Michael Kirby

Retired judge, jurist and academic. Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1996 to 2009. President of the International Commission of Jurists (1995-98), member of UNESCO International Bioethics Committee (1996), President of the Court of Appeal of Solomon Islands (1995-1996); Member of the World Health Organisation’s Global Commission on AIDS (1988-1991); and Special Representative of UN Secretary-General for Cambodia (1994-96). Special concerns have included human rights, the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and the impact of science and technology on society and its laws. In the past he has been involved in issues raised by HIV/AIDS, including sexuality and the law.