As the first Australian academic to be appointed to the ILO's committee of experts, Owens' appointment recognises her international reputation as an outstanding scholar in the field of the law of work. Her recent research has focused on the importance of international standards and the role of the ILO in an era of globalisation.

"This is a unique opportunity to be a part of a group that helps to deliver decent working standards and conditions and fundamental freedoms to millions of people around the world," Owens said.

"International law is making a major impact in every area of law, and the workplace, through the ILO, is no different," she said.

In 2009 Owens was the rapporteur at the XIX World Congress of Labour Law and Social Security Law on the topic of informal economy and she is a member of the editorial board of the Australian Journal of Labour Law, having served as editor from 2002 to 2007.

Since the early 1990s, Owens has been associated with the Working Women's Centre (SA) and was chair of its board of management and is now the chair of the Work/Life Balance Advisory Committee to the South Australian government.

Owens has been a member of staff at the University of Adelaide for more than 20 years.