The Australia office is led by Elaine Pearson, Australia Director, who is focused on Australian advocacy and media work. Elaine is joined by Sophie McNeill, Australia Researcher, and Nicole Tooby, Australia Senior Coordinator. On the development and outreach side, Anke Timm is our Senior Manager, Pippa Brown is a Senior Coordinator, and Tayla Hall, is also our Communications Senior Coordinator. Gillian McGregor is our Operations Officer.

Human Rights Watch in Australia is supported by like-minded organisations and individuals who support us to expose tyranny, empower victims, and to tell their stories to the world.

If you want to get involved contact: ausoffice@hrw.org

The Australia Foundation in Support of Human Rights Watch Board

Penny Gerstle Director – 05/2018
Barbara Pirto Director – 07/2021
Laura Thomas Director – 10/2011
Elaine Pearson Secretary
Global board members can be found here.

Australian Committees

Human Rights Watch is represented in Australia with committees in Sydney and Melbourne. The Australian committees raise awareness of local and global human rights issues in Australia, generates support, and mobilises the public and policy makers to recognise basic freedoms for all.

Sydney Committee
Penny Gerstle Chair
Michael Allison, CFA
Sally Breen
Thomas Calma
Jane Clifford
Monique Corah
Lyndell Droga
Maria Farmer
Craig Foster AM
Kathleen Gilbert
Phillip Keir
Amanda Laing
Jane Marquard
Angus McDonald
Daniela McMurdo
Manjusha Merrymaker
Mahir Momand
Professor Cav. Simon Mordant AO
Christian Nicks
Brendan O’Flynn
Lenore Robertson
Joseph Skrzynski AO
Sam Stewart
Laura Thomas

Melbourne Committee
Wendy Brooks Chair
Olivia Brown
Michael Daddo
Diana Georgeff
Damien Green
Ian Hamm
Dalit Kaplan
Dianne Lucas
Gavin MacLaren
Fiona Nixon
Leigh O’Neill
Anna Wade
Darrell Wade

Honorary Committee
Andrew Kaldor AM
Julian Knights AO
James McMurdo
Morna Seres
Malcolm Spry

Dinner Committee

A network of supporters attend our events, help promote the work of Human Rights Watch, and assist with organising and promoting our annual Voices for Justice Dinners.

Sydney
Lenore Robertson Chair
Jane Clifford
Monique Corah
Penny Gerstle
Kathleen Gilbert
Verity Hodgkinson
Patty King
Jacqui Lion-Cachet
Jane Marquard
Sheena Polese

Melbourne
Olivia Brown Chair
Joanna Beecher
Sophie Beecher

Outreach Committees

The Outreach Committees are a group of socially minded young professionals from diverse backgrounds and sectors, who work to promote Human Rights Watch.

Melbourne
Sophia Georgeff Chair
Kelly Avice
Sam Arnold
Bec Bridges
Annabel Dixon
Mimi Flemming
Emma Gillingham
Isobel Hepworth
Camille Hepworth
Jill Krattiger
Julie Sassine
Tatum Spicer
Wendy Syfret
Ally Theng
Lucinda Tonge
Alissa Tooma
Hugh Utting
Charlotte Ward
Vy Wijekumar
Leda Yazgin

Sydney
Michelle Hanna Chair
Alistair McMurdo
Amanda Cebrián
Brittany Tyne
Charlotte Galleguillos
Emily Brown
Gemma Livingston
Georgie Hatch
Lisa Lewis
Lei Wang
Mathieu Blake
Naz Jacobs
Rebecca Brevnikov
Sara Mansour
Simon Croker
Tamsin Cantwell
Tempe McMinn