The Leadership Council
Fortify Rights’ Leadership Council brings together former government ministers, Parliamentarians, prosecutors, U.N. experts, and cultural leaders to help ensure that evidence leads to action and that perpetrators of atrocity crimes face real consequences. The Council exists to close the gap between documentation and decision-making. It is designed to intervene—quietly or publicly—at moments when human rights and civilian lives are most at risk.
Tan Sri Hamid Albar
Former Foreign Minister of Malaysia; former ASEAN Special Envoy
Tan Sri Hamid Albar is one of Southeast Asia’s most distinguished diplomats and statesmen, having served as Malaysia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs for nearly two decades and in several other senior cabinet positions. He played a central role in shaping ASEAN diplomacy and regional conflict resolution, including serving as ASEAN’s Special Envoy to Myanmar and on Rohingya-related issues. Throughout his career, he has been deeply engaged in peace processes, regional security, and multilateral diplomacy, representing Malaysia at the United Nations and in major international negotiations. He is widely respected for his leadership on Southeast Asian affairs, international law, and regional stability.
Lord Alton of Liverpool
Member of the House of Lords, United Kingdom
Lord Alton is an independent member of the United Kingdom House of Lords and one of the world’s leading parliamentary voices on human rights, religious freedom, and crimes against humanity. He serves as Chair of Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights and has been a leading advocate on accountability for violations of human rights in China, North Korea, Myanmar, and Ukraine. He is the founder and co-chair of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea and has undertaken multiple fact-finding missions to conflict and crisis zones, including Myanmar and Eastern Europe. He is co-author of State Responses to Crimes of Genocide: What Went Wrong and How to Change It and has played a prominent role in advancing international justice initiatives at the United Nations and beyond.
Kobsak Chutikul
Former Ambassador and Member of Parliament, Thailand
Kobsak Chutikul is a retired Thai ambassador and former member of parliament with decades of experience in international diplomacy and economic governance. He previously served as Special Adviser to the Director-General of the World Trade Organization and to the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Geneva. As a member of parliament, he was Vice-Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and an Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister of Thailand. He has been awarded the Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant of the Kingdom of Thailand in recognition of his public service.
Leela Cosgrove
Entrepreneur and Founder
Leela Cosgrove is an Australian entrepreneur and business leader who has built and scaled successful enterprises in the consumer and services sectors. Raised in a disadvantaged community in Brisbane, she overcame significant barriers to become the founder of a multi-million-dollar company and a prominent advocate for entrepreneurship, leadership, and women-led business. Her work focuses on organizational growth, leadership development, and building values-driven companies. She is widely recognized in Australia for her business achievements and for mentoring and supporting emerging entrepreneurs, particularly women and founders from non-traditional backgrounds.
Irwin Cotler
Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Irwin Cotler is one of the world’s most respected international human rights lawyers and advocates. He served as Canada’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General and as a Member of Parliament for more than 15 years. He is the founder and Chair of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights and has served as counsel to numerous prisoners of conscience, including Nelson Mandela, Natan Sharansky, and Andrei Sakharov. Over a career spanning decades, he has played a leading role in advancing accountability for genocide, crimes against humanity, and antisemitism, and has received numerous international honors for his work.
LizAnn Eisen
Executive Director, The Elie Wiesel Foundation
LizAnn Eisen is the Executive Director of the Elie Wiesel Foundation, where she leads global efforts to combat indifference, intolerance, and injustice through education, leadership development, and public engagement inspired by Elie Wiesel’s legacy. She has spent her career building and leading mission-driven organizations at the intersection of human rights, philanthropy, and social impact. Prior to joining the Foundation, she held senior leadership roles across the nonprofit and social impact sectors, focusing on strategic growth, partnerships, and institutional development.
Tyler Giannini
Clinical Professor of Law, Harvard Law School
Tyler Giannini is a Clinical Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, where his work focuses on corporate accountability, the Alien Tort Statute, and the intersection of human rights and the environment. He is a co-founder of EarthRights International and previously spent a decade in Southeast Asia leading groundbreaking human rights investigations and litigation. His career has been defined by combining rigorous legal advocacy with community-based human rights work and strategic litigation in some of the world’s most challenging environments.
