2021 Activism Leadership Committees & General Meeting Voters Elections

Kathryn Allan

My name is Kathy, and I have been a passionate Amnesty activist for over 10-years. My involvement in defending human rights started from a young child when refugees from Chernobyl visited my school and I could not understand why people were treated differently. From then on, I became a fierce social justice advocate and have campaigned in the UK, USA, and Australia. Most recently I helped to organise the March for Justice, you can find me outside (and occasionally inside) Parliament during my lunch-break campaigning for human rights.

I am currently privileged to be in the position of Regional President for ACT/SNSW. Core to my vision is ensuring that people affected by issues we talk about are centred, empowered and heard in our activism. I want to create a diverse, inclusive environment where we break barriers and work together to create a world where all people have human rights recognised. I am a researcher in the area of statelessness, refugee and asylum policy and use a post-colonial feminist approach to participatory research. I believe that everyone who wants to can create positive change, and I want to make sure they have the support, resources and confidence to do so.

Lambang Fonye Christian

I am Christian Lambang Fonye, an activist with Amnesty International Australia and a member of its diversity, Inclusion, and well-being steering group. I work as a case officer with the Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services (MARSS) Australia. I previously served as a Protection Officer in the National Human Rights Commission in Cameroon and a Program Coordinator for Peace, Conflict and International Relations in the Pan African Institute for development in west Africa. I am a 2017 Mandela Washington fellow and an Ambassador of the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). I am committed to promoting a rights-based approach to development and fully engaged in the fight against racial discrimination in Australia and the world over. I am a 2020 fellow of the United Nations (OHCHR) fellowship for people of African Descent. I am a member of the National Amnesty Refugee network and an ambassador of the “My New Neighbour campaign”. As a refugee with lived experience, I seek to make a contribution to the condition of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

Victor Sahr Kpayah

Kpayah, Victor Sahr is the name on the Role of Solicitors at the Supreme Court of NSW and the Law Consultant at the SBC lawyers & solicitors under the tutelage of the Principal solicitor. I am a founder and director of the Mano River Sustainable Development Association Pty Ltd (MaRSDA), an ACNC registered PBI whose main object and purpose is providing benevolent relief to people in need. Specifically, the Company provides relief from poverty, distress, sickness, destitution, suffering, misfortune, and helplessness to low or no-income people in the Mano River Region, West Africa and migrants and refugees living in Australia.

My personal philosophy involves serving others, providing for families, and making the best of my opportunities. I have over 20 years of experiences serving in various roles and communities to reach vulnerable class of people including but not limited to refugees, people with disabilities, homeless youth, victims of violence and torture, children in need of protection as well as the aged and elderly.

As a dedicated and compassionate advocate, I leverage to pursue justice with utmost patience, meticulousness, and a seer, determination to uphold calm and exceed expectation. Resilience, leadership, and critical thinking are the attributes that drive my zeal.

Jay Moran

I’m a passionate young non-binary person with a passion for Human Rights. I have 10 years of experience across government relations, human rights and public policy.

I currently work as Government Relations lead for a large national organisation, where I am responsible for political strategy and engagement in federal parliament. I have worked on a number of political campaigns and community organising campaigns across environment and social justice issues.

I also have a track record of delivering individual and systemic human rights initiatives across Australia and the Asia-Pacific. My passion for global human rights has taken me to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia and Cambodia. I have also co-founded two humanitarian organisations providing disaster relief in the ASEAN region, and been involved in a range of regional and global initiatives advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. Locally, I have worked in human rights policy, mental health, disability and emergency preparedness and response.

I have been active in various Amnesty International campaigns since 2014, with particular emphasis on refugees, including being the ACT/SNSW coordinator for the My New Neighbour Campaign.

Alicia Zahmel

Hi! I’m Alicia (she/her) and I’d like to receive your vote as a General Voting Member for the AGM in July 2021.

I have been involved with Amnesty International Australia since I was 14 and started receiving the magazine in the post. Over the years I have interned in the SA/NT office, been a member to the ACT/Southern NSW Activism Leadership Committee, a General Voting Member and I’m currently a member of the International Issues Committee of the National Board since 2019.

I’m passionate about building an Amnesty International Australia that is diverse and inclusive. I see being a GVM as a key way of ensuring this organisation that we care about so much moves forward in a way that achieves those objectives, promotes human rights and contributes to the international movement.

Amnesty International plays a pivotal role in human rights conversations around the world and I believe that without a strong governance structure we cannot achieve our full potential.

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Peter Baldwin

Education: Bachelor of Electrical Engineering {Sydney Uni; Bachelor of Arts (Macquarie). Retired MP for Sydney, Member of NSW Legislative Council; Member of the Hawke/Keating ministry

Jo-Anne Bloch

Jo-Anne has had a long-standing career in financial services in Australia, London and New York.

Whilst the majority of Jo-Anne’s career has focused on Superannuation and Pensions, Jo-Anne has also lead a global innovation hub in the US investigating the Future of Work, and promoting solutions to activate healthy, engaged, and financially secure workforces.

Jo-Anne has also lead or is on the board of industry bodies in financial services. Jo-Anne is a passionate advocate of mentoring, financial literacy for young women in particular, and is a keen activist on human rights issues.

Declan Davis

Declan Davis is currently a member of the NSW Activism Leadership Committee and member of the National Amnesty Refugee Network. He is 26 years old and lives in Sydney.

Declan is a long-time supporter of Amnesty and has experience on the ground across a number of campaigns (state elections, federal elections, etc.) and also experience working on issue-based campaigns (republican movement, voluntary-assisted dying, modern slavery, etc.). He joined the NSW Activism Leadership Committee last year to help support Amnesty’s fight for human rights across the world and here in Australia.

Declan wants to see Amnesty continue to shine a torch into the darkest areas, onto issues that other organisations (governments, private companies) would rather pretend didn’t exist. Declan is keen to grow Amnesty’s reach and membership and ensure it remains an effective force for change.

He holds a BA (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Oxford and MA from Peking University. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

John Della Bosca

John has been a member of Amnesty International for most of his adult life and has a commitments to human rights. He has particular skills in growing membership of organisations and would like to utilise this expertise to grow Amnesty.

Throughout his professional career and personal life, John has maintained a strong interest in social policy and social justice.

He has demonstrated this through his leadership of large membership organisations as the General Secretary of the ALP, as a social reformer while a Minister in the NSW Government and an advocate of the disadvantaged and public policy reform in his more recent roles at the Every Australian Counts Campaign and the Whitlam Institute.

Victoria Edwards

Tori has been a member for over 20 years and been involved in a range of capacities including in local groups, and on the NSW Branch Committee for a number of years. She remains committed to ensuring that Amnesty is a member-driven organisation that prioritises human rights action for impact.

Tori’s career has been committed to advancing human rights and social justice through her work as a lawyer for a range of not-for-profit organisations. She holds a Masters in Law (Human Rights and Social Justice) and a Graduate Certificate in Social Impact from the University of New South Wales, in addition to undergraduate degrees in Arts and Law. She is a member of the Law Society of NSW and a past member of its Human Rights Committee.

Ajoy Ghosh

Ajoy is currently a National Director, appointed by the Board for his expertise in digitaland cyber security and sits on AIA’s Audit & Risk Committee and Governance Committees. He has worked on specific projects: IT Roadmap, Cyber Security and Board Evaluation Action Plan. He has a deep interest and expertise in Digital Rights and is liaising with Amnesty’s Digital Labs.

He is a recognised expert in IT Governance and Cyber Security who for the last 20+ years has sat on the committee over-sighting Australian and International technology governance and cyber security standards. He lectures in Digital Forensics at UNSW Sydney and the Australian Defence Force Academy and has served as an expert in high profile and politically sensitive Australian cases such as British American Tobacco, Oil for Wheat, James Hardie, Visy cartel and human rights and war crimes matters internationally.

