Julie Maxton

Dame Julie Katharine Maxton (born 31 August 1955) is a British-New Zealand barrister, legal scholar, and academic administrator. Since 2011, she has been executive director of the Royal Society.

She spent most of her career working at the University of Auckland, where she rose to be Dean of its Faculty of Law. From 2006 to 2010, she was Registrar of the University of Oxford.

Early life and education Maxton was born on 31 August 1955 in Edinburgh, Scotland. and was called to the bar at Middle Temple on 27 July 1978.

Maxton moved to New Zealand after qualifying as a barrister. She undertook postgraduate study in law at the University of Canterbury, and graduated with a Master of Laws (LLM) degree in 1981.

At the University of Auckland, she also undertook postgraduate research and completed her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in 1991.

Career Maxton began her academic career at the University of Canterbury. There, she taught within the university's School of Law as a lecturer. Upon marrying, she moved to a different university, the University of Auckland. This was unusual in that it is uncommon for academics to move between New Zealand law schools. She was Dean of the Faculty of Law between 2000 and 2005. During the appointment, she was also a Fellow of University College, Oxford.

In 2011, Maxton was appointed executive director of the Royal Society. The Royal Society is the oldest learned society in continuous existence and serves as the academy of sciences of the UK and the Commonwealth. She is the first woman to be appointed to the position in its 358-year history.

Personal life Maxton was married to Major Jim Carson (1934–2008), the first leader of the New Zealand Army Band and later head of music at Auckland Grammar School. Together, they had one son. and died of cancer in 2008.

In 2018 Maxton received an honorary doctorate from the University of Warwick.

Maxton was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours, for services to science, law, and education. She was promoted to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours, for services to science and law.