Dr Ivana Damjanovic Access
Dr. Ivana Damjanovic is a distinguished legal academic, former diplomat, and international trade expert currently serving as a Senior Lecturer at the Canberra Law School. Her career spans across international investment governance, European Union law, and climate change policies. Current Academic Leadership
Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on Critical Minerals: She leads this center at the University of Canberra, focusing on the intersection of trade and critical resource security.
Visiting Research Fellow: Dr. Damjanovic holds a research fellowship at the Centre for European Studies at the Australian National University (ANU).
Specialization: Her research is interdisciplinary, covering international investment law reform, EU external relations, and the impact of climate change on trade policies. CEO and Advisory Group - Export Council of Australia
Dr. Ivana Damjanovic is a leading legal scholar and practitioner who specializes in the intersection of international investment law, EU law, and global geopolitics. As an Associate Professor at the University of Canberra and a Research Fellow at the ANU Centre for European Studies
, her work is critical for understanding how major powers like the European Union are reshaping the rules of global trade and investment. Bridging Diplomacy and Academia
What makes Dr. Damjanovic’s perspective "deep" is the rare blend of high-level diplomatic experience and rigorous academic inquiry. Before her career in academia, she spent nine years as a career diplomat for Croatia
, serving in various postings across Europe and Australia. This hands-on experience in international relations informs her research, allowing her to analyze legal frameworks not just as abstract rules, but as tools of political and economic strategy. Core Research: Reforming Global Investment Her primary focus is the evolution of International Investment Law Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) system. Her acclaimed 2023 book,
The European Union and International Investment Law Reform: Between Aspirations and Reality
(Cambridge University Press), explores the EU's push to replace traditional ad hoc arbitration with a more transparent "Investment Court System". Key themes in her work include: The Rule of Law:
Analyzing whether the EU’s proposed reforms actually strengthen the rule of law or simply serve its own geopolitical interests. Climate & Trade:
Investigating how the EU's climate change agenda and "green strategies" are integrated into its external trade policies. Critical Minerals: Leading current research on the EU Centre of Excellence in Critical Minerals
, focusing on the legal frameworks needed for the global energy transition. Global Influence and Collaboration Dr Ivana Damjanovic dr ivana damjanovic
Dr. Ivana Damjanovic is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Canberra and a leading expert in international law and the European Union’s global regulatory role. Her work uniquely bridges the gap between high-level diplomatic policy and academic legal research. Current Roles and Affiliations
As of early 2026, Dr. Damjanovic holds several prominent academic and professional positions:
University of Canberra: Associate Professor at the Canberra Law School.
Australian National University (ANU): Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for European Studies.
EU Centre of Excellence in Critical Minerals: Serving as the current project lead.
Professional Memberships: She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law and an accredited mediator. Areas of Expertise
Dr. Damjanovic’s research is interdisciplinary, focusing on the intersection of law, politics, and economics. Her primary fields of expertise include:
International Investment Law: Specializing in Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) and global investment governance.
European Union Policy: Analyzing the EU's external trade, investment, and climate change strategies.
Sustainable Development: Exploring how trade agreements can enforce climate diplomacy and green recovery. Background and Education
Before her academic career, Dr. Damjanovic served for nine years as a career diplomat for Croatia, with postings in both Europe and Australia. She also worked as a trade advisor for the Delegation of the European Union to Australia. Her academic credentials include: PhD: The Australian National University (2020). Master of Economic Science: University College Dublin. Master of Laws (LL.M.): University of Zagreb. Key Publications In 2023, she published a major monograph titled
The European Union and International Investment Law Reform: Between Aspirations and Reality Early Life and Medical Formation To understand the
through Cambridge University Press. Her other works appear in journals like the European Journal of Risk Regulation and the Columbia Journal of European Law. Ivana DAMJANOVIC - University of Canberra Research Portal
Dr. Ivana Damjanovic is an academic and legal expert specializing in international investment law, trade policy, and the external relations of the European Union. She currently serves as an Associate Professor of Law University of Canberra Jean Monnet Research Fellow
at the Australian National University (ANU) Centre for European Studies. ⚖️ Areas of Expertise
Her work is highly interdisciplinary, bridging the gap between legal frameworks and political realities. Her primary research focus includes: International Investment Law:
Specifically the reform of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms. EU External Relations:
Analyzing how the EU acts as a global actor in trade and investment. Climate Change & Policy:
Exploring the intersection of international trade law and environmental sustainability. Geopolitics:
Examining how global power shifts affect legal standards, including EU-Australia relations and security partnerships. 📚 Significant Publications In 2023, she published a major monograph titled
The European Union and International Investment Law Reform: Between Aspirations and Reality Cambridge University Press
. The book examines the EU’s attempts to reshape global investment rules and the challenges it faces in achieving those goals. 🎓 Professional Background
Dr. Damjanovic brings a diverse international perspective to her academic work: Qualified Lawyer: Admitted to practice in both Europe (Croatia) Diplomatic Experience:
Before her academic career, she served as a career diplomat for nine years. Education: She holds a PhD from the Australian National University (2020) and Master's degrees from University College Dublin University of Zagreb Global Recognition: She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law and an accredited mediator. 🌍 Teaching & Global Engagement The Lesson: Many people believe that if you
She is actively involved in teaching and professional training across the globe: University of Canberra:
Delivers units such as "Australia and Europe in Global Governance". Guest Lecturer: Has taught at universities in China, Bhutan, Indonesia, Belgium, Policy Advisor:
Provides training to Australian government and industry stakeholders on EU trade law and policy.