He has leadership experience in large government departments and companies and for the past year and a bit has served as the interim CISO for Healthdirect, a company jointly owned by the Australian and State departments of Health, oversighting cyber security for the rapid design, build and scale-up for the digital technologies supporting Australia’s Covid-19 emergency responses, including the National Coronavirus Helpline, GP and specialist video consultations, contact tracing and vaccine rollout.

Ajoy has a lived experience of diversity, inclusion and racism, coming to Australia with his Bengali parents in 1971 and growing up in the industrial city of Newcastle. As a dark-skinned police officer serving in inner Sydney in the 1990s, he saw the worst and best of Australia’s civil society.

He is socially conscious having served NSW as a police officer, public servant and consultant to government and in 2016 was appointed onto the Board of St John Ambulance NSW (3,000 volunteers and 200 staff) where he served for two terms. He currently serves on the Advisory Body for the Defence Employer Partner Network (i.e. Defence Reserve Support) and the Cyber Security Committee for the Australian Computer Society.

Yohaann Ghosh

My background outside of Amnesty is as a Master of Nursing student and clinical cancer researcher at The University of Sydney and the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse. During my time at the university, I have been elected to multiple posts as a board member (Faculty of Medicine & Health) and a student representative. I have undertaken these roles to support my peers and advocate for the interests of students on campus.

My clinical passions are in youth involvement in healthcare and reducing the social barriers to accessing healthcare across Australia. I endeavour to increase youth engagement and decreasing social barriers to accessing healthcare. Further, I would seek to advocate for youth across metropolitan and regional Australia. Additionally, I have a background as an educator for high school students. In 2018 I co-founded a biotechnology hackathon-style program that has since mentored 550 students (year 9 -12). This program is supported by the Governor of NSW and has been re-branded into BIOTech Futures which is an organisation that promotes and facilitates youth innovation in Science, Engineering, Technology, Maths and Medicine (STEMM).

Furthermore, I co-founded Grade Gurus Sydney, a Sydney-wide tutoring group that offers a bursary program that seeks to provide free tutoring to refugees, students from low SES backgrounds and members of local churches.

Giles Gunesekera

Giles has been a member of Amnesty International since 1990 and has held a lifelong ambition of a world where human rights exist for everyone.

Giles is energetic, dedicated, passionate and cares for people and causes he feels strongly about. Giles loves life, embraces opportunities and is an infectious optimist. Giles was a Director and Treasurer of the National Board from 2010 to 2017 and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and Renumeration Committees. Giles brings to this role a practical knowledge of governance and grassroots activities that Amnesty is actively engaged in.

Giles is the Founder and CEO of Global Impact Initiative and has over 25 years’ experience of building and developing teams and businesses for global enterprises. The business, Giles founded and leads, Global Impact Initiative is one of only forty-one (41) UN Global Compact LEAD companies in the world, recognised for their high levels of engagement in the United Nations.

Giles holds numerous Volunteer Not-for-Profit Directorships ranging from International Aid, Human Rights, Climate Action, Disabilities, Education, Arts and Sports. Giles is on Advisory Boards for the United Nations for Climate & Health and Sustainable Finance. Giles has formal academic qualifications from Melbourne University, Monash University, Financial Services Institute of Australia and Oxford University.

Gabe Kavanagh

I am excited to be nominating to be a General Meeting Voter for the NSW region of Amnesty International Australia.

Over the last year Amnesty has gone from strength to strength. Despite the global pandemic our activists and staff have had huge wins for human rights around the world.

I am currently a board director and was previously the chair the board. I have had the pleasure of working with my exceptional colleagues to build an Amnesty Australia that makes real change and is financially sustainable.

I have been an activist and member with AIA for over a decade and am deeply committed to the organisation and all those who make it tick – members and activists, donors, staff or our huge global community of human rights defenders.

I became an Amnesty activist in high school, convened my university group, was a part of the Stop Violence Against Women committee, sat on the NSW Branch Committee and now dedicate time to the board. I work as an industrial strategist fighting for professional pay for early childhood educators.

Carol King

I am a long-term Amnesty supporter and volunteer, with experience as an activist, a group convenor, Secretary and President on the NSW Branch Committee, (now ALC) from 2007 – 2018, and a member of the AIA Governance Committee, a committee of the AIA Board.

It has been a privilege to serve as a voting member on all but one AGM since 2007, and to work on the committees preparing the AGMs during that time.

I am currently a member of the Activism and Membership Committee, and I am chairing the AMC’s Steering Committee for the 2021 Activism Forum to be held later this year.

The passion, talent and devotion of Amnesty’s members and activists for ending human rights abuses anywhere they occur is a constant inspiration for me. It is such a privilege to be a part of our ongoing efforts strengthening the grassroots governance of the movement, and building Amnesty as a diverse, inclusive, transparent, and sustainable grassroots movement making a strong contribution to AI’s global work defending human rights.

I hope to have the wonderful opportunity of representing you as a General Meeting Voter at the 2021 AGM and helping to ensure that the voices of our grassroots remain at the forefront of all our work.

Anthony Mitchell

I have long experience with AIA, having been a member for almost 20 years, spending 8 years on the national Board, including 5 years as President, and represented our section at International Council Meetings in 2011 and 2013.

Since 2016 (and currently), I’ve been the Chairman of Aurora Education Foundation, supporting Indigenous empowerment through pathways of educational excellence.

Outside of this, I run Bendelta, a consultancy focused on realising human potential which, in the last year, has been named by AFR as both one of Australia’s most innovative companies and best places to work.

Belinda Neal

Belinda first joined Amnesty at University. From a young age she has had a passionate interest in human rights. Her observation of inequity in the global and local community and her studies confirmed to her the importance of campaigning for positive change. She is the longest serving member of the NSW Activist Leadership Committee. Belinda is keen to make activists the centre of decision making at Amnesty and to ensure they are supported to enhance their ability to campaign for human rights.

During her time on the NSW ALC Belinda has taken on the role of editor of the ALC Newsletter and focuses on ensuring interactions with members are open and transparent. She is keen to see the membership of Amnesty grow and become more active.

Belinda spent 20 years in politics including as a NSW Senator in the Federal Parliament, a Member of the House of Representatives and Chief of staff to a NSW Minister. She also served as a Councillor on Gosford City Council. Belinda is a lawyer who is mainly engaged by the Not for Profit and disability Sector as a consultant advising on advocacy, public affairs and changing government policy. She is particularly skilled at influencing government policy and decision making through public affairs campaigns.

Belinda has extensive experience as a Director. She has been a member of not-for-profit boards since the 1980’s. She is presently a Director of YC, a not for profit, that provides support for young people with disability with. She was a Board Member of the Mount Penang Development Authority and a foundation Director of Hitech, a publicly listed company. Belinda was a foundation Director of the Central Coast Mariners Football Club where she was the Chair of the audit Committee.

She holds both a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of International Law from Sydney University. She also holds a diploma from Berkley University in Economics for Business.

Isabella Neal-Shaw

I have been drawn to Amnesty since my high school years as a result of their captivating work and strong online presence. I am passionate about human rights – particularly indigenous rights and refugee rights.

Sandra Nori

Prior to entering NSW Parliament in 1988, completed B. Ec Sydney Uni. Commenced Graduate law U NSW early 1980’s.

Helped establish the then South Sydney Women’s Centre and worked there as one its co-coordinators starting in 1976. Worked at Leichhardt Women’s Community Health Centre 1980-83, focusing on migrant women’s health issues and involved in the centre women behind bars project.

Involved in pro choice movement and reform of the antigay laws in the early 80’s. Served as Minister 1999-2007 Portfolios included Women Tourism Sport and Recreation Small Business. Post parliament a number of board memberships, including 2009-2018 Macquarie University Council, NSW TAFE Commission Board member 2008-2013.

Deputy Chair Duke Of Edinburgh’s International Award in Australia since 2009. Have been a member of Amnesty for many years because consider its work to be crucial in creating a better fairer world and standing up for human rights.

More recently, appointed board member fo Dance Health Alliance ( voluntary) delivers dance programme to the infirm, elderly and disabled. require lobbying local government and other authorise for funds and support.

