The Australian Branch of the International Law Association is deeply saddened to learn of the passing today of Professor Ivan Shearer AM RFD, after a lengthy battle with illness.
Professor Shearer was for many years Challis Professor of International Law at the University of Sydney and more recently was an Adjunct Professor in his home state at the School of Law at the University of South Australia. He was a long-standing member of the Australian Branch and Committee of Management and a former President of the Australian Branch. He was a member of many ILA Committees, and contributed deeply to our modern understanding of the law of the sea.
His career beyond university life was full and demonstrated the breadth of his engagement. He was a member for two terms on the United Nations Human Rights Committee and a consultant to numerous States engaged in problems of international law. He served as a reserve member of the Australian defence forces for several decades, both in the Royal Australian Air Force, and in the Royal Australian Navy. He sat as an arbitrator in law of the sea arbitrations including as judge ad hoc in the Southern Blue Fin Tuna Case and sat as arbitrator in the Volga arbitration.
Professor Shearer was known to many through his teaching, his support of younger members of the profession and his writings. He was intelligent, generous and wise.
He will be greatly missed.