Asmaa Khadim is a PhD candidate at the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM) at The University of Queensland (UQ). Her PhD topic “Constitutional Convergence in Mining: A Procedural Framework for the Constitutional Protection of Environmental and Human Rights” aims to undertake a comparative study of the implementation of constitutional law principles within the context of natural resource development by examining the legal systems of major mining countries. The research examines both countries that provide constitutional guarantees of environmental rights and those that do not. In addition to Canada and Australia, the environmental rights protection mechanisms of Argentina, Brazil, India and South Africa are surveyed to assess the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of constitutional protection when applied to environmental human rights. In doing so, it is hoped that our understanding of the role of legal protection of environmental rights will be increased. Asmaa is being supervised jointly by Dr. Saleem Ali at CSRM and Dr. Tina Hunter at the T.C. Beirne School of Law, UQ.
Prior to commencing her PhD at CSRM, Asmaa worked as a Barrister and Solicitor in Ontario, Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Psychology and International Development Studies from McGill University and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. While attending law school, she specialised in International, Comparative and Transnational Law.
Asmaa was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in July 2004. She has expertise in litigation, legal research, mediation and negotiation, and case management. Asmaa has also represented clients through Ontario’s Legal Aid program and worked as Duty Counsel providing free legal advice to unrepresented individuals. She has experience in dealing with vulnerable clients, cross-cultural issues and gender-specific matters. In addition, she managed a boutique law firm in partnership with a colleague. After a number of years in private practice, she made the decision to apply her interest in constitutional law to an environmental/human rights framework, which led her to CSRM.
In conjunction with her doctoral studies, Asmaa is currently working as a Research Associate at the Centre for International Minerals and Energy Law (CIMEL) at the T.C. Beirne School of Law.