Joined local Avalon Branch of Amnesty . Will be presenting along with another member to local High School and will seek to get more such invitations from Avalon Amnesty participated in governance revue 2020 prepared and submission detailed submission to membership committee re how to increase membership.

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Rachel Baggoley

Activism can take many forms and being a member of Amnesty and involved in my region’s leadership has introduced me to other like-minded people and enabled me to grow and learn how to make positive change my way. I started going to my local Amnesty Group meetings to find a way to contribute and take action to defend human rights, particularly of refugees and people seeking asylum. My understanding of human rights has increased as I have learnt more about the Amnesty campaigns and becoming more aware of the issues facing individuals at home and overseas. As a co convenor of my local Brisbane City Group and recently as a member of the Branch Committee (now ALC) I have met and come to know local activists. I am nominating as a GMV for the QLD/NNSW for a further 2 year term as I would appreciate the opportunity to represent Amnesty members, supporters and activists across the region.

Ruth Creffield

I have been involved with Amnesty International since 2014 and have been on the QLD/NNSW ALC for 2 years. I have been a part of Amnesty USC and am currently the convener of Amnesty Sunshine Coast. I have helped plan and coordinate campaigns for both these groups. I am incredibly passionate about promoting human rights and Amnesty’s work, and I believe that activists are the core of Amnesty’s campaigns. My experience volunteering with Amnesty has allowed me to gain a strong understanding of their campaigns and how activists on the ground help run them to promote human rights. I would love the opportunity to use this as a general meeting voter and to contribute to the committee’s vision, campaign priorities and policies.

Ruth Gould

My name is Ruth Gould, Co-Convenor of the Amnesty Chermside group in northern Brisbane since 2018 and activist since 2015. I am passionate about equality and freedom for all people. I enjoy working with our strong team of local activists including on successful stalls and events with petitions for Community is Everything, Write4Rights, refugees, women’s rights and Myanmar. We attend community rallies and engage with MPs and international Governments through writing emails and letters for urgent cases. I work in a non-profit and completed postgraduate studies in social science.

I would like to join the QLD/NNSW Activism Leadership Committee (ALC) to represent activists and support existing and new groups/activists to connect to information and resources to help them with their human rights activities to build a strong community of human rights defenders and strengthen responses to injustice in our region.

Peter Hanley

Peter has been a member of Amnesty International Australia since 1993 and soon after that became convenor of the Townsville AI Action Group – a role he has held off and on ever since. He joined the Queensland NNSW Branch Committee of AIA in 2004 and was Queensland NNSW Branch President from 2005-2008. In 2009 at the National Annual General Meeting (NAGM), Peter was awarded the national June Fassina Award for his extensive contribution to the defence of Human Rights.

Peter has been on the Queensland NNSW Activism and Leadership Committee since 2018. Peter believes one of AIA’s great strengths is that it is a member-led organisation and members do have a say. That is one reason he is nominating as a General Meeting Voter (GMV) at the 2020 AGM – another is to catch up (virtually) with many friends, activists and staff, in the Amnesty family.

Peter retired in 2014 after more than 20 years working as a Learning Adviser at James Cook University. Outside his involvement with Amnesty, Peter is currently President of the North Queensland Conservation Council and a member of the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Committee at James Cook University. He loves walking, cycling, sea kayaking, and singing.

 Pearl Tabart

My name is Pearl, and I have been a local group member since 1998 with the Qld/Northern NSW region. I have met so many like-minded and wonderful people along the way!

As a member of Amnesty Australia, I think it is important for members to participate in the direction of Amnesty in Australia. The new governance procedures since 2018 means more members voting, the more democratic the decisions are made from all States and Territories. Participating in governance reform in 2018 assured such a fundamental change. General meeting voters decide on new changes and who sits on the Board.

I have been a group convenor for 3 years and on the Activism Leadership Committee for 3. I organised a schools’ conference one year about Youth Justice and increasing the age of criminality in Queensland from 10 to 14 years. 60 Participants from about 7 schools attended. This campaign is still ongoing with the Queensland government with a submission put forward to Parliament.

I hope you will choose me as one of your General Meeting Voters.

Paul Toner

In my long involvement with AIA, starting as a Uni student back in the 1990s, I been an activist, a group convener, a Branch Committee member in two regions, a branch president and Board subcommittee member and Working Party Convener. I’ve even been to NAGMs in 2 centuries.

I also have a degree in Engineering and I’m completed studying for a Masters of Information Technology. I believe my years in the many roles

I have held give me a strong understanding of what our Activists and members expect from AIA.

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Leticia Albrecht

Leticia Albrecht (she/her, they/them) is the Convenor of the Queer Amnesty International Adelaide Action Group. She is 24 years old, in her final year of university at UniSA and is very passionate about queer rights, human rights and climate justice, locally, nationally and internationally.

Considering herself an emerging leader in the SA queer community, she has been taking every opportunity to be the best she can be. She is an honorary member of Pussy Riot, organising a Rally for Chechnya in March 2019; she’s ready to take on the world.

Sharon Binns

Proud Northern Territory woman who is passionate about women’s and children’s rights.

Wife, mother and grandmother I will rally, write and sit at stalls knowing a petition I got signed, has a positive outcome for a woman or child who are suffering breaches of human rights.

I don’t suffer fools, have a quick wit and raised to treat others as I wish to be treated.

I have always looked out for the underdog and hope to be part of positive change in our communities.

Sarah Faulkner

I have been an active member of Amnesty International Australia since 2014 when I began volunteering in the SA/NT as a Community Organiser volunteer.

Since then I have undertaken a variety of organising roles, as well as became an active member of the SA/NT Branch Committee (later becoming the ALC) – previously sitting in the roles of both vice-president and secretary.

I am currently Chair of the International Issues Committee (IIC), which supports the work and relationship of AIA as part of the international movement.

Across my various roles within Amnesty I have taken part in a variety of steering groups and advisory committees for AIA, including the W4Rights campaign and Amnesty’s 60th birthday.

I have attended over 5 previous AIA AGM’s as a voting delegate and observer on behalf of SA/NT, as well as assisted in leading the organising for the joint AGM/activism conference in Adelaide 2015.

I hope that my experience having attended both national and international governance meetings will aid my involvement and participation at the 2021 AGM. I currently live in Adelaide with my husband Patrick and our doggo Jimmy.

Timothy Green

My name is Tim Green (he/him), I started volunteering for Amnesty in 2017. Earlier this year I joined the SA/NT ALC as a regional communication representative.

My goals are to strengthen the methods of communication between our volunteers, activists, and supporters, and make sure our systems are letting those most needing to be heard a place to speak.I hope that, as a General Meeting Voter and ALC member, I will be able to work towards this, as well as support activists more generally.

Deanna Hall

My name is Deanna Hall and I wish to nominate as a General Meeting Voter for the AIA 2021 AGM.

After completing a degree in International Relations, I worked as a volunteer in the Amnesty International SA/NT office, which gave me a good background and overall understanding of Amnesty’s work at a grass roots level. I am particularly passionate about refugees.

I have been a member of our Branch Committee for 6 years, and most recently have held the position of Vice President. Outside of Amnesty I am an event manager, and I have utilised my skills to manage and assist with a number of small- and large scale events for Amnesty International, including a national Amnesty conference/AGM, as well as fundraising and outreach events.

We are working our way through unprecedented times, and now more then ever need to be looking out for those that can’t protect themselves.

Alex Kelly

I’m Alex/John Kelly the regional secretary for SANT. This will be my first time as a GMV looking forward to it.

Nicole Wedding

My involvement with Amnesty International began in my student days, when I joined an action group at The University of Adelaide. After graduating, I continued to volunteer as a member of the SA/NT Activism Leadership Committee – in which I’ve been a general member, Secretary and most recently a Regional President.

I’m excited about the growing number of young activists in both the SA/NT region and nationally, and want to do everything I can to ensure their voices are heard.

