Dr Lauren Sanders

Senior Research Fellow

School of Law

Faculty of Business, Economics and Law

l.sanders@uq.edu.au

Overview
Publications

Overview

Dr Lauren Sanders is a Senior Research Fellow with the TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland in the Law and Future of War project. Lauren’s current research focus is on the application of export control, arms trade and sanctions regimes relevant to the export and brokering of trusted autonomous military systems and associated technology. Her broader research and teaching interests include international criminal law, international humanitarian law and domestic counter-terrorism law. She is the editor of UQ's Law and Future of War podcast where she interviews experts in the fields of law and emerging and disruptive technology, military strategy and military affairs.

She completed her initial law studies with The University of Queensland, along with a Bachelor of Arts in Peace and Conflict Studies. Her PhD studies were competed at the Australian National University focused on the practical application of universal jurisdiction. She holds an LLM in Legal Practice, Masters in Defence and Strategic Studies and numerous Graduate certificates in military law.

Before returning to The University of Queensland, Lauren spent twenty years as an Australian Army signals officer and legal officer, and has served in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor and on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, a legal advisor to ADF domestic counter-terrorism operations, and an assistant Inspector-General of the ADF. She is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff College, and was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross for her work as the Command Legal Officer within Special Operations Command.

She supports the training of military legal officers with the University of Adelaide's Legal Training Module Level Three (Masters Law Course); and is a reserve legal officer, where she is a member of the Principal Writing Team for the Australian Defence Force’s Law of Armed Conflict Manual, and teaches at the Indo-Pacific Centre for Military Law and the ADF's Military Law Centre.

Research Interests

War crimes
Export controls and sanctions
International humanitarian law
State responsibility
Law relating to military emerging and disruptive technology

Research Impacts

Lauren's resereach is used to inform government and Defence industry on best practices relating to the adoption of new and novel weapons technology and legal regulatory requirements; and the adoption of accountability mechanisms in armed conflict utilising new technologies.

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, Australian National University

Publications

Journal Article: Rwanda Revisited: Genocide, Civil War, and the Transformation of International Law, edited by Phillip Drew, Bruce Oswald, Rob McLaughlin, and Jeremy Farrall

Sanders, Lauren (2024). Rwanda Revisited: Genocide, Civil War, and the Transformation of International Law, edited by Phillip Drew, Bruce Oswald, Rob McLaughlin, and Jeremy Farrall. Global Responsibility to Protect, 1-3. doi: 10.1163/1875984x-20240003
Journal Article: Australia’s defense export control regime and critical technologies

Sanders, Lauren (2024). Australia’s defense export control regime and critical technologies. Journal of Strategic Trade Control, 2 (1) 1, 1-27. doi: 10.25518/2952-7597.93
Other Outputs: Law and the Future of War Research Group submission to the inquiry into the Department of Defence Annual Report 2022–2023

Sanders, Lauren, Hartridge, Sam, Liivoja, Rain, Nunn, Natalie, Walker-Munro, Brendan and Wolf, Renato (2024). Law and the Future of War Research Group submission to the inquiry into the Department of Defence Annual Report 2022–2023. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.

View all Publications

Publications

Book Chapter

Lawfare in the 21st Century

Sanders, Lauren (2023). Lawfare in the 21st Century. Routledge Handbook of the Future of Warfare. (pp. 109-119) edited by Sebastian Kaempf and Artur Gruszczak. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003299011-13
Lawfare in the 21st Century

Sanders, Lauren (2023). Lawfare in the 21st Century. Routledge Handbook of the Future of Warfare. (pp. 109-119) London: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003299011-13

Journal Article

Rwanda Revisited: Genocide, Civil War, and the Transformation of International Law, edited by Phillip Drew, Bruce Oswald, Rob McLaughlin, and Jeremy Farrall

Sanders, Lauren (2024). Rwanda Revisited: Genocide, Civil War, and the Transformation of International Law, edited by Phillip Drew, Bruce Oswald, Rob McLaughlin, and Jeremy Farrall. Global Responsibility to Protect, 1-3. doi: 10.1163/1875984x-20240003
Australia’s defense export control regime and critical technologies

