Announcing the 2025 Sir Ninian Stephen Law Delegation Fellows

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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.

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Natasha Eskinja

Digital Communications Coordinator

Natasha is driven by a profound passion for both creativity and analytics, a synergy that fosters authentic storytelling in the digital realm with both innovation and integrity. 

Throughout her career, she has consistently integrated the overarching marketing and communications narrative with the emotional connections of audiences. She is currently pursuing a Certificate in Society and the Individual from Flinders University, furthering her exploration of human behaviour and the critical importance of connectedness between organisations, individuals, and communities.

LinkedIn | natasha.eskinja@menziesfoundation.org.au

Sarah Jenkins

Strategic Communications Manager

Sarah has more than 18 years’ experience in communications and marketing leadership across a range of sectors.

Communications strategy and organisational growth is a continuing theme in Sarah’s career. Most recently, she leads the development of a Leadership Movement, evaluated by Menzies Viral Co-efficient Model; a contribution to the NFP. 

Sarah’s early career centred around best practice in marketing and communications which later culminated into the establishment of her very own agency. This work extensively spanned across PR, traditional media, event management, strategy, digital marketing, graphic design and business development consultancy. 

In 2019, Sarah joined the lean and robust team at the Menzies Foundation. She has since crafted the Foundation’s narrative and communication strategy. The development of this strategic communications platform is essential for ‘movement building’ and requires a strong strategic, management and communication skills set. Sarah has brought so much to this important work, which sits at the forefront of communication practice. 

Sarah continues to contribute to the NFP sector through her commitment to Purpose; as she reflects on her own leadership, builds her own leadership capability and contributes to the greater good. 

LinkedIn | sarah.jenkins@menziesfoundation.org.au | 0401 880 071

Rohan Martyres

Director, Strategy and Partnerships

Rohan has 15 years’ experience in facilitating cross-sector collaborations to address complex social and health challenges.  He has worked with the World Economic Forum in Australia, led an international conflict resolution field team in Nepal, and directed a 10-year £40m initiative to reduce health inequity in London.

Most recently, Rohan was Major Grants Development Manager at the Ian Potter Foundation.  He refined the foundation’s major grants strategy, and co-developed a series of large scale initiatives, including joint philanthropic-government funding for a new national organization to support place-based approaches across Australia.

Rohan has held several non-executive roles, including with an international NGO and with London Funders, the peak body of independent foundations in London.  He holds several qualifications including a graduate degree in innovation and strategy from the Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.

When Rohan isn’t exploring Melbourne’s creeks with his partner and 6yo daughter, he’s working on his currently weak Australian accent (after 15 years in the UK).

LinkedIn | rohan.martyres@menziesfoundation.org.au | 0404 505 954

Trudy Morrison

Operations Manager

A marketing and communications specialist with over 20 years experience in government, corporate and consumer marketing, Trudy brings her adaptive and organisational project management skills to the Menzies Foundation team. 

With a BA degree in Public Relations, Trudy began her career with the City of Melbourne and in magazine publishing, before moving into marketing communications consulting. She has worked in strategic marketing leadership roles with retail brands and enjoys juggling many projects and tasks simultaneously. Her skills were further enhanced when managing her own communications business representing industries across private education, financial services, aviation, government and the health industry. 

Trudy is passionate about leadership and all people being encouraged to reach their full potential through research and educational initiatives and opportunities throughout Australia. A skilled and accomplished writer and editor Trudy is enthusiastic about bringing her variety of skills to the Menzies Foundation team. 

LinkedIn | trudy.morrison@menziesfoundation.org.au | 0402 361 878

Liz Gillies

Chief Executive Officer

Liz Gillies has had over 25 years experience in a range of fields focused on initiatives for social impact. She has held roles in multiple sectors and academia.

In 2018, Liz was appointed CEO of the Menzies Foundation which aspires to build a leadership movement that supports Australians to pivot to purpose, build their leadership capability and contribute to the ‘greater good’.

Liz joined the Melbourne Business School in 2009 and was instrumental in establishing the Asia Pacific Social Impact Centre (APSIC) and The Centre for Ethical Leadership. In November 2011 she was appointed as research fellow to lead a partnership focused on strategic philanthropy which culminated in the release of the reports: Philanthropy: Towards a Better Practice Model (2018) and the Philanthropy: The Continued Journey to Real Impact and better Practice (2021).

Liz has extensive governance experience, having served on the Board of the Publish Galleries Association of Victoria, Social Firms Australia, Uniting Care Community Options, United Way Australia and the Development Committee of the Towards a Just Society Foundation. She is currently on the Philanthropy Reference Group of Barmal Bijiril and a Director of Philanthropy Australia.

LinkedIn | liz.gillies@menziesfoundation.org.au | 0416 112 703

Natasha Eskinja

Digital Communications Coordinator

Natasha is driven by a profound passion for both creativity and analytics, a synergy that fosters authentic storytelling in the digital realm with both innovation and integrity. 

Throughout her career, she has consistently integrated the overarching marketing and communications narrative with the emotional connections of audiences. She is currently pursuing a Certificate in Society and the Individual from Flinders University, furthering her exploration of human behaviour and the critical importance of connectedness between organisations, individuals, and communities.

natasha.eskinja@menziesfoundation.org.au