Staff

Piya has been working in the field of human rights, child rights, human trafficking and refugee rights for over 20 years as a legal-aid lawyer and policy expert. She has worked for NGOs, including Freedom from Torture, REDRESS and Refugee Legal Centre in the UK, the Capital Post Conviction Project of Louisiana in the USA and Ain o Salish Kendra in Bangladesh. She has also served on the Board and worked for the Citizenship Foundation and Grampian Racial Equality Council. Piya is a qualified barrister having trained at Doughty Street, Garden Court Chambers and the Faculty of Advocates in the UK and holds an undergraduate degree in law from the University of Aberdeen, a Master’s in Human Rights Law from the University of London and a Master’s in Child Studies from Kings College London. She has led on change management projects for several NGOs, and been involved in training and capacity building, research, strategic litigation cases, and law and policy reform throughout her career. Her most recent post before joining Justice Centre was Head of Policy and Advocacy at UNICEF UK.

Melanie has been at Justice Centre since 2015 and is responsible for Justice Centre’s fundraising strategy as well as running the Hong Kong Human Rights Arts Prize. Prior to working at Justice Centre she had over 10 years’ experience working in the UK and Hong Kong. Melanie’s most recent role prior to Justice Centre was Chief Operating Officer for Asia Pacific fundraising for Macquarie Group’s investment funds. Melanie was also on the Asia Pacific Steering Committee for the Macquarie Group Foundation’s Modern Slavery Project. Melanie is passionate about human rights, including the power of art as a catalyst for social change and holds a Masters from University College London.

Jade has been working in human rights-based development since 2002. She has worked in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and South Africa for local and international NGOs. She has also worked with the UN Refugee Agency in Australia. Before joining the organisation in 2014, Jade worked with international company Statt, researching people who decide to seek asylum from Afghanistan through irregular channels. Jade holds a Masters degree in Applied Anthropology and Participatory Development and a Masters in International Development.

Annie has a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Government and Laws) degree and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Hong Kong, including an exchange year at Sciences Po Paris. Before joining Justice Centre Hong Kong, she worked at local NGOs Hong Kong Unison and AIDS Concern in advocacy and communications on racial equality, LGBTI rights and the right to health.

Rachel graduated from the University of Hong Kong with a double degree in literature and law. She previously volunteered and interned with Justice Centre as well as other human rights organisations working with domestic workers, sex workers, and the LGBTQ+ community. In her spare time she enjoys a gruelling hike, some canine affection, and a good book.

Isaac Shaffer is a UK qualified lawyer with over a decade’s experience of directly representing asylum seekers and refugees before Courts and Tribunals. Before working for the Justice Centre, he worked for Wilson Solicitors LLP, one of the UK’s leading legal aid immigration firms, and for Refugee Legal Centre, a UK NGO providing direct representation for asylum seekers and refugees. He has particular experience in litigation, including complex applications for Judicial Review. He was co-convener of the UK’s Immigration Legal Practitioner Association’s specialist Asylum Working Group and was active in campaigns to preserve legal aid and access to justice.  Until 2018 he was a founding member and Director  of one of the UK’s leading independent publishing houses, Comma Press, and now remains a consultant to the Board.

Lynette is an Australian qualified lawyer and holds a dual degree in Bachelor of Arts/Laws (Hon) from the University of Queensland. Before joining Justice Centre, Lynette worked at Fragomen Worldwide, an international immigration law firm, in Australia and Hong Kong. Previous to this, Lynette was a human rights trainer on the Thai-Burma border, where she developed and implemented a curriculum on non-violent social change for young Karenni refugees. Lynette began her graduate career at Nishimura & Asahi in Tokyo. She has also worked with Refugees International Japan in Tokyo, and various community legal centres in Brisbane, Australia in a volunteer capacity.

Nawin is an English-qualified lawyer, and holds an LLB (Hons) from the University of Edinburgh. Prior to joining Justice Centre, Nawin worked in at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, an international commercial law firm, in London and Hong Kong.  While in private practice, Nawin focused on litigation and international arbitration, and volunteered at a legal clinic in east London. As a graduate, Nawin interned on the Defence team of Nuon Chea at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.

