James Raymond McNamara

Member of the Land Court of Queensland

University education

Bachelor of Laws, Queensland University of Technology

Master of Public Administration, Harvard University (Ma)

Accredited Mediator (Bond University, Resolution Institute)

GAICD (Australian Institute of Company Directors)

Pre-judicial career

Admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland (1988)

Admitted as a barrister of the High Court of Australia (1989)

Member, National Native Title Tribunal (2014-2020)

Judicial career

Member, Land Court of Queensland (2020 – present)

Biographical notes

Member McNamara commenced practice in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions before moving to various practice areas in the Crown Solicitor’s Office.  He became engaged in Native Title law and policy in 1993 and for the next 20 years worked as a legal advisor and senior executive at a State and National level in Native Title, Cultural Heritage, resources, land administration and land management issues. During 1999-2000 Member McNamara worked as a legal consultant to the Ministry of Justice, British Columbia, on treaty table negotiations.  He completed post graduate studies at Harvard University with a focus on environmental economics, international law and mediation. In 2014 he was appointed a Member of the National Native Title Tribunal and worked extensively throughout Queensland and Western Australia. He assisted and facilitated engagement between traditional owners, project proponents, and government agencies to inform, educate and to assist agreement making, particularly in regional Australia.  Member McNamara was appointed to the Land Court of Queensland in 2020.