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Henry Austin-Stone

Henry is a former Branch President and Board Committee member who has been an AIA member since 2017.

Molly Bird

My name is Molly Bird and I have recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (Hons) at the University of Tasmania (UTAS). I am now working in developing federal public policy.

I have been an active member of Amnesty International since 2016, when I first joined the UTAS action group as a grassroots volunteer. In 2017 and 2018 I was the group convenor and society President for that action group, where we worked actively on using our academic connections to host panels concerning human rights, multiple film screenings and stalls.

I have also assisted with schools outreach in southern Tasmania and assisted with youth targeted events in Hobart.

In 2017, I attended NAGM as a General Meeting Vote (GMV). Soon after, I was nominated to join the then Branch Committee in Tasmania. I have been a member on this committee continuously since 2017 and wish to continue to do so. I was also fortunate to have been elected as ALC treasurer. In 2020, I also attended NAGM as a GMV. I see voting at NAGM as being a small part of a bigger machine to create a human rights impact locally and nationally.

Zainab Clark

Currently a member of the TAS Activism Leadership Committee, The National Amnesty Refugee Network and the CIE National Working Group. Was co-convener of the very active Tasmanian Southern Group for five years, instigating the Uyghur Campaign in Tasmania and co-convening many successful events, most recently the popular Human Rights Day celebration in Franklin. I have attended three National AGMs and been a General Meeting Voter at two, as well as attending Lead Activist Workshops.

I am passionate about raising awareness of human rights through community education and engagement. My main focus is working for the rights of Aboriginal Australians, Asylum Seekers and Refugees, Uyghurs and people suffering oppression or wrongful imprisonment.

I have campaigned strongly to Raise the Age of Criminal Responsibility and for Aboriginal-led justice reinvestment to be put in place to help keep Aboriginal youth out of the correctional system and away from the tragic risk of death in custody or suicide.

My qualifications are in Welfare and Training & Coordination of Disability Services. I am an older Australian Muslim woman, with a hidden disability, and value diversity in the community and representation within Amnesty International.

Khaled Damag

I am extremely glad to have joined Amnesty Australia as a Youth Group Advisory representative, and looking forward to getting more involved and useful in the many coming years.

I believe in the necessity of connecting the youths’ voice to that of regional activism, and I believe that one the most significant ways to that is by being part of Amnesty. Therefore, I am excited to contribute to this community and to fight for human rights from a larger stage and for a wider network.

I have been involved in human rights activism since 2015, when I volunteered to be a member of Barran Humane Cultural Organisation (Yemen). I was 16 years old at the time, but the merits and values I have gathered from such an experience had grew in me the more the days had passed.

And after reaching Australia to complete my higher studies, I had come to realise that fighting for human rights meant the same thing all around the world. And given my interest in such a matter, I only thought it to be reasonable to contribute with my thoughts and experiences to further signify the voice of Amnesty.

Bethan Frake

I have been a member of Amnesty International Australia since May 2014 and a financial supper and human rights defender since 2008.

I am the Regional President of the Tas ALC and a former Board member of Amnesty International, I am experienced with Amnesty’s internal workings and will be able to be a source for sound decision making when acting as a GMV, providing robust commentary and challenges for the AGM.

As a lawyer I have technical skills in understanding and interpreting legal documents and resolutions. My particular interests are Corporate Governance and adventure fundraising/activism.

Oliver Hovenden

Oliver has been involved in Amnesty International for over 10 years. He first became involved at 13 when he attended a letter writing group at his high school. He later co-chaired the Justice Action Network from 2013-2015, coordinating human rights activism in students from across Tasmania.

He served on the Tasmanian Branch Committee, including as Branch Secretary, from 2014-2019 until he left to spend almost a year studying international human rights law in the Netherlands. He has attended 4 National AGMs as an observer/delegate.

He is currently completing his Arts/Law degree majoring in Politics and International Relations and writing his honours thesis in human rights law.

He founded and convened the Amnesty International Society at the University of Tasmania and is particularly passionate about educating the community about human rights and empowering young people to take action.

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Fiona Bachmann

“It’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness” says it all.

Those that are able to need to make a stance for those that can’t. Complacency serves no one, and risks condoning the injustice of the world that Amnesty is there to prevent.

I’ve been part of grassroots activities; stalls, petitions, forums, art exhibitions, letter writing, and given out countless flyers and badges. I was actively involved in the NSW Branch Committee (BC) for six years. I attended the majority of meetings, training, and consultations, and feel I provided a worthy contribution to online proposals, discussion, and resulting decisions. I committed to representing Amnesty speaking at several events, and forged relationships, and raised awareness outside of Amnesty. I feel it is important to both create awareness of, and make positive change in upholding human rights issues.

I have an economics and commerce background, and work as a Business Analyst practicing financial modelling, business planning, strategy, and risk management, bringing a commercial, and practical view to governance. Having previously served four years as a NSW NAGM delegate and I feel I have the relevant qualifications to be a GMV.

Chanphyna Bou

I am a highly passionate and engaged human rights defender.

During the day, I fight for social justice for vulnerable members of the community as a lawyer, and by night, I defend human rights as a grassroots activist.

I have been a longstanding Amnesty International Australia (“AIA”) activist. My previous roles included being the Treasurer for Victoria, the Community Organiser and Social Media intern, convenor of the Get Active Network, mentor of the Women’s Rights Defender’s Network, a voting delegate at AIA National AGMs, and a member of the Refugee Network, Focus Leadership Group, and the Victoria Branch Committee.

I am currently a member of the Victoria Activism Leadership Committee and working closely with various Amnesty groups in our region. Other social justice organisations that I have worked at included the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Darebin Community Legal Centre, Victoria Immigrant, and Refugee Women’s Coalition, and the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival.

With over 7 years of experience as an Amnesty activist, I am excited to continue being a member and activist of the Amnesty global movement to empower and motivate our activists, defend human rights and build a stronger and fairer community.

Michael Dundon

I joined the Board of Amnesty in 2019 and am Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee.

I have background in financial services and in the last 9 years I was the CEO of large not for profit superannuation fund.

I am a passionate advocate for human rights and have been involved in indigenous education programs, as well as programs supporting asylum seekers for education and job opportunities.

Suzan Gencay

Suzan has been part of Amnesty International for over 15 years having become involved as a High School student and went on to convene her University Group. She joined the Victorian Activism and Leadership Committee (aka: Branch Committee) in 2013, was elected as Secretary in 2014, in 2017 as the Vice-president and in 2021 as the President. She has been an AGM Observer/Delegate for seven years and worked with her fellow branch members to host Amnesty International Australia’s first combined Human Rights Conference and AGM in 2014 at Victorian Parliament House. She is also the mentor for the Victorian LGBTIQA+ Network.

Suzan works as a lawyer in the social justice space and is passionate about access to justice. More recently she has gained experience in judicial processes, decision making and research. She’s a contributor to the Fitzroy Legal Service Law Handbook and also works as a legal trainer, educating lawyers about how gambling related harm can affect clients in everyday practice.

Ian Gibson

Ian has attended nearly all AI Australia AGMs since 1982. He was Secretary, Vice-President and President of the Victorian Branch during the 1980s, on the national board from 1992 – 2003 and again from 2015 to 2020, and on various international committees from 1999 to 2015, including four years on the International Board.

In 2020 he was asked to stand for a second period on the international Membership Review Committee, a committee he chaired from 2009-15.

Ian is a lawyer and notary public, with postgraduate qualifications in law, organisation dynamics, ethics and education.

Ian has a deep familiarity with Amnesty International nationally and internationally, and is committed to an Amnesty that is a global movement of individual members working together against grave abuses of human rights, and that at the same time maintains transparency, integrity, good governance and professionalism.

Andrew Liew

I have been part of the Victorian ALC for the last 4 years and I was privileged to attend my first AGM as a GMV last year. Although initially daunting, I enjoyed participating in the process assisting with resolutions and questions on notice. I was inspired by everyone’s ideas and witnessed how a people powered movement can make a difference.

