Dr Kevin Ryan QC OBE

About Dr Kevin Ryan QC OBE

1925-2009

After completing his secondary education at CBC, Kevin William Ryan entered the order of the Christian Brothers, where he stayed until he was 23. During that time he completed a Bachelor of Arts and enjoyed studying Latin and Greek. He later completed a Law Degee and lectured at the University of Queensland. After obtaining a scholarship from Cambridge University he was awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy in the Comparative Law of Trust between England and that of France, Italy, Germany and Russia. His research was done in the original texts of these countries.

After two years in England, Kevin returned to the University of Queensland and was made a Queen's Counsel and became a member of the Academy of Social Sciences - a rare distinction for an academic lawyer. In 1964 Kevin became Australian Trade Commission and Commercial Counsellor in Rome. His work was mainly with the United Nations and after two years he was posted to Geneva.

Returning to the University of Queensland as Dean of the Law School he had several books published and also became involved with two Government bodies known as the Work Discrimination Committee and the Migrants Commission and received the Commander of the British Empire for his work with migrants. He was also appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland.

Some other involvements were as Chairman of the Mater Hospitals Board, Chairman of the Archbishop's Finance Board and the Archbishop's Ethics Committee and as Vice Patron of Guide Dogs for the Blind.