The Australia office is led by Daniela Gavshon, Australia Director, who is focused on Australian advocacy and media work. Daniela is joined by Sophie McNeill, Australia Researcher, and Nicole Tooby, Australia Senior Coordinator. On the development and outreach side, Georgie Bright is our Associate Director, Kate Rosenberg and Betty Barkha are our Senior Managers, Tamanna Abdi is our Associate, 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
Phillipe Bolopion Chief of Staff - 11/2022
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, generate support, and mobilise 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
Craig Foster AM
Kathleen Gilbert
Phillip Keir
Amanda Laing
Jane Marquard
Angus McDonald
Daniela McMurdo
Manjusha Merrymaker
Mahir Momand
Professor Cav. Simon Mordant AO
Brendan O’Flynn
Marc Polese
Sheena Polese
Lenore Robertson
Joseph Skrzynski AO
Sam Stewart
Laura Thomas

Melbourne Committee
Wendy Brooks Chair
Joanna Beecher
Olivia Brown
Michael Daddo
Ian Hamm
Dalit Kaplan
Dianne Lucas
Fiona Nixon
Tobias O'Hehir
Leigh O’Neill
Julian Smith
Anna Wade
Damien Wurzel

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

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
Marc Polese Co-Chair
Sheena Polese Co-Chair
Jane Clifford
Monique Corah
Lyndell Droga
Penny Gerstle
Kathleen Gilbert
Verity Hodgkinson
Jacqui Lion-Cachet
Francoise Michel
Lenore Robertson
Gudrun Willcocks
Stephen Roberts
Laurel Crawford
Penny Hanan

Melbourne
Olivia Brown
Joanna Beecher
Chloe Quigley
Daisy Lynch
Adriana Pesavento

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.

Sydney
Michelle Hanna Chair
Georgie Hatch Co-Deputy Chair
Lei Wang Co-Deputy Chair
Lisa Lewis
Amanda Cebrián
Brittany Tyne
Charlotte Galleguillos
Emily Brown
Naz Jacobs
Rebecca Brevnikov
Sara Mansour
Tamsin Cantwell
Anam Russell
Charlotte Evans
Jahin Tanvir
Sambavi Seermaran
Tatum Spicer
Vijhai Utheyan
Tempe McMinn