JEC
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Government Relations Adviser
Drive engagement with parliamentarians and lead government relations strategies to help shape social justice campaigns.
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Sophie Leaver
Senior Solicitor Sophie Leaver is a Senior Solicitor with our Strategic Litigation team, working primarily on issues related to policing, prisons and detention. Before joining the JEC, Sophie worked as a Senior Lawyer at the Australian Human Rights Commission, where she conducted inquiries into human rights breaches in immigration detention. She has also worked as…
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Dannielle Duval
Policy and Communications Officer, Energy and Water Justice Dannielle joined the JEC in November 2025 as a Policy and Communications Officer in the Energy and Water Justice team. In this role, Dannielle clearly communicates complex issues and policy positions with decision-makers, stakeholders and our community of supporters. She acts as the reader’s advocate and builds…
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Cris Parker
Head of Philanthropy and Relationships Cris is the Head of Philanthropy and Relationships at the Justice and Equity Centre, and joined us in July 2025. She leads the relationships team, building lasting connections with people and organisations to empower the JEC’s work to advance systemic change and improve lives. Cris has expertise in community engagement,…
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Anna-Jane Lark
Liaison Officer, Women’s Service / Project Officer, StreetCare Anna-Jane (A-J) is the client liaison for the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service (HPLS) Women’s Service and Project Officer for StreetCare. A-J first joined the Justice and Equity Centre in March 2024 as a practical legal training placement, before becoming a paralegal for the Women’s Service. A-J is…
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Jade Harley
Board member since November 2025. Jade Harley is a purpose-driven leader with a proven record of forging cross-sector partnerships that deliver measurable social impact. As Director of Impact at UnLtd, she works with the media, marketing, and creative industries to unlock their financial and cultural influence to drive positive change for charities supporting children and young people…
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Tempe McMinn
Senior Solicitor, HPLS Women’s Service Tempe joined the JEC as a Senior Solicitor in the HPLS Women’s Service in 2025. She has a background in civil litigation, human rights, domestic and international criminal law and community legal work. Most recently, Tempe worked in a Health Justice Partnership assisting people being treated in a major Sydney…
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Ali Rahman
Ali Rahman joined theJEC Board in November 2025. Ali is the National Clinical Manager of Multicultural Practice at headspace.
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Kira van Os
Policy Officer, Energy and Water Justice Kira joined the Justice and Equity Centre’s Energy and Water Justice team as a Policy Officer in September 2025. Kira currently leads the team’s work on efficient electrification of homes and on the retail market. Kira has a background in energy, water and environmental projects in New Zealand and NSW government. Before coming to…
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Thomas Guetin
Administration Officer Thomas joined the Justice and Equity Centre in September 2025 as an Administration Officer. Thomas works in the Operations Team, splitting his time between legal secretary duties and administrative support. Thomas worked at UTS delivering student programs to promote equity and inclusion, as well as support to the team at the Institute for…
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Alexandra Shehadie
Board member since October 2025 Alexandra (Alex) Shehadie is a nationally respected expert in organisational culture and integrity, with over two decades of experience advising Australian institutions on systemic reform, accountability, and the prevention of harm. She is recognised for her work leading major reviews into workplace culture, through the lens of sexual violence, sexual harassment,…
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Nicola Colagiuri
Senior Solicitor, Strategic Litigation Nicola is a Senior Solicitor in the Strategic Litigation team, having joined the Justice and Equity Centre in 2025. Nicola works on our disability rights and policing and detention projects. Previously Nicola was a Senior Lawyer in the Disputes Resolution team at the Australian Government Solicitor, advising federal law enforcement and…
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Kate Bittar
Criminal Solicitor, HPLS Women’s Service Kate joined the Justice and Equity Centre in the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service in October 2025. As Criminal Solicitor in the Women’s Service, Kate provides criminal law assistance to women who have experienced domestic and family violence (DFV). She has a particular focus on the policing and criminalisation of victim-survivors…
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Research Assistant – Towards Truth
Start your career in legal research at a world-first truth-telling project.
