after many years abroad, Professor Adams said he was excited to be home, and to be joining a university with a trajectory that reflected his own values. 

“I wanted to work for a university that I felt was aligned with what I felt about the world, and what I believe is the transformative power of education,” Professor Adams said. 

“I chose Murdoch over other opportunities for exactly that reason – the commitment to social justice, a commitment to First Nations peoples. It feels like a university that now, at this stage of its history, is really aware of its place and what it can do in this society – and I think it’s exciting to be a part of that.”  

For the past four years, Professor Adams has served as CEO of the Centre for Victims of Torture (CVT), where he and his team provided clinical services and advocacy for tens of thousands of torture survivors and refugees around the world.  

Prior to his time at CVT, Professor Adams spent a decade as Executive Director of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, and during this time he made history by working with West African country, The Gambia, to take Myanmar to the International Court of Justice for genocide against the Rohingya Muslim people. He has also held a number of senior academic appointments. 

Dean of HASS Professor Dee O’Connor said she was proud the school had attracted such a highly skilled and globally recognised expert in the field.

“We were not the only Australian university that sought to recruit Professor Adams, and the fact he chose Murdoch University is a testament to our already strong academic standing and reputation in the human rights space,” Professor O’Connor said.  

Pro Vice Chancellor (College of Law, Arts and Social Sciences) Professor Deborah Gare said Professor Adams’ appointment was another step in the University’s journey towards building a bright and equitable future for everyone. 

“Professor Adams has an exceptional wealth of experience which he will be able to share with our students, helping to shape the future of human rights and justice,” Professor Gare said. 

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