Dr Maria Antonieta (Antoinette) Nestor

Degrees, Awards and Prizes

BCL (University College Dublin UCD), LLM (University of California Los Angeles UCLA), PhD (Trinity College Dublin TCD), AFHEA

Research Themes

My research is at the cutting edge of law, sustainability, and social justice. I work across disciplines to explore how legal systems—nationally and globally—can respond to the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequality.

• In the UK, I focus on how land law and planning tools—such as conservation covenants and biodiversity net gain—can promote community-led environmental stewardship, public access, and inclusive land governance.
• Globally, my work examines how international climate frameworks like the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are translated into real, local action. I am currently researching the impacts of the green transition on Indigenous communities in the Andean and Mapuche regions of South America, as well as the leadership of women in climate litigation, particularly in challenging colonial and structural inequalities.

I am also active in the field of planetary health, investigating how law can help protect people and ecosystems in the face of escalating environmental pressures.

Responsibilities

I am Director of Studies in Land Economy at Girton College. I supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students in a wide range of subjects, including land law, environmental law, public law, and planning and sustainability. I also support students throughout their academic journey, from admissions and learning support to pastoral guidance and career development.

Other

Beyond my academic work, I am deeply engaged in public service and community education. I serve as a Cambridge City Councillor for Castle Ward and hold the portfolio of Cabinet Member for Culture, Economy, and Skills. My initiative, A Toy’s Life and Beyond, teaches children about sustainability and the circular economy through the creative reuse of toys. I previously produced and hosted The Eddington Hour, a radio magazine sharing news and insights about sustainable development in North West Cambridge.

Faculty Advisor, Cambridge Pro-Bono Project (CPP) 

Bye-Fellow at Lucy Cavendish College and Murray Edwards College 

Roles within the University

• Senior Teaching Associate in Law and Legal Methods, Department of Land Economy

At the University of Cambridge, I teach and supervise in the Department of Land Economy and contribute to national and international conversations on environmental governance and legal reform. I am affiliated with the Cambridge Centre for Property Law (CCPL) and the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL) among others.

I also participate in international climate policy processes under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), including COP summits and expert panels, where I share insights on the role of law in shaping just and sustainable futures.