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Stephenie Cahalan
Philanthropy Lead Stephenie joined the Justice and Equity Centre in 2025 as the philanthropy lead. She has extensive experience in for-purpose organisations, most recently with the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania managing the Truth Telling at Wybalenna project on Flinders Island. Stephenie engages her writing, research, and fundraising expertise to support advocacy for social justice…
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Petra Franks
Solicitor, Strategic Litigation Petra is a long-term secondee from Moray and Agnew Lawyers, working in our Strategic Litigation team. Petra’s work challenges discriminatory policing of First Nations communities and advocates for better treatment of young people in youth detention centres in NSW. Petra also provides legal support to the Energy and Water Justice team, contributing…
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Simon Rice
Board member since March 2025 Simon is a consultant at Chalk & Behrendt, advising Local Aboriginal Land Councils, and is an Emeritus Professor of Law at the University of Sydney, where he was previously Kim Santow Professor of Law and Social Justice. He is an expert in human rights law, and in anti-discrimination and equal opportunity…
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Stuart Price
Board member since February 2025 Stuart Price is the Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director, and co-founder of CASL, with over 30 years of experience in banking, investment banking, and litigation finance across the UK, Middle East, and Australia. He has held senior positions in litigation finance for over a decade, notably leading the resolution of a $190…
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Elizabeth Clark
Research Manager, Towards Truth Elizabeth joined the Justice and Equity Centre in August 2024 as a Research Lawyer with the Towards Truth Project, and was appointed to the role of Research Manager in May 2025. Elizabeth spent 7 years working with First Nations clients as a solicitor in the Civil Law Service for Aboriginal Communities at…
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John Temple-Cole
Board member since June 2023 John is a Partner at advisory firm HKA. He is a Forensic Accounting Specialist designated by Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand. For over 25 years, John has led complex disputes and financial and accounting investigations. He has provided expert evidence in a range of Australian Courts, the High Court…
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Jade Tyrrell
Board member since November 2020 Jade Tyrrell is a Senior Associate in Johnson Winter Slattery’s Dispute Resolution and Employment Team. She has experience acting in complex and large-scale commercial litigation, employment-related disputes, and defamation proceedings. In addition to her commercial work, Jade has a strong interest in supporting pro bono projects and assists with matters…
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Sera Mirzabegian SC, Chair
Board member since November 2022 and Chair since November 2023 Sera Mirzabegian SC is a senior barrister who practises in commercial litigation, regulatory investigations and litigation, class actions and human rights. Sera has acted for major Australian and international companies in a variety of industries (including financial services, property, infrastructure, pharmaceutical, media and technology) and…
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Wes Burton
Managing Lawyer, Homeless Persons’ Legal Service Wes joined the Justice and Equity Centre as the Managing Lawyer of the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service in March 2024. Wes manages a multi-disciplinary team and pro bono lawyers from external firms to provide a legal service to members of the community who are homeless or at risk of…
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Thea Bray
Senior Policy Officer, Energy and Water Justice Thea works in the Justice and Equity Centre’s Energy and Water Justice (EWJ) Team focusing on protections for people experiencing disadvantage and working to ensure all households can easily access affordable and sustainable energy and water services. She also conducts research projects for EWJ, exploring issues such as disconnection…
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Sheetal Balakrishnan
Senior Solicitor, Strategic Litigation Sheetal has practiced as a lawyer for over a decade, specialising in social justice issues. Her career has spanned NSW, the Northern Territory, the Netherlands and England across criminal law, international law, administrative law and human rights law. Sheetal joined the Justice and Equity Centre’s Strategic Litigation team in 2021 and…
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Seamus May
Communications Coordinator Seamus joined the Justice and Equity Centre in 2023 to work in the communications team, with a focus on the NSW Raise the Age campaign. Before working at the Justice and Equity Centre, Seamus worked as a journalist and copywriter in Australia and Europe for nine years. Seamus holds a PhD in Irish…
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Scott Parker
Operations Manager Scott joined the Justice and Equity Centre in 2007 and holds the pivotal role of managing our IT resources, SaaS environments and various office systems. His responsibilities extend to the upkeep of file archives and the maintenance of office facilities and equipment. Scott has been instrumental in the successful execution of many significant…
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Rivkah Nissim
Impact Manager Rivkah joined the Justice and Equity Centre as Impact Manager in early 2022. She works across our projects and programs to guide impact management and measurement in line with our purpose and strategic goals. Rivkah brings a deep commitment to social justice and equality. She has over 20 years’ experience in social and…
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Jade Fielding
Office Coordinator Jade joined the Justice and Equity Centre in June 2024 as the Office Coordinator. She assists with the day-to-day operations of the office, ensuring the smooth functioning of the Centre’s work for social justice. Jade previously worked in the facility management field within the public sector for the NSW Department of Communities and…