With a background in human rights law, I have a strong interest in governance and empowering people with lived experience.

Undoubtedly, various communities have experienced challenges big and small due to the pandemic. Accordingly, in order to protect, respect and fulfil human rights, it is vital that Australia strengthen its laws and adopt a National Human Rights Act.

I believe that Amnesty is well placed to advocate for change.

Anita Nair

Hi, I’m Anita Nair and I’m currently working in youth activism, through the Youth Advisory Group, and in the Refugee campaign as a regional lead in Victoria. These opportunities have allowed me to be a part of creating and implementing the new youth strategy and working in the My New Neighbour campaign in Victoria.

I’m passionate about making our movement and our activism accessible to everyone.

Something I’ve been fortunate to be a part of, especially through YAG, is a greater sense of autonomous activism – and this is something I hope we can further; by creating supportive spaces where individuals can initiate ideas which resound with them.

Also, I hope that we can work to remove the implicit barriers which are present for people to engage in these spaces. I think diverse activism, whether that be in our campaigns, actions or members, has the capacity to reach more impacts, and I’m excited to be working in Amnesty to be a part of this.

Katrina North

My name is Katrina North and I am pleased to be nominating for a position of General Member Voter for the 2021 AIA AGM.

I have been an activist with Amnesty International for two decades in Australia and while living in the UK. I have a passion and strong commitment to social justice and human rights. I have just stepped down from the Victorian Activist Leadership Committee having been a representative for 9 years. During that time I held the positions of Regional President for two years and Vice President for 3 years. I am now working on different national projects including the AIA 2021 Activism Forum, the Human Rights Education Project and the AI 60 birthday celebrations.

I am also the Convenor of my local AI North East Metro Group I feel this gives me a strong understanding of what matters to our grassroots activists. Our group have worked hard over many years to foster many ongoing partnerships in our local community. I have been to 8 AIA AGMS and feel I have the skills and passion to represent activists at the 2021 AGM.

Susanna Ritchie

I am a highly engaged member and activist leader here at AIA. I am currently Chair of AIA’s Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing Steering Group after 4 years on the National Board. I was Victorian Branch President (2013-2015) and have been a member of the Victorian Branch Committee/Activism Leadership Committee and the Footscray/Williamstown Action Group since about 2012. I have previous experience as a General Meeting Voter (2013, 2014 and 2019).

I am unwavering in my passion for developing positive relationships and improving communications across Amnesty, and throughout the broader human rights movement. I strive for transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, innovation and continuous improvement in all that I do, including at Amnesty.

During my time as Branch President and then as a Board Member, I helped drive and design AIA’s new membership growth strategy and AIA’s recent governance reform. I was also an early member of the Board’s Activism and Membership Sub-Committee and helped establish its role within our organisation.

I’ve had over a decade of advisory experience in both private practice and government. Now, in addition to being employed as a senior leader in the public service, I run a thriving workplace relations consultancy and law firm with my husband, helping to unlock people power in business as well as in the community.

Mario Santos

Mario has been an Amnesty activist since 2000.

He holds a Master of Human Rights Law and has 20 years of commercial and senior management experience.

He joined the Board in 2018 after three years as Vic regional president.

He was a group organiser before that, and has taken part in every Amnesty International Australia AGM since he moved to Australia in mid 2014.

Finlay Spalding

Hi, I am Finlay Spalding (He/Him) and I am the Youth Advisory Group (YAG) Representative for Victoria.

Being part of YAG, has given me the opportunity, to sit on international discussions on youth leadership as well as the chance to speak to youth leaders across the world. I am passionate about supporting youth membership to participate in governance and decision making in both at the state and national level. Young people need to have a seat at the table, if we are to be a successful movement.

I am also undertaking my honours degree in Middle Eastern studies, where I am examining Israeli national security policy.

Emily Watson

I first became involved with Amnesty International Australia as an intern during the final semester of my uni studies. Following graduation I was pleased to stick around as a regular volunteer in the WA Action Centre. This facilitated my first experiences of grassroots activism and showed me the power of community organising.

One of my favourite Amnesty memories is working alongside fellow activists to plan our ‘’Beats for Bravery’’ event. In 2019 I joined the WA ALC and became further involved in youth activism as a member of the YAG.

I have since attended two AIA AGMs as a GMV delegate on behalf of supporters in WA.

Earlier this year I moved to VIC for further study. I hope to use my previous experiences to ensure I represent the voices of other ‘Famnesty’ members as a GMV in 2021.

Clive Weston

I became an active member and volunteer of Amnesty International in mid-2018 after my retirement from legal practice as a sole practitioner for 25 years and as a life member of the Eastern Community Legal Service.

Initially I joined the Individuals at Risk Network Group before being invited to fill the vacant position of Secretary with the then Victorian Branch Committee and continuing as a member of the Victorian ALC.

I have been fortunate to attend the 2018 NAGM and EGM and observe the introduction of Amnesty’s new Governance and Constitutional reforms, and attended the 2019 and 2020 AGMs as a voting member. I would welcome the opportunity to partake as a voter again.

I am looking to help Regional groups and assisting new Activists following Get Active Sessions in Victoria again during the coming year. In these challenging times I believe that it is important that Amnesty keeps its focus on the core values for the protection of human rights and find new and innovative ways to attract members.

Anne Wright

I have been a member of Amnesty for over 20 years, a member of the AIA Governance Committee (a Board Committee) since 2016 and for the last 3 years, Chair of that Committee.

I would welcome the opportunity to continue making a contribution by voting at General Meetings. I see it as vitally important that the correct people, in terms of skills and diversity, are elected to the Board to ensure that the organisation goes from strength to strength.

Competition for funds was tough even before this year we have all lived through. The strategy of the organisation, good governance and decision-making is increasingly important in this environment and will be key in ensuring that our mission and values are fulfilled and our goals are met, both in Australia and globally.

By way of professional background, I am a lawyer with over 20 years’ experience, having consulted as a governance specialist to a range of organisations and have held senior governance positions in the financial services and not-for-profit sectors.

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Kathryn Allan

My name is Kathy, and I have been a passionate Amnesty activist for over 10-years. My involvement in defending human rights started from a young child when refugees from Chernobyl visited my school and I could not understand why people were treated differently. From then on, I became a fierce social justice advocate and have campaigned in the UK, USA, and Australia. Most recently I helped to organise the March for Justice, you can find me outside (and occasionally inside) Parliament during my lunch-break campaigning for human rights.

I am currently privileged to be in the position of Regional President for ACT/SNSW. Core to my vision is ensuring that people affected by issues we talk about are centred, empowered and heard in our activism. I want to create a diverse, inclusive environment where we break barriers and work together to create a world where all people have human rights recognised. I am a researcher in the area of statelessness, refugee and asylum policy and use a post-colonial feminist approach to participatory research. I believe that everyone who wants to can create positive change, and I want to make sure they have the support, resources and confidence to do so.

Sally Choi

I first became involved in AIA as a first-year student at the ANU after coming across their stall at a student society market day. I quickly joined on as a social media officer and later became the co-president of Amnesty ANU. I also became the ACT/SNSW Youth Advisory Group state representative, and then the Chairperson of the Youth Advisory Group. During my time as a grass-roots activist in the ACT, I have organised numerous academic speakers panels alongside the ANU College of Law and other organisations on topics ranging from Tibetan Rights, Indigenous Youth Incarceration Rates in the ACT, a 2017 Marriage Equality Panel with guest speakers like Ivan Hinton-Teoh, and organised a meeting with ACT MP Simon Corbell to discuss Amnesty’s ‘Community Is Everything’ campaign. During my time with the YAG, I led the group through a wide-spread governance restructure, organised meetings with state youth leaders, and represented youth activists at the Activism Membership Committee. Since leaving the YAG, I returned to grass-roots activism and joined the ACT/SNSW Activism Leadership Committee in 2020. Recently I organised and hosted the 2021 International Women’s Day Panel on the Experiences of Domestic Violence for Women During COVID-19, which involved CEOs and Directors from ACT women’s refuges and female support service providers.

