Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt AO is the Director of Research at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Technology Sydney. She has a LLB and BJuris from UNSW and a LLM and SJD from Harvard Law School. 

Larissa has a legal background with a strong track record in the areas of Indigenous law, policy, creative arts, education and research. 

She has held numerous judicial positions and sat on various community and arts organisation boards. Larissa is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences of Australia and a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law. She chaired the national review of Indigenous Higher Education, was the inaugural chair of National Indigenous Television (NITV), the Chair of the Bangarra Dance Theatre, founding director of Sydney Story Factory (literacy program in Redfern) and director of Jimmy Little Foundation.

She is a member of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council and Land Commissioner, for NSW Land and Environment Court. She is currently Chair of the National Library of Australia and the Murrup Foundation, on the board of Sydney Dance Company and a Trustee of the Australian Museum. 

Larissa is also an award-winning author, filmmaker and host of Speaking Out on ABC Radio.

In 2020 she received an Order of Australia for distinguished service to Indigenous education and research, to the law, and to the visual and performing arts. In 2009 she was NAIDOC Person of the Year award and 2011 NSW Australian of the Year.