Gehan Gunasekara specializes in the areas of franchising law and information privacy law. He has published widely in these areas both locally and overseas. His current research focuses on the societal implications of the use of personal data by corporations and governments (such as price discrimination and targeted misinformation). His recent publications have explored solutions to the current model of monetizing personal data by corporations as well as the concept of data sovereignty from its legal, economic, technological, and indigenous standpoints.

Gehan is a regular commentator and contributor to debate in national media on privacy issues and was a member of the academic reference committee for the Review of the Privacy Act by the Law Commission completed in 2011. He co-founded and was, from 2019 until 2022, Chair of Privacy Foundation New Zealand Inc., (www.privacyfoundation.nz) a not for profit organization engaged in privacy research and education.

Gehan has also led research in New Zealand on legal issues affecting franchising and especially the incidence and areas of franchise litigation in New Zealand, arguing for better protection for franchisees.

Academic awards I have received include:

2024 University of Auckland Business School Excellence Award for Research Engagement and Relevance
2018 University of Auckland Department of Commercial Law Outstanding Service Contribution Award

Research Grant Received

Faculty Research Development Fund Grant 2020 "A method to assess the value of personal data while protecting data privacy" (associate-investigator).
Faculty Research Development Fund Grant 2017 "Regulatory Implications of China’s Social Credit System" (co-investigator).

Recent Scholarship

Sze T. & Gunasekara G., "A Privacy Trojan Horse? Consumer Loyalty Programmes in the Grocery Sector and Data Privacy" (2025) 28 New Zealand Business Law Quarterly pp 7 - 32.

Gunasekara G., Data Sovereignty and Privacy: A Chimera or Realistic Prospect in Aotearoa/New Zealand? (2024) 31 New Zealand Universities Law Review pp 57-82


Responsibilities:
Service to the University at Departmental Level

- Deputy Head of Department

Service to the University and Faculty

- Subject Group Lead for Commercial Law

Committee/Professional groups/Services:
- Past Chair, Privacy Foundation New Zealand NZ (2019-2022), Current Convenor, Surveillance Working Group, Privacy Foundation NZ
- Enrolled Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
- Member, Australasian Law Teachers Association (since 2004)
- Member, Legal Research Foundation
- Member, International Association of Privacy Professionals (iapp/ANZ) (since 2012)

Qualifications:
LLM (Hons), LLB, BA

Areas of Expertise:
- Franchising law
- Privacy and data protection

Media Keywords:
Privacy Law, Franchising Law