Lesley Hitchens is an Emerita Professor at University of Technology Sydney (UTS), having retired in February 2023. Lesley practised as a commercial lawyer in Sydney and London before moving to an academic career. She has held academic positions in several universities in the UK and Australia, researching in media and communications law. In 2013 she became Dean of the UTS Law Faculty until taking on the role of Acting Provost in October 2021 until she retired. Lesley is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In 2015 she was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law and in 2018 received the Financial Times Australian Legal Innovator Award.
Lesley has not worked in the creative and community arts sector but is an active consumer of performing and visual arts and a member of Hummingsong Community Choir. Prior to studying law, Lesley was a primary school teacher for about five years. Her final three years were spent at Hurstville Primary School and during that time she and her classes worked with Shopfront developing and performing plays.