If you are looking for specific information, I can help you: Summarize her stance on the Energy Charter Treaty or ISDS reform. Find her recent articles on Australia-EU security partnerships. Locate contact details for academic collaboration at her university. specific aspect of her research or professional history? Ivana DAMJANOVIC - University of Canberra Research Portal
Early Life and Medical Formation
To understand the philosophy of Dr. Ivana Damjanovic, one must look at the foundation of her education. Emerging from a rigorous European medical system, Dr. Damjanovic demonstrated early on that her curiosity extended beyond textbooks. Her undergraduate and graduate studies were marked by a fascination with the physiological interplay between lifestyle factors and chronic disease.
While many of her peers specialized immediately, Dr. Ivana Damjanovic took a broader approach. She pursued a Master of Public Health (MPH) alongside her clinical rotations, realizing that treating a patient in a vacuum was ineffective if the social and environmental determinants of their illness were ignored. This dual-track education—clinical medicine layered with public health strategy—became the bedrock of her career.
1. The Physicist: The Story of the "Polymath’s Pivot"
Who she is: Dr. Ivana Damjanovic is a theoretical physicist (formerly at the University of Western Australia and now a Management Consultant at McKinsey & Company). She is well-known in academic circles for her work on black holes and the gauge-gravity duality, and for being a Rhodes Scholar.
The Useful Story: Early in her career, Dr. Damjanovic was deeply embedded in the abstract world of theoretical physics—a field known for being incredibly specialized and intellectually demanding. She was researching the fundamental nature of gravity and black holes.
However, the "useful" part of her story is not just her academic success, but her pivot. After achieving the pinnacle of academic success (including a PhD from Oxford), she realized that the skills used to solve the mysteries of the universe—complex problem solving, mathematical modeling, and abstract reasoning—were highly transferable to the "real world."
She transitioned into management consulting. The lesson from her story is the concept of "transformational value."
- The Lesson: Many people believe that if you study a niche subject (like black hole physics), you are stuck in that niche forever. Dr. Damjanovic’s story is useful because it proves that elite technical training is a mindset, not a cage. She demonstrated that the rigor required to understand quantum gravity is the same rigor required to solve complex organizational problems in business. It is a story about not letting your degree define your destination.
Specialties and Conditions Treated
Patients flock to Dr. Ivana Damjanovic for conditions that conventional medicine often fails to resolve. Her specialties include:
- Autoimmune Conditions: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. She focuses on the "leaky gut" connection to calm immune overactivity.
- Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia: Moving beyond the "it’s all in your head" diagnosis, she looks at mitochondrial dysfunction and viral reactivation.
- Gastrointestinal Disorders: SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), IBS, and reflux. She treats the microbiome rather than just masking the pain.
- Hormonal Imbalances: PCOS, perimenopause, and andropause, using bioidentical hormone therapy and lifestyle adjustments.
- Mental Health: Anxiety and depression from a metabolic perspective, addressing inflammation as a root cause of mood disorders.
Key Expertise
- Epidemiology & Infectious Diseases: Extensive background in tracking, analyzing, and managing communicable diseases, including vaccine-preventable illnesses.
- Public Health Policy: Played a central role in shaping Serbia’s response to health crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on evidence-based measures.
- Vaccination Programs: Advocacy and oversight of national immunization schedules and vaccine safety monitoring.
- Health Communication: Frequently served as a public-facing expert, translating complex epidemiological data for policymakers and the general public.