Michael Abbott graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Adelaide in 1964. Practicing as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of South Australia from 1966, Michael’s high-profile law career has spanned almost six decades.
Appointed to the Queen’s Council in 1984 and appearing in both the High Court and Supreme Courts across all across all Australian states and territories, Michael has been involved in a range of landmark cases.
Deeply dedicated to the continued development and rigour of the legal profession, Michael has been the chairperson of the Legal Services Commission of South Australia, the Bar Association of South Australia and the Criminal Law Committee of the Law Society of South Australia.
He has also served as a Human Rights Observer for the Law Council of Australia.
Alongside his prolific law career, Michael champions the improvement of the intercultural relationship between South Australia and the Southeast Asia region.
Fluent in the Indonesian language Bahasa, Michael has travelled extensively through the Southeast Asian region, building relationships and learning about cultural tradition and practices as they are represented and expressed through artistic mediums.
Drawing on his appreciation of Southeast Asian textile art as a vehicle for positive promotion, Michael has made an impact on both the arts and tourism sectors.
He has served as a board member of the South Australian Tourism Commission, and for 12 years was the chair of the South Australian Art Gallery. He subsequently chaired the Adelaide Festival Centre Trust for six years. He has also generously donated Asian, Indian and Southeast Asian art valued at more than $5 million over a period of nearly 50 years to the Art Gallery of South Australia, and a collection of Balinese and Javanese art to the Australian Museum.
In 2001 Michael was awarded a Centenary Medal for his service to Australian society through the law, arts and education and in 2011 he was awarded Officer in the Order of Australia for his distinguished service to the visual arts, particularly through leadership roles, to the development of arts education, to Australia-Asia relations, and to the law.
Combining his extensive knowledge, experience and passion across the areas of law, the arts and intercultural development, Michael became a member of the University of South Australia Council in 2019, and in May 2024 was appointed Deputy Chancellor of the University.
