Western Sydney University is embroiled in a legal battle with its head of safety and security who has accused it of illegally snooping on staff emails.

Adam Byrne has held a senior role at the university's Sydney campus for almost 10 years, during which time he was the only staff member to twice receive the coveted Vice-Chancellor's Excellence Award.

University caught up in a dispute over alleged illegal monitoring of staff emails: Western Sydney University employee Adam Byrne.

However, in July last year, one of his staff became aware her email account had been interfered with. After she raised concerns with Mr Byrne, it emerged his had too.

The resulting legal stoush reached a climax on Friday when Mr Byrne flagged, through lawyers, his intention to bring an "adverse action claim" against WSU which, he claims, has breached its professional staff employment agreement through "illegal surveillance". He also claims that after lodging formal objections about his treatment, WSU terminated his position and attempted to sideline him in an alternative role which he was unqualified to do.