Sanders, Lauren (2024). Australia’s defense export control regime and critical technologies. Journal of Strategic Trade Control, 2 (1) 1, 1-27. doi: 10.25518/2952-7597.93
Tinker, tailor, soldier, robot – Military human-machine integration and the law

Sanders, Lauren (2022). Tinker, tailor, soldier, robot – Military human-machine integration and the law. Medicine and Law, 41 (4), 571-586.
The utility of weapons reviews in addressing concerns raised by autonomous weapon systems

Copeland, Damian, Liivoja, Rain and Sanders, Lauren (2022). The utility of weapons reviews in addressing concerns raised by autonomous weapon systems. Journal of Conflict and Security Law, 28 (2), 285-316. doi: 10.1093/jcsl/krac035

Conference Publication

Australia's weapon review process and the incorporation of artificial intelligence

Sanders, Lauren (2023). Australia's weapon review process and the incorporation of artificial intelligence. International Seminar on establishing policy guidelines and directives for the ROK Ministry of National Defense to regulate research and development and use of the Lethal Autonomous Weapon System, Seoul, Korea/Online, 31 October 2023. The Korean Association of International Security and Cooperation:
AI and acronyms to reduce cognitive bias and civilian harm

Sanders, Lauren, Davern, Pamela and Montazzoli, Matt (2023). AI and acronyms to reduce cognitive bias and civilian harm. Technology, International Law and Non-Legal Sources: Possibilities and Pitfalls, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 23 September 2023. Griffith University Law Futures Centre.
Multidisciplinary inputs to legal reviews

Sanders, Lauren and Copeland, Damian (2023). Multidisciplinary inputs to legal reviews. Technology, International Law and Non-legal Sources, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 29 September 2023. Griffith University Law Futures Centre.
Multinational sanctions: imposition and ramifications

Sanders, Lauren (2023). Multinational sanctions: imposition and ramifications. Cornerstone Rule of Law - Australian Bar Association, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 21-23 September 2023.
Resilience in IHL: a storm in a teacup drone? Lessons for Australia from Ukraine on the resilience of IHL in a domestic setting.

Sanders, Lauren (2023). Resilience in IHL: a storm in a teacup drone? Lessons for Australia from Ukraine on the resilience of IHL in a domestic setting.. 30th Annual ANSZIL Conference, Wellington, New Zealand, 29 June-1 July 2023.
State approaches in the LAWS GGE to ethics through the Martens Clause

Liivoja, Rain and Sanders, Lauren (2023). State approaches in the LAWS GGE to ethics through the Martens Clause. Critical Reflections on AI Ethics Principles and Societal Inputs for the Governance of Military AI, The Hague, Netherlands, 26 April 2023.
The duty to act in armed conflict

Devereux, John and Sanders, Lauren (2022). The duty to act in armed conflict. Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law, Canberra, ACT Australia, 30 June-2 July 2022.
Built in, not bolted on: the argument for integration of legal considerations during the design and development of novel military technologies

Sanders, Lauren (2022). Built in, not bolted on: the argument for integration of legal considerations during the design and development of novel military technologies. Centre for International Law - International Humanitarian Law and Future Warfare, Pune, India, 28-29 April 2022.
Reflections on fighting non-international armed conflicts for 20 Years: the differences in targeting ISIS compared to the Taliban

Sanders, Lauren (2019). Reflections on fighting non-international armed conflicts for 20 Years: the differences in targeting ISIS compared to the Taliban. Respecting Military Law, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 12-13 March 2019.
The Australian perspective on battlefield evidence and captured enemy material

Sanders, Lauren (2017). The Australian perspective on battlefield evidence and captured enemy material. Captured Enemy Material Conference, Tampa, FL, United States, 3-5 October 2017. USA:

Other Outputs

Law and the Future of War Research Group submission to the inquiry into the Department of Defence Annual Report 2022–2023

Sanders, Lauren, Hartridge, Sam, Liivoja, Rain, Nunn, Natalie, Walker-Munro, Brendan and Wolf, Renato (2024). Law and the Future of War Research Group submission to the inquiry into the Department of Defence Annual Report 2022–2023. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
With war raging in Gaza, how much do we know about Australia’s weapons exports? The answer: very little.

