Committees

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

Executive Committee

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
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
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
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
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
Committee, Spokesperson, Policy Committee, Media Contact, Management Committee
Title: Treasurer
     
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
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

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
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
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
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
Committee, Spokesperson, Policy Committee, Media Contact, Management Committee
Title: Treasurer
     
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Policy Committee
Title: Member
Tom Clarke was elected to the Management Committee in November 2021
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
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
Spokesperson, Policy Committee, Media Contact
Title: Member
Gregory Buchhorn was confirmed as a Policy Committee member in November 2018
Policy Committee
Title: Member
Pamela Curr was confirmed as a Policy Committee member in November 2018
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
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
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
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.
Policy Committee
Title: Member
Isabelle was confirmed as a member of the Policy Committee in November 2021