Professor Emerita Gillian Triggs has recently completed her appointment as a United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Assistant High Commissioner Protection with UNHCR, taking up the role in Geneva in 2019. She traveled globally in this role, seeking international protection for over 114million displaced people.

Gillian was formally the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission from 2012 -2017, Chair of Justice Connect, President of the Asian Development Bank's Administrative Tribunal, and Chair of the UN Independent Expert Panel on Abuse of Office and Harassment in UNAIDS.

Gillian was Dean of the Faculty of Law and Challis Professor of International Law at the University of Sydney from 2007-12 and Director of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law from 2005-7.

Gillian is a dual national of the UK and Australia graduating in Law from the University of Melbourne in 1968 and completing her PhD in 1982. She has combined an academic career with international legal practice, advising the Australian and other governments on territorial boundary disputes, international trade law and human rights.

Gillian is the author of many books and publications including Public International Law: Contemporary Principles and Practices, 2nd Ed 2011 and  “Speaking Up”, October 2018.

She has recently been elected an Honorary Bencher of the Inner Temple in London and  awarded an inaugural Ruth Bader Ginsberg medal. In 2023,  the American Society of International Law recognised  her as the Woman of the Year  2023.