Joe Guarnieri

My name is Joe Guarnieri. I’m a new member to the Amnesty International Australia (AIA) family.

Since starting with AIA last October I have attended the Write for rights Embassy drive, participated in letter writing activities as part of our local writing group and have been helping with AIA governance activities.

I started working as volunteer in my early 20s as a member of the ‘meals on wheels’ team at Sutherland hospital. After moving to Canberra, I became a member of the Haemophilia Foundation. During my 15 years volunteer work there, I served as youth delegate before holding different executive roles on ACT and National committees. My activities focused on advocacy of haemophilia issues, policy and governance.

I studied science and information technology at Wollongong University graduating with a Bachelor of Science before commencing employment with the Public Service. I was employed as an IT professional for 28 years before recently retiring in March 2021.

I have wanted to work with AIA since learning about the important work the organisation does defending human rights. Over the last few months, I have been so kindly welcomed and I feel honoured working with such dedicated and caring individuals.

Saad Khalid

My name is Saad Khalid – I am the Current Regional Communications Rep here in the ACT/SNSW. Working to strengthen our outreach and engagement with the wider community, I wish to take on a greater responsibility for guiding activism strategy in our region.

My passion for human rights broods from my upbringing across four continents and a continued effort to understand the impact that ethnocultural communities have had on Australia’s development.

I bring with me experience in community media and have worked on issues of significance pertaining to migrant legacy through radio, podcasts, documentaries, and film. My tender age aside, I have tackled important issues, advocating to change the way we acknowledge our multicultural history – netting a National Award as Ethnic Presenter of 2019!

Leveraging my experience in media communications, I wish to guide our communications strategy in the best way forward with the full and considered input of all Activists!

Jay Moran

I’m a passionate young non-binary person with a passion for Human Rights. I have 10 years of experience across government relations, human rights and public policy.

I currently work as Government Relations lead for a large national organisation, where I am responsible for political strategy and engagement in federal parliament. I have worked on a number of political campaigns and community organising campaigns across environment and social justice issues.

I also have a track record of delivering individual and systemic human rights initiatives across Australia and the Asia-Pacific. My passion for global human rights has taken me to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia and Cambodia. I have also co-founded two humanitarian organisations providing disaster relief in the ASEAN region, and been involved in a range of regional and global initiatives advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. Locally, I have worked in human rights policy, mental health, disability and emergency preparedness and response.

I have been active in various Amnesty International campaigns since 2014, with particular emphasis on refugees, including being the ACT/SNSW coordinator for the My New Neighbour Campaign.

Geoffrey O’Keefe

Geoff is committed to the advancement of human rights. Spending most of his working career overseas, in the aid and development sector, Geoff has developed a strong sense of the universal humanness of all of us.

Stephen Rowe

I’ve been involved with Amnesty in a few ways over the years, from sitting at stalls or jangling a bucket in New Zealand, to writing hundreds of Urgent Action letter for individuals at risk with a committed core of fellow letter writers in Canberra since 2014.

Since going on an Amnesty ’embassy tour’ earlier this year I’ve been interested in seeing Amnesty connect more with its’ supporters, but also other partners and allies to advance human rights through people power that applies real pressure.

As part of the ALC I hope to learn more about how Amnesty operates and to use my experience in university supporter engagement to help make these connections help create the better world we all desire!

Alicia Zahmel

Hi! I’m Alicia (she/her) and I’d like to receive your vote to join the ACT/SNAW Activism and Leadership Committee.

I have been involved with Amnesty International Australia since I was 14 and started receiving the magazine in the post. Over the years I have interned in the SA/NT office, been a member to the ACT/Southern NSW Activism Leadership Committee, a General Voting Member and I’m currently a member of the International Issues Committee of the National Board since 2019.

I am looking to rejoin the ACT/SNSW Activism and Leadership Committee after several years absence. I believe my past experience in Amnesty International and in ALC governance will have some value and I will be able to bring new ideas after having some time away. I’m keen to help build the ACT/SNSW region into an Amnesty strong hold with good connections into our Territorial government and the ability to provide support and linkages into the Australian Government.

I look forward to working with regional activists and our community to progress our promote our values.

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Declan Davis

Declan Davis is currently a member of the NSW Activism Leadership Committee and member of the National Amnesty Refugee Network. He is 26 years old and lives in Sydney.

Declan is a long-time supporter of Amnesty and has experience on the ground across a number of campaigns (state elections, federal elections, etc.) and also experience working on issue-based campaigns (republican movement, voluntary-assisted dying, modern slavery, etc.). He joined the NSW Activism Leadership Committee last year to help support Amnesty’s fight for human rights across the world and here in Australia.

Declan wants to see Amnesty continue to shine a torch into the darkest areas, onto issues that other organisations (governments, private companies) would rather pretend didn’t exist. Declan is keen to grow Amnesty’s reach and membership and ensure it remains an effective force for change.

He holds a BA (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Oxford and MA from Peking University. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Silvia Greco

How I joined Amnesty: In 2015 as a member of the Eastern Suburbs Group in Sydney – My Interests: governance, promoting human rights in schools, Indigenous justice and culture.

Joshua Lorschy

I’m a fourth-year Arts/Law student studying at the University of Sydney. As an individual deeply passionate about human rights and community development, I am excited to join Amnesty as a Youth Advisory Group Representative and to nominate for a position on the NSW ALC.

I want to use my term at Amnesty to support youth empowerment and participation. I understand what it’s like to feel helpless – to witness injustice but lack the power to take action. It is a feeling common to the vast majority of young people within Australia because our voices are unobserved, due to our age, alleged inexperience and lack of political influence. It is this experience that forced me to recognise the importance of education, upholding young people’s rights and encouraging their civic engagement.

With experience in strategy consulting, mobilisation and government advocacy, I am excited to support the ALC and drive Amnesty’s local human rights activism.

Belinda Neal

Belinda first joined Amnesty at University. From a young age she has had a passionate interest in human rights. Her observation of inequity in the global and local community and her studies confirmed to her the importance of campaigning for positive change. She is the longest serving member of the NSW Activist Leadership Committee. Belinda is keen to make activists the centre of decision making at Amnesty and to ensure they are supported to enhance their ability to campaign for human rights.

During her time on the NSW ALC Belinda has taken on the role of editor of the ALC Newsletter and focuses on ensuring interactions with members are open and transparent. She is keen to see the membership of Amnesty grow and become more active.

Belinda spent 20 years in politics including as a NSW Senator in the Federal Parliament, a Member of the House of Representatives and Chief of staff to a NSW Minister. She also served as a Councillor on Gosford City Council. Belinda is a lawyer who is mainly engaged by the Not for Profit and disability Sector as a consultant advising on advocacy, public affairs and changing government policy. She is particularly skilled at influencing government policy and decision making thorough public affairs campaigns.

Belinda has extensive experience as a Director. She has been a member of not-for-profit boards since the 1980’s. She is presently a Director of YC, a not for profit, that provides support for young people with disability with. She was a Board Member of the Mount Penang Development Authority and a foundation Director of Hitech, a publicly listed company. Belinda was a foundation Director of the Central Coast Mariners Football Club where she was the Chair of the audit Committee.

She holds both a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of International Law from Sydney University. She also holds a diploma from Berkley University in Economics for Business.

Isabella Neal-Shaw

I have been drawn to Amnesty International since my high school year due to their effective campaigning strategies and strong online presence. I am passionate about human rights – particularly Indigenous and refugee rights.

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Rachel Baggoley

I am nominating to be re-elected to the ALC for the QLD/NNSW region for a further 2 year term. I started attending my local Group meetings to find a way to become involved in an organisation that took action to defend the rights of all humans, and particularly those of refugees and people seeking asylum. I have always strongly believed that all humans deserve equality and freedom and since becoming involved in Amnesty I have become more aware of the issues facing individuals globally and learned how change can happen. I originally joined the region’s Branch Committee to help out as Treasurer after being a co-convenor of the Brisbane City Group for a couple of years, attending regional meetings and getting to know activists, supporters and members of the Branch Committee. Activism can take many forms and being a member of Amnesty and involved in the ALC has introduced me to other like-minded people and enabled me to grow and learn how to make positive change my way. I hope to carry on as apart of the region’s ALC and continue to learn and be involved in the organising and campaigning that we do.

