ACCESS - Advancing Capacity for Climate  and Environment Social Science
ACCESS - Advancing Capacity for Climate  and Environment Social Science
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Nnennaya Jennifer Nwali

Last modified: November 11, 2025
ACCESS Network

PhD Candidate and Teaching Assistant (Law)
University of Aberdeen

nwali.jennifer.n@gmail.com

About



The sector(s) I work in: Academic

www.abdn.ac.uk


Professional qualifications:

PhD in Law (ongoing), University of Aberdeen

LLM (Distinction), Energy & Environmental Law, University of Aberdeen

LLB (Hons), University of Sunderland

Legal Research & Just Transition Intern, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (Corporate Legal Accountability team)

Research Associate, Just Transition Lab, University of Aberdeen



Links


LinkedIn

Academic profile

Orcid

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About the organisation(s) I've worked for



Organisation name:

University of Aberdeen


About my experience and expertise



Personal statement:

I am a PhD researcher in law at the University of Aberdeen and a Legal Research & Just Transition Intern with the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (Corporate Legal Accountability team). My work examines just energy transitions and climate, energy, environmental governance law across Scotland, Nigeria, and South Africa. I use doctrinal, comparative, and socio-legal methods, including evidence synthesis, and policy analysis. I collaborate with civil society and academic partners to translate research into concise outputs for policy and practitioner audiences, and I welcome cross-disciplinary, practice-focused projects.



Key topic areas of research or interest:

Just transition; climate, energy, environmental and natural resources law; corporate accountability; extractives and critical minerals; community energy/benefits/impacts; IBAs and CDAs; climate justice and governance; AI governance and algorithmic accountability; data and platform governance in the public interest. Methods: doctrinal analysis; comparative law; socio-legal approaches (interviews, qualitative analysis); policy analysis and evidence synthesis.



Collaboration opportunities:

I welcome collaborations on Energy, environment and just-transition governance, Sub-national just transition design, Community energy, Corporate accountability in extractives/critical minerals, Critical minerals governance, Ethical AI use and governance, Policy translation & evidence synthesis. I am open to co-authored articles, policy briefs, evidence submissions and practitioner workshops/training. I can contribute to desk reviews, qualitative evidence synthesis, internships, volunteer opportunities and stakeholder engagement, and I am available for invited talks, expert commentary and commissioned analysis.



Publications:

“Maximising Economic Recovery: Regulation of Third-Party Access to UKCS Infrastructure” in Upstream Oil and Gas in Africa (Globe Law & Business)

“Resource Curse” in Elgar Concise Encyclopaedia of Oil and Gas Law (Edward Elgar)

“Avoiding an (Offshore) Renewable/Critical-Mineral Resource Curse in Africa” in Offshore Energy Law: Challenges and Opportunities for Renewables and Hydrocarbons (Hart)

Renegotiating for Sustainability: Aligning Nigerian Petroleum Contracts with Environmental Goals & Investor Interests” Journal for Sustainable Development Law & Policy



Other projects and networks:

UK–African Partnerships for a Just Energy Transition in Africa” (Global South Law Research Network, University of Aberdeen)

“The Global South Law Research Network Roundtable: Translating Legal Research into Law and Policy” (Global South Law Research Network, University of Aberdeen)

“Industry Perspectives on Decarbonisation and Career Chat by Ms Wendelyn Chijioke-Ibekwe” (Global South Law Research Network, University of Aberdeen)