The Menzies Leadership Foundation, in partnership with Global Voices, is proud to announce the inaugural cohort of the Sir Ninian Stephen Law Delegation Fellows. These three emerging legal leaders—Samar Batool Athar, Tiarna Williams, and Nashita Pasha—have been selected to represent Australia at the United Nations General Assembly Sixth Committee (Legal) in October 2025.
This prestigious delegation honours the legacy of Sir Ninian Stephen—renowned jurist, diplomat, and civic leader—by empowering the next generation of legal minds to engage deeply with the global legal system and its role in shaping justice, equity, and international cooperation.
Why Youth Representation in Global Law Matters
In a time of mounting global complexity and institutional reform, it is vital that young people are not only part of the conversation — but shaping it. Providing access to forums like the UNGA Sixth Committee allows emerging leaders to gain an intimate understanding of how international law is negotiated and applied, while also giving them the chance to contribute fresh perspectives grounded in lived experience, curiosity, and courage.
Exposure to high-level international diplomacy strengthens their ability to think critically, act ethically, and navigate complexity with purpose — qualities increasingly essential for future legal practitioners. These fellowships serve as an on-ramp to civic engagement at the global level, ensuring that Australia’s future legal leaders are informed, globally minded, and equipped to tackle the legal challenges of the 21st century.
Meet the 2025 Fellows
Samar Batool Athar
A final-year Bachelor of Laws (Hons)/Science student at UNSW, Samar brings a sharp analytical lens to international criminal justice. Her policy proposal examines how Australia can strengthen its institutional framework for asserting universal jurisdiction, enabling prosecution of grave international crimes committed beyond national borders. Samar also explores how the UNGA Sixth Committee contributes to the evolution of international law, and she remains passionate about centring Global South perspectives in international policymaking.
Tiarna Williams
A proud Awabakal-Dharawal woman and advocate for Indigenous justice, Tiarna is completing a Bachelor of Laws and International Studies at the University of Wollongong. Her policy will investigate mechanisms for implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in Australia, with a focus on ensuring legal protections for self-determination, land rights, and free, prior and informed consent. Tiarna’s leadership is grounded in lived experience, advocacy, and a powerful vision for Indigenous inclusion in global and domestic law.
Nashita Pasha
A Bachelor of Laws/International Studies student at UTS, Nashita is passionate about addressing how legal systems impact vulnerable populations. Her policy explores the intersection of immigration law and domestic violence, analysing the risks faced by migrant women on temporary visas who are subjected to abuse. With legal experience in both boutique and public law firms, Nashita brings a critical and human-centred approach to international legal engagement.
Ninian Stephen Law Program
Commencing in 2025, the Sir Ninian Stephen Law Program will expand its focus to cultivate the next generation of legal minds in international law and policy. The program will now offer three prestigious fellowships at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
In partnership with Global Voices, this initiative honours the remarkable legacy of Sir Ninian Stephen — a distinguished jurist, former Governor-General, and Australian Ambassador for the Environment — whose enduring contributions continue to inspire leadership in law and diplomacy.
The Menzies Leadership Foundation aspires to amplify a leadership movement which encourages citizens to clarify their purpose, deepen the collective understanding of our responsibility to each other and motivates all to act for the ‘greater good’.
The Foundation’s work emphasises the imperative of building a non-siloed coalition of the willing to explore and build a new leadership paradigm which engenders confidence in our leaders, builds collaborative capacity and best positions each of us to step forward with the attributes and ability to navigate the complexities of an increasingly challenging and polarised world.
We invite you to join us in this quest.