Gavin Cruickshank

Being a strong supporter of human rights, I wanted to be more active in effectively implementing action to enforce equal human rights to everyone in the world and so became a financial member of AI. I would now like to have the opportunity to be part of the ALC to contribute towards this goal. I have first-hand experience in starting and being on the executive of clubs and associations since a teenager. I’ve been Meetings Director, Treasurer and other executive positions of the Brisbane Junior Chamber for about 10 years from 1989, as well as Porsche Club Qld for another 10 years from the mid 1990’s. I’ve been actively involved in every local Gold Coast committee meetings for the last few years, as well as stalls and community events. I have formal qualifications of: B.E. – Elec (QUT); MCNE (Novell); Cert IV- AWT; Cert IV- BA; Cert IV- SBM; Cert III – Ed Sup.

Ruth Gould

My name is Ruth Gould, Co-Convenor of the Amnesty Chermside group in northern Brisbane since 2018 and activist since 2015. I am passionate about equality and freedom for all people. I enjoy working with our strong team of local activists including on successful stalls and events with petitions for Community is Everything, Write4Rights, refugees, women’s rights and Myanmar. We attend community rallies and engage with MPs and international Governments through writing emails and letters for urgent cases. I work in a non-profit and completed postgraduate studies in social science. I would like to join the QLD/NNSW Activism Leadership Committee (ALC) to represent activists and support existing and new groups/activists to connect to information and resources to help them with their human rights activities to build a strong community of human rights defenders and strengthen responses to injustice in our region.

Peter Hanley

Peter has been a member of Amnesty International Australia since 1993 and soon after that became convenor of the Townsville AI Action Group – a role he has held off and on ever since. He joined the Queensland NNSW Branch Committee of AIA in 2004 and was Queensland NNSW Branch President from 2005-2008. In 2009 at the National Annual General Meeting (NAGM), Peter was awarded the national June Fassina Award for his extensive contribution to the defence of Human Rights.

Peter has been on the Queensland NNSW Activism and Leadership Committee since 2018. Peter believes one of AIA’s great strengths is that it is a member-led organisation and members do have a say. That is one reason he is nominating as a General Meeting Voter (GMV) at the 2020 AGM – another is to catch up (virtually) with many friends, activists and staff, in the Amnesty family.

Peter retired in 2014 after more than 20 years working as a Learning Adviser at James Cook University. Outside his involvement with Amnesty, Peter is currently President of the North Queensland Conservation Council and a member of the Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Committee at James Cook University. He loves walking, cycling, sea kayaking, and singing.

Olivia Roney

Olivia is a social entrepreneur, passionate about social innovation and agency-driven change. In her final year of Laws (Honours) and Economics, she has a strong research focus, and international consulting experience.

She works as a strategist for spur: a social impact design and strategy firm. She is a Foundation for Young Australian’s Young Social Pioneer, Enactus National Champion, UNLEASH Talent in 2019, and at UNLEASH+ in 2020.

She is a Committee Member at GiveOUT Australia, and volunteers for the LGBTI Legal Service’s law reform portfolio.

Her work has spanned donor engagement for health research, technology and elder inclusion, cultural attitudes to poetry, conversion therapy, design of AI in administrative design making and wellbeing.

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Caitlin Arthur-McGill

My name is Caitlin Arthur- McGill and I am currently a third-year law student at the University of Adelaide. I am studying to complete a double major of Law and International Relations with a minor in French. I am very passionate about the law and believe it is a way to hold every person accountable in hopes of creating a free and equal world. I love to travel and experience different countries, cultures and ways of life! I am impassioned by human rights, specifically social rights and freedoms. I truly believe that fighting for what you believe in, surrounded by like-minded people can lead to extraordinary things!

Sharon Binns

I joined Amnesty to help make a real difference in the NT as I am driven in the area of human rights. Joining an organisation that has the capability to make a difference in the world is a drawcard. Someone out there has it tougher than me. Attending rallies and protests as part of Australian Human Rights advocacy offers opportunities to make real life changes.

Billy Fay

To me, Amnesty holds an incredibly important role in raising international awareness for global and domestic human rights issues.

As a result of its long history as a defender of human rights, Amnesty is well positioned to be a strong force for good in raising awareness of human rights issues, campaigning for domestic and international action, and inspiring and supporting young activists.

As a YAG Representative I am able to share the perspectives and experiences of young people within the Amnesty movement and work to make Amnesty a more accessible and inclusive environment for young people of all backgrounds.

It is becoming clearer and clearer that this generation of young people are some of the most engaged and dedicated activists out there, however our structures and institutions don’t always incorporate the perspectives of young people well enough. The immense passion of young activists is commensurate with the many complex issues the global community is facing and provides an invaluable resource for all those seeking a more just, equitable, and sustainable world. Young people need to know that their voice matters and we as a movement must ensure they have the skills and resources to make the changes we so desperately need.

Timothy Green

My name is Tim Green (he/him), I started volunteering for Amnesty in 2017. Earlier this year I joined the SA/NT ALC as a regional communication representative.

My goals are to strengthen the methods of communication between our volunteers, activists, and supporters, and make sure our systems are letting those most needing to be heard a place to speak.I hope that, as a General Meeting Voter and ALC member, I will be able to work towards this, as well as support activists more generally.

Carlos Ibaviosa

Carlos’ involvement with Amnesty International started as a hands-on help volunteer during Write for Rights in 2018. While his commitment has mostly been in the background since then – signing petitions, attending marches, and donating – Carlos joined Amnesty more long-term at the end of 2020. He has since assisted with the regional planning day, and is in the process of spearheading the Wrongful Convictions Action Group to raise awareness on miscarriages of justice in Australia and internationally. Outside of criminal justice issues, Carlos is broadly passionate about women’s rights, Aboriginal rights, and climate change, and is also interested in improving accessibility and reach in activism.

Alex Kelly

I’m Alex/John Kelly the regional secretary for SANT.

Isaac Thiele-Swift

Hi, I’m Isaac! I’m running to be on the Activist Leadership Council, because I believe human rights are essential to the preservation of liberal democracy and the prevention of tyranny. Many generations of politicians and activists fought so that we could have these rights, and they did so under much harsher conditions than we in the West face today. I think it is incumbent on each of us to continue the important and always-incomplete work of defending human rights. I am particularly passionate about freedom of speech and freedom of the press, and the protection of rights essential to democratic participation.

Nicole Wedding

My involvement with Amnesty International began in my student days, when I joined an action group on campus at The University of Adelaide. After graduating, I still wanted to volunteer – so I became a member of the SA/NT Activism Leadership Committee.

I’m excited about the growing number of young activists both in the SA/NT region and nationally, and I want to do everything I can to ensure their voices are heard.

Adelaide Xerri

I joined Amnesty after starting a degree in Humanitarian Aid and Development as an Event Coordinator as I was very interested in helping with Amnesty events, partnerships encouraging Amnesty to reach a broader audience. My interests are economics, event management, community engagement and youth participation.

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Khaled Damag

I am extremely glad to have joined Amnesty Australia as a Youth Group Advisory representative, and looking forward to getting more involved and useful in the many coming years.

I believe in the necessity of connecting the youths’ voice to that of regional activism, and I believe that one the most significant ways to that is by being part of Amnesty. Therefore, I am excited to contribute to this community and to fight for human rights from a larger stage and for a wider network.

I have been involved in human rights activism since 2015, when I volunteered to be a member of Barran Humane Cultural Organisation (Yemen). I was 16 years old at the time, but the merits and values I have gathered from such an experience had grew in me the more the days had passed.

