Empowering Human Rights Defenders to Safeguard Justice

I am an Australian lawyer with over 15 years of experience in the law and justice sector, specializing in strengthening justice systems, empowering human rights defenders, and advancing access to justice. My work bridges grassroots movements and the international justice landscape, ensuring that local realities and lived experiences drive systemic change.

With expertise in human rights training, capacity building, and strategic advocacy, I have designed and delivered programs that equip human rights defenders with the skills, networks, and strategies needed to navigate high-risk environments and advocate effectively. My approach integrates legal expertise with data storytelling and narrative research, using evidence-driven insights to shape justice programs that are people-centred, inclusive, and impact-driven. In 2023, my contributions were recognized and a program I first began a decade earlier was awarded the access to justice prize by the World Justice Project.

I have led policy reforms that have brought human rights protections inside prisons and other closed institutions, ensuring that those most at risk are not left behind. I have engaged with governments and multilateral bodies to strengthen accountability for human rights violations, aligning with global efforts to protect human rights defenders.

Beyond direct training and capacity-building, I am a strong advocate for human rights defenders at the UN and diplomatic levels, working to amplify their voices, secure international protection mechanisms, and engage with governments and multilateral bodies to strengthen accountability for human rights violations. For the past four years, I have provided ongoing mentoring to key human rights defenders in Cambodia and former political prisoners, guiding them through complex protection mechanisms and supporting their advocacy efforts. This mentorship has been crucial in a context where human rights defenders face significant challenges, including threats, intimidation, and legal harassment.

At the heart of my work is a commitment to building sustainable, community-driven justice systems that deliver meaningful change, protect those on the front lines of human rights advocacy, and hold power to account.