Committees

Liberty Victoria has dedicated, experienced and passionate people serving in management and policy roles on committees.

Executive Committee

Michelle Bennett Committee, Spokesperson, Policy Committee, Management Committee Title: President Michelle Bennett was appointed President in November 2023. Prior to this, she held the position of Senior Vice President, having been appointed in November 2021. Additionally, she served as the... View profile	Sam Norton Committee, Spokesperson, Policy Committee, Media Contact, Management Committee Title: Senior Vice-President Sam is a criminal defence solicitor who has acted in a wide range of criminal matters including cases with a particular focus on human rights. Sam has appeared on behalf of protesters charged with... View profile	Thomas Kane Committee, Management Committee Title: Vice President Thomas Kane is a Melbourne businessman and photographer who joined the Management Committee of Liberty Victoria in 2010. He sits on the Advisory Board of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law at... View profile	Jamie Gardiner OAM Committee, Spokesperson, Policy Committee, Media Contact Title: Vice President Jamie Gardiner is a long-standing committee member. He is a Board member of the Human Rights Law Centre and a former member (2000–2009) of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission... View profile	Gemma Cafarella Committee, Spokesperson, Policy Committee, Media Contact, Management Committee Title: Vice President and Government Regulation and Equality Working Group Chair Gemma Cafarella is a public law barrister. She works in human rights, housing, mental health and disability and regulatory matters. Before she was a barrister, Gemma worked at legal aid and in... View profile
Gregory Buchhorn Committee, Spokesperson, Policy Committee, Media Contact, Management Committee Title: Treasurer	Hannah Dickinson Committee, Policy Committee, Management Committee Title: Secretary Hannah is an LIV Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law with extensive experience in the migration and refugee field, with particular expertise in visa cancellation, merits review and litigation.... View profile	Michael Stanton Committee, Spokesperson, Policy Committee, Media Contact, Management Committee Michael Stanton is a barrister with a focus on appellate criminal and administrative law. Prior to becoming a barrister Michael was a youth and disability worker, researcher and associate at the... View profile

General (Policy and Management) Committee

Michelle Bennett Committee, Spokesperson, Policy Committee, Management Committee Title: President Michelle Bennett was appointed President in November 2023. Prior to this, she held the position of Senior Vice President, having been appointed in November 2021. Additionally, she served as the... View profile	Sam Norton Committee, Spokesperson, Policy Committee, Media Contact, Management Committee Title: Senior Vice-President Sam is a criminal defence solicitor who has acted in a wide range of criminal matters including cases with a particular focus on human rights. Sam has appeared on behalf of protesters charged with... View profile	Jamie Gardiner OAM Committee, Spokesperson, Policy Committee, Media Contact Title: Vice President Jamie Gardiner is a long-standing committee member. He is a Board member of the Human Rights Law Centre and a former member (2000–2009) of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission... View profile	Gemma Cafarella Committee, Spokesperson, Policy Committee, Media Contact, Management Committee Title: Vice President and Government Regulation and Equality Working Group Chair Gemma Cafarella is a public law barrister. She works in human rights, housing, mental health and disability and regulatory matters. Before she was a barrister, Gemma worked at legal aid and in... View profile	Gregory Buchhorn Committee, Spokesperson, Policy Committee, Media Contact, Management Committee Title: Treasurer
Prof. Spencer Zifcak Policy Committee, Media Contact Title: Member and Former President Spencer Zifcak was President of Liberty Victoria during 2011 and 2012. He is Allan Myers Professor of Law and Director of the Institute of Legal Studies at Australian Catholic University. He obtained... View profile	Julian Burnside AO QC Spokesperson, Policy Committee Title: Member and former President Julian Burnside is a barrister, human rights advocate, author and performed the role of President of Liberty Victoria over a number of years including 2020. He is well known for his staunch... View profile	Hannah Dickinson Committee, Policy Committee, Management Committee Title: Secretary Hannah is an LIV Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law with extensive experience in the migration and refugee field, with particular expertise in visa cancellation, merits review and litigation.... View profile	Michael Stanton Committee, Spokesperson, Policy Committee, Media Contact, Management Committee Michael Stanton is a barrister with a focus on appellate criminal and administrative law. Prior to becoming a barrister Michael was a youth and disability worker, researcher and associate at the... View profile	Jessie Taylor Policy Committee Title: Member and Former President Jessie Taylor BA(Hons) \| LLB(Hons) \| MSc(HA) is a barrister and a Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at Monash University. She currently sits on the Board of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. She... View profile
Rochelle Francis Policy Committee, Rights Advocacy Project Title: Member and Chair of Rights Advocacy Project Rochelle Francis was elected to the Management Committee in November 2020. Rochelle is the Chair of the Rights Advocacy Project	Lindy Smith Policy Committee Title: Volunteer Co-ordinator Lindy Smith joined Liberty Victoria's Management Committee as Volunteer Co-ordinator in January 2020. She has led the research, public consultation and policy development in eight inquiries by the... View profile	Tom Clarke Policy Committee Title: Member Tom Clarke was elected to the Management Committee in November 2021	Tim Warner Spokesperson, Policy Committee Title: Member and Privacy Working Group Chair Tim Warner has been working on Privacy and e-Health issues at Liberty since 2008. A former Treasurer of Liberty, he is normally engaged in the boating industry at Anchor Marine of Sandringham. He... View profile	Brigid Arthur AO Policy Committee Title: Member Coordinator Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project (BASP). Worked with asylum seekers for over 20 years. Brigid Arthur was confirmed as a member of the Policy Committee in November 2018
Gregory Buchhorn Spokesperson, Policy Committee, Media Contact Title: Member Gregory Buchhorn was confirmed as a Policy Committee member in November 2018	Pamela Curr, AM Policy Committee Title: Member Pamela Curr was confirmed as a Policy Committee member in November 2018	Hannah Figueroa Policy Committee Title: Member Hannah has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of International Studies (LLB/BInSt). She has experience undertaking advocacy-related work and policy research in various organisations promoting,... View profile	Virajith Hewaarachchi Policy Committee Title: Member Virajith is a Senior Lawyer at Refugee Legal with over 5 years’ professional experience practicing in refugee/protection and general immigration law, both in private practice and the community legal... View profile	Hugo Moodie Policy Committee Title: Member Hugo is a barrister who usually practices in criminal law. Prior to joining the bar he worked at Stary Norton Halphen, and in the Northern Territory at the North Australian Aboriginal Justice... View profile
Katharine Brown Policy Committee Title: Member Katharine was appointed to the Policy Committee in November 2021 In previous years she served as Vice-President, Chair of Liberty Victoria's Rights Advocacy Project and Policy Committee Member.	Isabelle Skaburskis Policy Committee Title: Member Isabelle was confirmed as a member of the Policy Committee in November 2021