Hugh de Kretser to join Yoorrook Justice Commission after nine years at Human Rights Law Centre
After almost a decade leading the Human Rights Law Centre, Executive Director Hugh de Kretser will leave the organisation to take up the role of Chief Executive Officer at the Yoorrook Justice Commission, the historic truth and justice process for First Peoples in Victoria.
De Kretser has overseen enormous change at the Human Rights Law Centre which has grown four-fold in his tenure. Under his leadership, the organisation helped to secure safe access zones around abortion clinics across the country, played a key role securing marriage equality, repeatedly defeated undemocratic anti-protest and anti-advocacy laws, stopped harm against children in prison, secured reforms to stop deaths in custody, helped thousands of refugees to have a future in freedom and safety and launched the campaign for an Australian Charter of Human Rights.
De Kretser’s last day at the Human Rights Law Centre will be 30 June. A public recruitment process for his successor will be launched shortly. In the meantime, Legal Director, Keren Adams and Director of Operations, Kate Frost will work in partnership as joint Acting CEO.
De Kretser said:
“This has not been a decision taken lightly. I love the Human Rights Law Centre. I love our talented and dedicated staff and board, our passionate supporters and our proven model of achieving positive change through collaborative legal action and advocacy.
“I’m so proud of the impact we have helped to achieve in my time here, from securing a future in freedom and safety for thousands of refugees, to helping achieve marriage equality, to stopping harm against children in prison and so much more.
“While I could happily serve in this role for another nine years, I am excited for a new challenge supporting the vital truth and justice process for First Peoples in Victoria.
“As a new government forms in Canberra, there is real hope of achieving transformational human rights change in Australia. I’m confident that the Human Rights Law Centre will continue to grow and extend its impact and play a vital role in securing a fairer future for our nation.”
Chair of the Human Rights Law Centre Board, Professor Robynne Quiggin, said:
“The Human Rights Law Centre has had the benefit of Hugh’s extensive knowledge, passion, ambition and expertise for nine years. He has made a wonderful contribution and we are enormously grateful. He leaves behind a proud legacy of achievement and an organisation in great shape, ready to go from strength to strength progressing our human rights agenda.
“We are all deeply committed to the work of the Yoorrook Justice Commission and wish Hugh and the Commission every success in their incredibly important work for the community and the nation. We will partner and contribute to this work wherever useful.
“Our Acting CEOs Keren Adams and Kate Frost have the right combination of skills and experience to seamlessly continue our strategic human rights work. The Board has commenced the process of recruitment for our permanent CEO and we are confident of recruiting a dynamic new leader to take the organisation to a new level of positive impact.”
Media contact:
Michelle Bennett, Engagement Director, 0419 100 519, michelle.bennett@hrlc.org.au