Our Team

Governance

The Castan Centre for Human Rights Law is led by Director, Associate Professor Ronli Sifris, Deputy Director (Research) Professor Julie Debeljak and Deputy Director (Education) Sara Kowal.

Associate Professor Ronli Sifris returns to Monash Law following work at the Australian Law Reform Commission, where she has been serving as Assistant Commissioner leading the review of Australia’s surrogacy laws. Her leadership of the review comes after more than a decade of research in surrogacy, reproductive justice, gender equality, health and human rights and access to justice. It has also offered her the opportunity to contribute directly to law reform at a federal level.

Professor Julie Debeljak is a founding member of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, and a long-standing contributor to its growth and influence. She has played a significant role in shaping the Castan Centre since its inception. An expert in international human rights law, comparative human rights law, domestic human rights instruments and law, constitutional law, and public law, Julie brings legal scholarship and practical insight to the Deputy Director (Research) role.

Sara Kowal is a Castan Centre Deputy Director (Education) and Director of Eleos Justice, Monash Law as well as Vice-President of the Capital Punishment Justice Project. She has practised exclusively in criminal law since 2003 and has extensive experience in defending complex prosecutions. In 2018, Sara was appointed to establish the Eleos Anti-Death Penalty Clinic at Monash. The Eleos Anti-Death Penalty Clinic partners with capital defence lawyers and anti-death penalty NGOS across the Asia-Pacific region to support them in their advocacy.

We extend our sincere thanks to Professor Melissa Castan for her outstanding leadership of the Castan Centre and congratulate her on being among the first cohort to receive the title of Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor at Monash University. After almost 5 years as Centre Director, in 2026 Melissa is stepping up to the role of Associate Dean (Research) at Monash Law.

The Castan Centre for Human Rights Law Advisory Board, currently undergoing reconstitution, is anticipated to make an announcement soon regarding its renewed advisory support and governance.