OUR PEOPLE

PRESIDENTS

Kurt Esser - President and Founder
Kurt is a barrister with 20 years experience in commercial law. He has a particular interest in administrative law and human rights. Kurt has worked continuously with The Justice Project since its inception, keeping his finger on the pulse of every area of its operation.

David Sanders - Vice President
Dave is a troubleshooter and strategist of corporate and community projects. He was press-ganged into TJP when we realised that as our volunteer IT guru, his competency, affable nature and sound judgment made him indispensable. His brush with us, in part, inspired him to commence a law degree.

FOUNDERS

Julian Burnside QC
Julian is a widely experienced barrister with a long-standing and wide-ranging commercial law practice. In recent years, both in and out of court, he has also become one of Australia's best-known refugee advocates. He regularly appears in the High Court in a range of areas including immigration and refugee cases. In 2007 Julian was appointed Director of Liberty Victoria.

Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser AC CH
Since leaving office as Australia's Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser has devoted himself on the international stage and in Australia as an effective and committed advocate of human rights and humanitarian causes. Malcolm Fraser was Prime Minister of Australia from 1975-1983. Since then he has chaired the United Nations Hearings on the Role of Multinationals in South Africa and Namibia. He was Co-Chairman of the Commonwealth Committee of Eminent Persons Group, formed to encourage reform in South Africa. He chaired the United Nations Committee on African Commodity Problems. He was Chairman of CARE Australia from 1987-2001, President of CARE International from 1990-1995. He was awarded the 2000 Australian Human Rights Medal. Mr Fraser is currently Honorary Chairman of the InterAction Council of Former Heads of Government. In 2002 Mr Fraser published his book "Common Ground - Issues that should bind and not divide us". His website, AustraliansAll.com.au is his most recent project.

Irving Saulwick AM
For many years Irving has been a leading Australian soocial researcher and pollster and commentator on public affairs. His skill, experience, and expertise were invaluable in guiding TJP through the task of drafting the questionnaire which formed the cornerstone of our 2004 election campaign. In 2007 he undertook a similar challenge in support of our Human Rights Index Campaign.

Prof. Gillian Triggs
Gillian was a part of TJP from its earliest days. She is a leading academic who has published extensively in the area of International Law and Policy.
Gillian will be continuing her association with TJP while serving as the director of a London-based Institute of International Law.

Sally Webster
Sally is a lawyer who for many years has specialised in immigration law. As a respected senior migration agent, she brings a wealth of insight, practicality and know-how to refugee and humanitarian causes.

John Zapris
John provided much of the impetus and drive that led to the foundation of TJP. Prior to his semi-retirement he headed a family printing business. He is associated with numerous charitable and humanitarian causes particularly in the Greek community.

MEMBERS

Carmel Benjamin AM
Carmel was founder and later Executive Director of the Victorian Court Network and also of a mentor program supporting women in their transition from prison to the community. She has been a member of numerous Ministerial Advisory Committees and NGOs, a consultant to the Law Reform Commission and currently serves on the Sentencing Advisory Council and Women’s Correctional Services Council. Carmel has been included on the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.

Tom Foote - Public Officer
Tom is our public officer and is a partner in a City firm of chartered accountants; he has had many years' experience in the provision of advice to business and non profit organisations. Tom is very concerned about recent developments in Australian immigration policies and procedures. This has led him to become an active human rights supporter, particularly concerned with refugees and asylum seekers.

Denise Goldfinch (Assistant - 2004 Election Campaign)
Denise volunteered her considerable skills and energy to The Justice Project and was a resourceful and valuable member of our campaign team. She has gone on to undertake similar work in the area of refugee advocacy. The campaign team of Tiffany, Louise and Denise achieved the almost impossible.

Jess Taylor
Since learning about Australia's treatment of asylum seekers, Jessie has been visiting detention centres, writing, lobbying and speaking to promote public awareness and respect for human rights. In 2006, Jessie attended the closing session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
She is the producer / writer of 'We Will Be Remembered For This' (2007), a film about refugees. Jessie is completing her Masters in law.

Peter Zapris
Peter manages his family's highly successful printing business and brings a wealth of management experience and marketing know how to the strategic planning of TJP.

PAST CAMPAIGN COORDINATORS

Louise Doyle (2004 Election Campaign)
Louise combined with Tiffany to head our 2004 Election Campaign. She came from a background in public policy and philanthropy and proved a most energetic, resourceful and determined campaign coordinator whose skills were greatly needed and appreciated.

Toni Ladanyi (2005-6) (The State of Rights)
Toni brings vast experience as a social worker to the important job of co-ordinating a secretariat for Victorians and state-based organisations committed to the enactment of a Victorian Bill or Charter of Rights. As the TJP campaign coordinator, she will head a small group of volunteers and will liaise closely with both the Charter Group and the Department of Justice.

Tiffany Overall (2004 Election Campaign)
Tiffany is a lawyer with a wealth of experience in grass roots campaigning and social causes. After working with A Just Australia heading up the Melbourne office, TJP was extraordinarily lucky in attracting to our cause, such an enthusiastic and extremely capable campaign manager.

PAST MEMBERS

Hugh Evans
In 2004 Hugh was named Young Australian of the Year. He is the founder of the Oaktree Foundation which concerns itself with the delivery of humanitarian relief overseas. More recently his work was further recognised when he was named World Young Person of the Year.

Prof. Robert Manne
Robert is a distinguished academic in political science and a respected commentator on political affairs. He is a deeply committed advocate in the cause of refugee and immigration reform.

INTERNS

Kate Ballis

Fiona Bourne