Ben Kiely steps into the role of Chair of the Board at the Human Rights Law Centre

We’re very pleased to announce that Ben Kiely has accepted the role of Chair of the Board at the Human Rights Law Centre. Ben is taking over from Robynne Quiggin who is stepping away from the role due to increased commitments following her promotion to Interim Pro-Vice Chancellor Indigenous Leadership and Engagement at the University of Technology Sydney.

Robynne commenced as Chair in 2021 and brought with her an incredible wealth of experience. Robynne is a member of the Wiradjuri nation of central western New South Wales. She has lived and worked in Sydney as a solicitor, researcher, lecturer, consultant and public servant with a focus on legal, compliance and policy areas affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples including human rights, financial inclusion, governance, the arts and heritage. 

We thank Robynne for her important contribution to the Human Rights Law Centre. Her leadership helped steer the organisation through an incredible period of change.

Ben Kiely has served on the Human Rights Law Centre Board since 2019. Ben is a partner at King & Wood Mallesons, specialising in inquiries and commercial dispute resolution. Ben also has an active public law practice, representing the Chief Justice of Nauru during Nauru’s constitutional crisis, and the successful plaintiffs in Rowe & Electoral Commissioner, an urgent High Court constitutional challenge that enabled 100,000 additional Australians to vote (which was coordinated by the Human Rights Law Centre). Ben has been closely involved in pro bono and human rights work at King & Wood Mallesons and was previously Head of its Human Rights Law Group.

We welcome Ben into the role and look forward to working with him to advance human rights.

MichelleBennett