Pritika is a law graduate from India and post graduate (LLM) in Corporate and Finance laws from The University of Hong Kong. Before working for Justice Centre Hong Kong, she gained good legal experience working as Manager (Legal) in Credit Recovery and Legal Services Department of an Indian Public sector Bank (Union Bank of India) for 7 years. She has also done her internships with various Non-Governmental Organizations, Law firms and companies in India. Besides her interest in working in Financial sector, she has deep interest in working for the Human cause. She actively supports organizations doing work in the humanitarian grounds in India. An example is Kashmiri Medical Emergency Trust (KMECT) – which provides financial assistance to the needy for medical purposes.

Jessica acquired her accountancy qualifications in Hong Kong and became a CPA in 2011. She has worked in different sizes enterprises, from SMEs to larger corporates such as BNP Paribas and Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Jessica obtained her bachelor degree in accountancy at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. During her time at University she was Vice-President of the English Club, and led several vocational trips to remote regions of Mainland China to teach English to Primary aged students. In addition to Hong Kong, Jessica has lived in Canada and the UK.

Raquel is a UK qualified lawyer with a background in immigration, asylum and human rights law. In the UK, Raquel worked for Wesley Gryk LLP, one of the UK’s leading immigration law firms. Eleven years ago, she co-founded Hong Kong Refugee Advice Centre (now Justice Centre). Raquel has also worked at HELP, an NGO that assists domestic workers on cases involving employment, immigration and human rights. Born in The Netherlands and raised in Curacao, New York and Hong Kong, Raquel is a dual Filipino and Dutch national. She is the proud mother of two children.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Maggie kick started her non-profit career in Singapore working in the local chapter of YMCA in volunteer management and the inaugural Youth Olympic Games hosted by International Olympics Committee, before returning to her hometown and worked in the fundraising team of Plan International Hong Kong, specialized  in corporate partnerships and grants. She then worked in Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF supporting the growth of their corporate donor database. Maggie holds a bachelor degree in Fine Arts and Translation from The University of Hong Kong and an Executive Certificate of CSR from HKU Space.

Laura has a proven track record of creative fundraising and driving advocacy programs. Before joining Justice Centre as Partnerships Manager, Laura worked in government affairs in Washington, DC. She most recently served as Director of Political Advocacy and Engagement for CVS Health, where she developed the company’s first-ever employee grassroots advocacy program to engage more than 240,000 employees in political advocacy. Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from James Madison University in the United States and is passionate about equality and human rights.

Noi obtained an undergraduate degree in nursing from Regis University and was a registered nurse at University of Colorado Hospital in the United States. Justice Centre Hong Kong serves as her first foray back into the workforce (after a seven-year hiatus), as well as into working with an NGO. Though it’s been quite an adjustment, Noi remains passionate about helping others and is grateful to be able to utilize her skills as a compassionate caregiver.

Lisa is an Australian qualified lawyer who holds degrees in law (LLB) from Macquarie University and commerce (B.Com) from and the University of New South Wales.   Prior to her time in Hong Kong, Lisa lived in Bangkok, Thailand, where she had a unique opportunity to support Thai people in the infamous Klong Toey slums, particularly new mothers.  She spent the early part of her career in Sydney, Australia, working as a human resources and employment law specialist for media and distribution companies.

Henry is a transgender activist who is at the legal front of the LGBT+ movement. Being a plaintiff in the wave of LGBT+ judicial review cases, he wants to understand human rights law better so that he can enhance and expand his work. Henry was awarded the Community Business Transgender Inclusion Champion Award in 2018 and he is currently the chairman of Transgender Resource Center.

Ailin is a human resources professional with an interest in talent management, remuneration & benefits, change and M&As. She has worked across the banking, real estate and professional services industries, and is keen for underprivileged people to have better life opportunities in Hong Kong.