Executive Director – Philip Lynch

Phil Lynch has been Executive Director of the Human Rights Law Centre since 2006. Phil was previously the founding Coordinator of the PILCH Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic which, in 2005, was conferred with the Australian Human Rights Law Award. Phil has also worked as a lawyer with Allens Arthur Robinson. Phil is on the Editorial Board of the Alternative Law Journal, an appointee to the Federal Government’s Human Rights Grants Scheme Expert Panel, and was a member of the former Victorian Attorney-General’s Human Rights Leadership Forum. In 2008, he was one of 25 ‘Future Global Leaders’ invited to attend the InterAction Council meeting of former Heads of Government and of State in Sweden. He was awarded the Paul Baker Award for Administrative and Human Rights Law in 2010.

Phone: (03) 8636 4450
Email: phil.lynch@hrlc.org.au

Director – International Human Rights Advocacy - Ben Schokman (on secondment from DLA Piper)

Ben Schokman has worked with the Centre since 2006 and leads much of the Centre’s engagement with the UN human rights system and in relation to Indigenous rights, disability rights, and prisoner and detainee rights. Ben previously worked as a lawyer with Allens Arthur Robinson in the Corporate Responsibility Group. He has experience with a range of national and international NGOs and human rights institutions, including the International Service for Human Rights and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Ben is the Chair of the LIV Human Rights Committee and Co-convenor of the Federation of CLC’s Human Rights Working Group. Ben’s position is generously sponsored by DLA Piper.

Phone: (03) 8636 4451
Email: ben.schokman@hrlc.org.au

Director - Advocacy and Strategic Litigation - Emily Howie (on leave of absence until July 2012)

Emily Howie has worked with the Centre since 2009 and leads much of the Centre’s work in relation to Australia’s Human Rights Framework, the legislative protection of rights, business and human rights, anti-racism and minority rights, police use of force and accountability, and the protection of economic and social rights. She previously worked as a Senior Associate with Allens Arthur Robinson, a legal adviser to the House of Representatives Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, and in the Trial Chambers of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. She has substantial human rights litigation experience, including as a lead lawyer in Roach v Cth [2007] HCA 43, which established constitutional protection of the right to vote. Emily’s position is funded by a generous grant from the Victorian Legal Services Board.

Phone: (03) 8636 4432
Email: emily.howie@hrlc.org.au

Director – Policy and Campaigns - Rachel Ball

Since joining the Centre in 2008, Rachel Ball has led much of the Centre’s work in the areas of equality rights, women’s rights, refugee and asylum seeker rights, health rights, aid and development, and engagement with the Asia-Pacific. Rachel has a Master of Laws from Columbia University in New York and previously worked as a lawyer at Mallesons Stephen Jaques.  She also has experience working and volunteering with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, Human Rights First in New York and the World Bank in Washington. She is Co-Convenor of the Human Rights Network of the National Association of Community Legal Centres.  In 2009, Rachel was conferred with an Australian Leadership Award by the Australian Davos Connection. Rachel’s position is jointly funded by the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust and the R E Ross Trust.

Phone: (03) 8636 4433
Email: rachel.ball@hrlc.org.au

Manager of Communications and Media – Tom Clarke

Tom Clarke joined the Centre in 2011. Tom has a background in media production and social justice campaigning. He coordinated the Timor Sea Justice Campaign and continues to be involved in various solidarity campaigns in the Asia Pacific region. He played a significant role in developing the joint business-union Ethical Clothing Australia initiative and has provided media production and consultancy services to a wide range of commercial and not-for-profit organisations.

Phone: (03) 8636 4436
Email: tom.clarke@hrlc.org.au

Director - Advocacy and Strategic Litigation (Acting) – Anna Brown

Anna Brown has worked as a Senior Lawyer with the Centre since 2011. Anna was previously an adviser to the former Victorian Attorney-General and Deputy Premier, the Hon Rob Hulls, with primary responsibility for human rights, equal opportunity, Indigenous issues and GLBTIQ rights. Anna advised extensively on the operation of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights, including in relation to the conduct of human rights litigation and interventions and preparation for the statutory review of the Charter. She has also worked as a Senior Solicitor with the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office, a Senior Associate with Allens Arthur Robinson and a Federal Court associate. Anna has provided legal advice, education and training on both domestic and international human rights law to a diverse range of clients including corporations, the public sector and international organisations. At the Centre, Anna focuses on projects regarding Equality Law reform and the Commonwealth Government’s National Human Rights Action Plan.

Phone: (03) 8636 4456
Email: anna.brown@hrlc.org.au

L-R: Mat Tinkler (Acting Executive Director of PILCH), Phil Lynch (Director of the HRLRC), Rachel Ball (HRLRC Lawyer), the Hon Michael Kirby, Emily Howie (HRLRC Lawyer), Ben Schokman (HRLRC Lawyer)

Administration and Finances

The Centre is provided with administrative support by PILCH.  The Centre is provided with bookkeeping and accountancy services by Frank Deans.

Secondee Lawyers

The Centre is provided with valuable support by some of Australia’s leading commercial law firms through the secondment of pro bono lawyers.  Since 2006, the Centre’s secondee lawyers have included:

2012

• Emma Purdue - Lander & Rogers

2011

• Michael Griffith – Mallesons Stephen Jaques
• Heath Paynter – Russell Kennedy
• Zara Durnan – Lander & Rogers
• Meg O’Brien – Mallesons Stephen Jaques

2010

• Jacqui Bell – Blake Dawson
• Megan Fitzgerald – Lander & Rogers
• Susanna Kirpichnikov – Lander & Rogers
• Michael Dunstan – Mallesons Stephen Jaques

2009

• Prabha Nandagopal – DLA Phillips Fox
• Melissa Gundrill – Clayton Utz
• Victoria Edwards – Freehills
• Helen Conrad – Mallesons Stephen Jaques
• Maryam Minai – Mallesons Stephen Jaques
• Jessica Zikman – Lander & Rogers

2008

• Melanie Schleiger – Lander & Rogers
• Phoebe Knowles – Minter Ellison

2006/7

• Ben Schokman – Allens Arthur Robinson

2006

• Waleed Aly – Maddocks