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, Georgie Bright is our Associate Director, Kate Rosenberg is our Senior Manager, Tamanna Abdi is our Associate, and Sophia Katsinas, is also our Communications Associate. 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, 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
Leigh O’Neill
Anna Wade

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.

Melbourne
Charlotte Ward Co-Chair
Camille Hepworth Co-Chair
Claire Baxter
Sam Arnold
Jordan Bova
Olivia Calley
Sophie Parr
Sajjad Askary
Sitarah Moham'di
Maeve Elrington
Mia Stiebel
Isobel Hepworth
Caitlyn Georgeson
Daisy Hayward
Debbie Skidmore
Ally Theng
Lucinda Tonge
Mimi Flemming
Arielle Rutman
Mimi Ooloff
Ben Steiner
Natalie Shaw
Vy Wijekumar
Jill Krattiger
Erin Meeking
Anthony O’Brien
Blake Reilly
Caleb Maru
Vivien Yii

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