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Julia is an award-winning lawyer and Fulbright scholar with over 25 years experience advancing social justice and human rights through academic, government and community legal organisations. Julia has practiced law, and is a seasoned litigator, in a wide variety of jurisdictions, representing the most disadvantaged and marginalised members of society through her long standing work with Legal Aid NSW. She has held senior positions contributing to the legal policy and law reform campaigns of other organisations including the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT. Most recently, Julia led the national expansion of the Defenders Program at the Environmental Defenders Office. As the Managing Lawyer, Julia drove strategic litigation, public advocacy, community legal education as well as law reform to advance the human rights of environmental and climate defenders throughout Australia. 

Julia is recognised internationally as an expert on protest rights, criminalisation and the use of SLAPP litigation (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation). She has presented around the world at conferences, contributed to legal summits and roundtables, and is a published author of various texts on human rights and the criminal justice system.

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Josh has been a practicing lawyer for almost a decade and has worked within the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office and in private law firms. Josh’s legal experience spans criminal and administrative law, human rights and public interest litigation.

Josh has served as President of the New South Wales Council of Civil Liberties, on the board of the University of Sydney Law School and on the Youth Advisory Committee for the New South Wales Red Cross. Josh has taught law and politics students at the University of Sydney and University of Wollongong. He’s been attending protests since his university days, especially those for climate action and queer rights.

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Trish has practised in criminal law in both New South Wales and the Northern Territory. Prior to joining CDA, Trish appeared in serious criminal matters as a lawyer at Legal Aid NSW, the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency, and the Commonwealth Director for Public Prosecutions. Her experience spans criminal matters including bail applications, sentencing proceedings, and defended hearings, as well as appellate work in the District Court and Supreme Court. She has appeared in cases involving public order offences, property damage, assault, and other indictable charges, and has represented clients in remote and regional courts.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of International Studies (Hons) from Macquarie University, and a Master of Laws from New York University, where she received the George Colin Prize for outstanding academic performance.

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Luc is studying a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics at UNSW. Before joining CDA, Luc worked as a community organiser in the Newtown Electorate, and has been active in the environmental movement with climate groups including Extinction Rebellion Paris, the Australian Student Environment Network and as the Education Officer of the National Union of Students. Luc is currently serving on the board of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and is a committed queer activist in Sydney.

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Laura was admitted to practice as a solicitor in 2021 and has a particular interest in social and environmental justice. Laura has appeared in a range of criminal matters for vulnerable clients and has experience in public interest litigation, including police accountability. Before joining CDA, Laura worked in a variety of roles at Legal Aid, Justice and Equity Centre and the Shopfront Youth Legal Centre. She is passionate about supporting local climate movements.

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Jocelyn has extensive public interest advocacy and litigation experience. Before joining CDA, Jocelyn worked as a Senior Lawyer at Environmental Justice Australia, where she represented community clients against fossil fuel companies in the Federal Court and fought for tougher regulation of coal pollution. Jocelyn was also previously a prosecutor at the NSW Environment Protection Authority, conducting criminal prosecutions and advising on environmental compliance. She has taught corporate sustainability law at Monash University. Based on Awabakal Country, Jocelyn is committed to working alongside communities to hold government and corporate power to account and to secure a safe climate future for all.