• Michael Kirby is an international jurist, educator and former judge. He served as a Deputy President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission (1975-83); Chairman of the Australian Law Reform Commission (1975-84); Judge of the Federal Court of Australia (1983-4); President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal (1984-96); President of the Court of Appeal of Solomon Islands (1995-96) and Justice of the High Court of Australia (1996-2009). 

    He has undertaken many international activities for the United Nations and the Commonwealth Secretariat and has received a number of awards including the Australian Human Rights Medal in 1990, Laurette of the UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education in 1998, and co-winner of the Gruber Justice Prize in 2010.

  • Alice Spigelman is a clinical psychologist, writer and human rights advocate. She was a director of Australia for UNHCR and Chair of its Women’s Projects Committee. She is currently a Patron of the organisation and of Sculpture by the Sea, which she chaired until recently. 

    As a clinical psychologist and director of the Benevolent Society, she was instrumental in implementing its Social Leadership program in Sydney and Northern NSW. It brought together senior members of government and corporate and charity sectors to devise and implement ground-breaking social programs. 

    She was a director of the National Institute of Dramatic Art and was on the Board of the Bundanon Trust formed to administer and perpetuate the legacy of the artist Arthur Boyd. 

    She is the author of several books and plays, including a biography of the architect Harry Seidler. 

  • Edward Santow is Industry Professor - Responsible Technology at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Ed leads UTS on building Australia's capability on ethical artificial intelligence. Ed’s areas of expertise include human rights, technology and regulation, public law and discrimination law.  

    From 2016-2021, Ed was Australia's Human Rights Commissioner, where he led the Commission's work on AI and new technology; refugees and migration; human rights issues affecting LGBTI people; national security; and implementing the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT).  

    Ed is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law and serves on a number of boards and committees. In 2017, he was recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.  

    Ed previously served as chief executive of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and was a Senior Lecturer at UNSW Law School, a research director at the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law and a solicitor in private practice. 

    He also previously served as a member of the RACS Management Committee and as a volunteer solicitor. 

Meet our patrons

The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG

Michael Kirby is an international jurist, educator and former judge. He served as a Deputy President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission (1975-83); Chairman of the Australian Law Reform Commission (1975-84); Judge of the Federal Court of Australia (1983-84); President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal (1984-96); President of the Court of Appeal of Solomon Islands (1995-96) and Justice of the High Court of Australia (1996-2009). 

He has undertaken many international activities for the United Nations and the Commonwealth Secretariat and has received a number of awards including the Australian Human Rights Medal in 1990, Laurette of the UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education in 1998, and co-winner of the Gruber Justice Prize in 2010.

Alice Spigelman AM

Alice Spigelman is a clinical psychologist, writer and human rights advocate. She was a director of Australia for UNHCR and Chair of its Women’s Projects Committee. She is currently a Patron of the organisation and of Sculpture by the Sea, which she chaired until recently. 

As a clinical psychologist and director of the Benevolent Society, she was instrumental in implementing its Social Leadership program in Sydney and Northern NSW. It brought together senior members of government and corporate and charity sectors to devise and implement ground-breaking social programs. 

She was a director of the National Institute of Dramatic Art and was on the Board of the Bundanon Trust formed to administer and perpetuate the legacy of the artist Arthur Boyd. 

She is the author of several books and plays, including a biography of the architect Harry Seidler. 

Prof. Edward Santow

Edward Santow is Industry Professor - Responsible Technology at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Ed leads UTS on building Australia's capability on ethical artificial intelligence. Ed’s areas of expertise include human rights, technology and regulation, public law and discrimination law.  

From 2016-2021, Ed was Australia's Human Rights Commissioner, where he led the Commission's work on AI and new technology; refugees and migration; human rights issues affecting LGBTI people; national security; and implementing the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT).  

Ed is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law and serves on a number of boards and committees. In 2017, he was recognised as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.  

Ed previously served as chief executive of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and was a Senior Lecturer at UNSW Law School, a research director at the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law and a solicitor in private practice. 

He also previously served as a member of the RACS Management Committee and as a volunteer solicitor.