We are delighted to report that the latest book edited by our President, Dr Augusto Zimmermann’s edited book was officially launched in Sydney by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott MP on 23 January, 2019 at the University of Notre Dame Australia. The list of attendees included leading members of the legal, academic and political professions in Australia. The night was a tremendous success and a special occasion for Professor Moens. It was one of the largest book launches that the university has seen.
‘A Commitment to Excellence: Essays in Honour of Professor Gabriël A. Moens’ is a collection of essays edited by Dr Zimmermann and written by leading lawyers and academics who share a profound admiration for Professor Moens’s extraordinary life and legacy. These essays address some of the topics Professor Moens has taught during his highly successful career. These include constitutional law, contract law, comparative law, jurisprudence, European Union law, International commercial law, trade law, arbitration law and practice, and mooting. The result is a deeply impressive collection of articles that is a most fitting tribute to the remarkable career of Professor Moens.
Dr Zimmermann highlighted that Professor Moens’s legacy is nothing short of extraordinary. Professor Moens has acquired a very solid reputation as a leading academic expert in constitutional law, legal philosophy, and business law, in particular in its international and comparative dimensions. He has also received countless Excellence in Teaching and Research awards throughout his career. One such example is in 1999, he received the Australian Award for University Teaching in Law and Legal Studies.
The Hon Tony Abbott MP, our former Prime Minister, was the second person to speak at the event. He praised the book for its remarkable academic quality and for honouring the manifold accomplishments of Professor Moens. Mr Abbott acknowledged not only Prof Moens’s unique contributions for the understanding of the law, but also his contributions to social debate and public policy more broadly.
Professor Moens, of course, was also a speaker for the evening. He delivered a colourful account of his impressive legacy and accomplishments as a leading academic and university administrator. In doing so, he emphasised the importance to persevere and always aspire for academic excellence whilst remaining firm to one’s moral convictions.
The Dean of UNDA Law School Sydney, Professor Michael Quinlan, opened the event and the closing remarks were given by Associate Dean (Research), Keith Thompson. They made short speeches and highlighted the achievements of Professor Moens as well as the quality of the publication edited by Dr Zimmermann, to which they have each contributed articles on the topic of religious freedom.
The Western Australian Legal Theory Association congratulates Dr Zimmermann, Professor Moens, and the UNDA Law School, Sydney, in particular its Law Dean, Professor Michael Quinlan, and its Associate Dean, Keith Thompson, on the realisation of this truly memorable event.