And after reaching Australia to complete my higher studies, I had come to realise that fighting for human rights meant the same thing all around the world. And given my interest in such a matter, I only thought it to be reasonable to contribute with my thoughts and experiences to further signify the voice of Amnesty.

Bethan Frake

I have been a member of Amnesty International since May 2014 and a financial supper and human rights defender since 2008.

The Activist Leadership Committee was set up to provides a critical link between local action groups and the movement at a national level. With this in mind, being a current former Board member of Amnesty International and being the existing regional President I am experienced with Amnesty’s internal workings and can be a source of knowledge for ALC members. I encourage the development of new ideas and the implementation of new processes to help the ALC achieve human rights activism and impact.

As a lawyer I have technical skills in understanding and interpreting legal documents for the ALC to consider and I also have excellent drafting and written skills which can assist the ALC in lobbying and writing persuasive pieces.

I am very hardworking, reliable and provide continuity of leadership at the ALC level.

My particular interests are Corporate Governance and adventure fundraising/activism; I climbed Kilimanjaro in 2013 and did the Point to Pinnacle in 2014 both to raise funds and awareness for AIA, gender equality and international human rights.

Oliver Hovenden

Oliver has been involved in Amnesty International for over 10 years. He first became involved at 13 when he attended a letter writing group at his high school. He later co chaired the Justice Action Network from 2013-2015, coordinating human rights activism in students from across Tasmania. He served on the Tasmanian Branch Committee, including as Branch Secretary, from 2014-2019 until he left to spend almost a year studying international human rights law in the Netherlands. He has attended 4 National AGMs as an observer/delegate.

He is currently completing his Arts/Law degree majoring in Politics and International Relations and writing his honours thesis in human rights law. He founded and convened the Amnesty International Society at the University of Tasmania and is particularly passionate about educating the community about human rights and empowering young people to take action.

Madeline Wells

Madeline is a Palawa/Koorie woman who grew up Tommeginne country in NW Tasmania.

She has volunteered with Amnesty International since 2015, mainly holding events in Wynyard and Burnie to build awareness of AI campaigns and how to take action. As well as speaking on panels & events about AI’s campaigns and experience advocating for human rights. She represented AI Australia at the UN in Geneva, Switzerland in 2016, and the Global Youth Task Force in London in 2019 to help design the Next Global Strategy. She also met with other AI volunteers during attending the Women Deliver conference in Vancouver BC in 2019, as a Women Deliver Young Leader class of 2018.

Alongside others in the Aboriginal community in Tasmania, she helped organise the Black Lives Matter Vigils in Devonport and Hobart in 2020.

Madeline is passionate about First Nation’s rights such as justice for Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, Raise the Age & AI’s campaign Community Is Everything, Climate Justice & protecting country/water. LGBTQI+ rights including banning conversion therapy & stronger laws against homophobia & transphobia. Abortion Rights, Protection of Sex Workers, Better support and justice for sexual abuse survivors, domestic & family violence & children’s rights.

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Fiona Bachmann

It is not enough to curse the darkness. Being part of Amnesty is about shining a light and acting. This doesn’t happen without support and guidance by an Activism Leadership Committee (ALC).

The best contribution I can make to Amnesty is to lend my professional skills in finance analysis, business strategy and planning as an ALC member.

I’ve been an Amnesty member, and Human Rights Defender for several years. I first joined Amnesty in South Australia. Then, in Western Australia, was the only dial in Business Group participant. In NSW, I was co-convener of the Business Group for two years. I have been involved in grassroots groups; the Lane Cove, former Demand Dignity, now Redfern and Newtown Groups.

I have six year’s experience on the NSW Branch Committee, including as Secretary and Vice President. I contributed to meetings, training, and activities and improvements in process, meeting structure and communications and the Rethinking Governance Initiative.

Evolving from this and the much maligned Covid period requires those with a governance background, preparedness and capability.

I am part of Amnesty International; because those that can, need to make a difference.

Chanphyna Bou

I am a highly passionate and engaged human rights defender. During the day, I fight for social justice for vulnerable members of the community as a lawyer, and by night, I defend human rights as a grassroots activist. I have been a longstanding Amnesty International Australia (“AIA”) activist. My previous roles included being the Treasurer for Victoria, the Community Organiser and Social Media intern, convenor of the Get Active Network, mentor of the Women’s Rights Defender’s Network, a voting delegate at AIA National AGMs, and a member of the Refugee Network, Focus Leadership Group, and the Victoria Branch Committee.

I am currently a member of the Victoria Activism Leadership Committee and working closely with various Amnesty groups in our region. Other social justice organisations that I have worked at included the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Darebin Community Legal Centre, Victoria Immigrant, and Refugee Women’s Coalition, and the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival. With over 7 years of experience as an Amnesty activist, I am excited to continue being a member and activist of the Amnesty global movement to empower and motivate our activists, defend human rights and build a stronger and fairer community.

Grace Corcoran

Grace began volunteering with Amnesty International in October, 2015. She has always been a dedicated member to Amnesty International and has recently been involved in the Amnesty International Campaign Strategy Team and the Working Group for Amnesty International’s 60th Birthday Celebration. Grace has spent two years abroad working in LGBT+ rights in the Federated States of Micronesia, women’s empowerment in the Maldives, health promotion in Sri Lanka, law and human rights in the Philippines and community development in Canada. Grace is currently undertaking a Masters in Development Studies at the University of Melbourne.

Grace is a hard-working individual who is extremely passionate about the safeguarding of human rights across the world. She has overcome many challenges in her life and is capable, adaptable and flexible. Her leadership skills have been demonstrated through the organisation of the inaugural Pride Walk in the FSM and her endometriosis empowerment event in Australia. Grace’s experience and skills make her the perfect person to nominate for the ALC.

Suzan Gencay

Suzan has been part of Amnesty International for over 15 years having become involved as a High School student and went on to convene her University Group. She joined the Victorian Activism and Leadership Committee (aka: Branch Committee) in 2013, was elected as Secretary in 2014, in 2017 as the Vice-president and in 2021 as the President. She has been an AGM Observer/Delegate for seven years and worked with her fellow branch members to host Amnesty International Australia’s first combined Human Rights Conference and AGM in 2014 at Victorian Parliament House. She is also the mentor for the Victorian LGBTIQA+ Network.

Suzan works as a lawyer in the social justice space and is passionate about access to justice. More recently she has gained experience in judicial processes, decision making and research. She’s a contributor to the Fitzroy Legal Service Law Handbook and also works as a legal trainer, educating lawyers about how gambling related harm can affect clients in everyday practice.

Emily Watson

I first became involved with Amnesty International Australia as an intern during the final semester of my uni studies. Following graduation I was pleased to stick around as a regular volunteer in the WA Action Centre. This facilitated my first experiences of grassroots activism and showed me the power of community organising. One of my favourite Amnesty memories is working alongside fellow activists to plan our ‘’Beats for Bravery’’ event. In 2019 I joined the WA ALC and became further involved in youth activism as a member of the YAG. I have since attended two AIA AGMs as a GMV delegate on behalf of supporters in WA. Earlier this year I moved to VIC for further study. I hope to continue to develop and share my skills as an activist with members of the VIC ALC to benefit the wider ‘Famnesty’.

Clive Weston

I became an active member and volunteer of Amnesty International in mid-2018 after my retirement from legal practice as a sole practitioner for 25 years and as a life member of the Eastern Community Legal Service.

Initially I joined the Individuals at Risk Network Group before being invited to fill the vacant position of Secretary with the then Victorian Branch Committee and continuing as a member of the Victorian ALC.

I have been fortunate to attend the 2018 NAGM and EGM and observe the introduction of Amnesty’s new Governance and Constitutional reforms, and attended the 2019 and 2020 AGMs as a voting member. I would welcome the opportunity to partake as a voter again. I am looking to help Regional groups and assisting new Activists following Get Active Sessions in Victoria again during the coming year.

In these challenging times I believe that it is important that Amnesty keeps its focus on the core values for the protection of human rights and find new and innovative ways to attract members.

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