Our People
A team of dedicated child rights experts, advocates and partners
our team
Our team brings together dedicated experts, advocates, and partners from across Australia who are united by a commitment to child rights. Each member brings unique insights and experiences, working collaboratively to drive lasting change and improve outcomes for children, families, and communities
our Advisory Committee
Professor Amanda Third is Professorial Research Fellow in the Institute for Culture & Society; Co-Director of the Young and Resilient Research Centre, Western Sydney University; and Faculty Associate in the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard. An international expert in youth-centred, participatory research, Amanda’s work investigates children's and young people’s technology practices from a rights-based perspective. She has led projects in over 80 countries, with partners across corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors.
Professor John Tobin holds the Francine V McNiff Chair in International Human Rights Law at Melbourne Law School where he is the Director of the Human Rights Program. He has taught and researched in the field of children’s rights for 25 years, in which he is a globally recognised expert. He is the editor of the award winning, The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: A Commentary (2019).
Sharon Bessell is a Professor at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University. She is the director of the Children’s Policy Centre and co-host of Policy Forum Pod. Her research focuses on children’s human rights and social justice, with a focus on multidimensional poverty. She is internationally recognised as a leader in rights-based research methodologies and ethics. In 2019 she was named as one of the Australian Financial Review’s Women of Influence.
SNAICC is represented on the Advisory Committee by a senior delegate.
"The Australian Centre for Child Rights is built on the belief that when we prioritise children's rights, we’re investing in a better world for everyone. Our alliance is committed to ensuring that every child in Australia is heard, respected, and empowered, shaping a society where children are active participants whose best interests always come first."
our people
Howard is an experienced policy expert, who leads the Centre’s work. His career has focused on leading policy and systems reform and advocating for social change in Australia. Howard has held senior roles across the government and not-for-profit sectors. He currently leads 54 reasons’ policy and advocacy agenda and is Chair of the Victorian Student Representative Council.
Kylie is 54 reasons’ Head of Practice and Impact Measurement, and provides expert practice leadership and advice for the Centre. From a social work background, Kylie has 30 years’ experience across not-for-profits, education, government and private practice – from working in clinical settings to leading transformational change within organisations. Her passion for child rights and child-centred practice has been recognised through national and state-based child protection and industry awards.
Erin is 54 reasons' Practice Development Manager – Child Rights and Participation, and provides technical practice expertise for the Centre. She has worked alongside children and young people across diverse not-for-profits, with roles focused on upholding children’s rights and service coordination. Erin has a background in International Community Development, and is a member of Save the Children International’s Child Participation Technical Working Group.
YOUNG ADVISORS