Sanders, Lauren (2023, 11 24). With war raging in Gaza, how much do we know about Australia’s weapons exports? The answer: very little. The Conversation
Preparing Australian universities for AUKUS

Walker-Munro, Brendan, Sanders, Lauren and Liivoja, Rain (2023, 08 07). Preparing Australian universities for AUKUS The Strategist
Enhancing the Legal Review of Autonomous Weapon Systems: Report of an Expert Meeting

Goussac, Netta, Jevglevskaja, Natalia, Liivoja, Rain and Sanders, Lauren (2023). Enhancing the Legal Review of Autonomous Weapon Systems: Report of an Expert Meeting. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Law and the Future of War Research Group, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/2bbfd31
Legal Reviews of Autonomous Weapon Systems: Report on Submissions to the GGE on LAWS (version 2.0)

Cavdarski, Rosie, Sanders, Lauren and Liivoja, Rain (2023). Legal Reviews of Autonomous Weapon Systems: Report on Submissions to the GGE on LAWS (version 2.0). Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Law and the Future of War Research Group, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/1c0275b
Weapons reviews of autonomous weapon systems: report on submissions to the GGE on LAWS (version 1.0)

Cavdarski, Rosie, Sanders, Lauren and Liivoja, Rain (2023). Weapons reviews of autonomous weapon systems: report on submissions to the GGE on LAWS (version 1.0). Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Law and the Future of War Research Group, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/6670709
ANZSIL conversation post - law and the future of war update on the REAIM Summit

Liivoja, Rain, Sanders, Lauren and Walker-Munro, Brendan (2023, 03 07). ANZSIL conversation post - law and the future of war update on the REAIM Summit ANZSIL Perspective 9-14.
Law and the Future of War: Season 6 - 10, 2023

Sanders, Lauren (Producer) (2023). Law and the Future of War: Season 6 - 10, 2023. Brisbane, Queensland: Buzzsprout.
MH17 convictions pave the way for war crime prosecutions from Ukrainian invasion

Sanders, Lauren (2022, 11 18). MH17 convictions pave the way for war crime prosecutions from Ukrainian invasion The Conversation
Atrocity crimes in Ukraine: What can Australia do?

Breitwieser-Faria, Yvonne and Sanders, Lauren (2022, 05 04). Atrocity crimes in Ukraine: What can Australia do? ILA Reporter
Accountability and Ukraine: Hurdles to prosecuting war crimes and aggression

Sanders, Lauren (2022, 03 09). Accountability and Ukraine: Hurdles to prosecuting war crimes and aggression Articles of War
Law and the Future of War: Season 3 - 6, 2022

Sanders, Lauren (Producer) (2022). Law and the Future of War: Season 3 - 6, 2022. Brisbane, Queensland: Buzzsprout.
Engaging with the industry: integrating IHL into new technologies in urban warfare

Copeland, Damian and Sanders, Lauren (2021, 10 07). Engaging with the industry: integrating IHL into new technologies in urban warfare International Committee of the Red Cross: Humanitarian Law and Policy Blog 1-5.
Holding autonomy to account: legal standards for autonomous weapon systems

Sanders, Lauren and Copeland, Damian (2021, 09 15). Holding autonomy to account: legal standards for autonomous weapon systems Articles of War 1-7.
Enforcement of crimes of universal jurisdiction in the absence of traditional jurisdictional nexuses: state, regional and international practice in bringing individuals to justice

Sanders, Lauren (2021). Enforcement of crimes of universal jurisdiction in the absence of traditional jurisdictional nexuses: state, regional and international practice in bringing individuals to justice. PhD Thesis, College of Law, Australian National University. doi: 10.25911/5GTE-ZW87
Developing an approach to the legal review of autonomous weapon systems

Sanders, Lauren and Copeland, Damian (2020, 11 27). Developing an approach to the legal review of autonomous weapon systems ILA Reporter 1-6.

This staff member is a UQ Expert for media in the following fields:

Universal jurisdiction prosecutions, laws of armed conflict, military prosecutions, sanctions, export controls, autonomous weapons systems, weapons law, War crimes, laws of war, international humanitarian law

They are happy to lend their expertise to your articles or broadcasts and share their research discoveries and insights with the community via media channels.

For additional assistance with story ideas, general advice and information or help with seeking further experts, please email the UQ Media Team or telephone (07) 3365 1120.

The University of Queensland

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