Jonathan Gimblett
Partner, Covington & Burling LLP
Jonathan Gimblett is a Partner at Covington & Burling LLP, based in London and Washington, D.C., where he practices international arbitration, public international law, and complex cross-border litigation. Before entering private practice, he served for 15 years in the British Diplomatic Service, including postings in Washington, Paris, and the Balkans, and as Private Secretary to UK Foreign Office Ministers. His work focuses on disputes involving states, international organizations, and multinational companies, including investor-state arbitration and cases involving sovereign immunity and international law.
Pillkyu Hwang
Lawyer, GongGam Human Rights Law Foundation, South Korea
Pillkyu Hwang is a leading South Korean human rights lawyer whose work focuses on international human rights, migrants and refugees, business and human rights, disaster accountability, and access to justice. He served for eight years as Coordinator of the Human Rights Committee of the Korean Bar Association and is currently Chair of its Special Committee on Disaster and Human Rights. He has also served as a commissioner on national bodies addressing social disasters and human rights reform, and has played a prominent role in strengthening Korea’s engagement with international human rights mechanisms.
Linda Karshan
Artist
Linda Karshan is an American artist internationally known for her performance-based abstract drawings and conceptual work. Her art is held in major public collections, including the Tate, the Harvard Art Museums, and the Walker Art Center. She holds a master’s degree in Humanistic Psychology from Antioch and is an Honorary Fellow of The Courtauld Institute of Art. Her work explores perception, structure, and embodiment, and she has played an important role in bridging artistic practice with broader humanistic and social inquiry. She is a co-custodian and organizer of the Roger E. Joseph Prize — an award established by her family in honor of her father, Roger E. Joseph, and administered in partnership with Hebrew Union College, which was presented to Fortify Rights in 2019.
David Kaye
Clinical Professor of Law, University of California, Irvine; former UN Special Rapporteur
David Kaye is a Clinical Professor of Law at the University of California, Irvine School of Law and a former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. He previously served as the founding Executive Director of the UCLA School of Law International Human Rights Program and has written extensively on accountability for serious human rights abuses and the governance of digital platforms. He is the author of Speech Police: The Global Struggle to Govern the Internet and a leading global voice on freedom of expression and technology.
Kerry Kennedy
President, Robert and Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center
Kerry Kennedy is a human rights activist, lawyer, and President of The Robert and Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center. She is the author of multiple books, including Speak Truth to Power and the New York Times bestseller Being Catholic Now. For more than four decades, she has led international human rights advocacy efforts, working with activists and movements around the world to protect political prisoners, promote rule of law, and combat repression. She has received numerous international honors for her work, including recognition from the Congress of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates.
Jung-hoon Lee
Former Ambassador-at-Large for Human Rights, Republic of Korea
Jung-hoon Lee served as the Republic of Korea’s inaugural Ambassador-at-Large for North Korean Human Rights and later as Ambassador for Human Rights. He is currently Dean and Professor of International Relations at Yonsei University in Seoul. He has played a central role in shaping South Korea’s international human rights diplomacy, particularly with respect to North Korea, and has worked extensively with governments and international organizations to advance accountability, protection of civilians, and the promotion of universal human rights norms.
Sir Geoffrey Nice
KC, Barrister; former Lead Prosecutor, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
Sir Geoffrey Nice is one of the world’s most prominent international criminal lawyers. From 2001 to 2006, he led the prosecution of Slobodan Milošević at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. He has since played leading roles in numerous major international justice initiatives, including serving as Chair of the China Tribunal on forced organ harvesting and the Uyghur Tribunal on genocide crimes, and as an adviser to UN commissions of inquiry. He is the author of Justice for All and How to Achieve It and founder of the Geoffrey Nice Foundation.
Saiful Huq Omi
Photographer and Filmmaker; Founder, CounterFoto
Saiful Huq Omi is a photographer, filmmaker, educator, and gallerist from Bangladesh. Born in 1980, he published 10 photography books, including 3 on the Rohingya Genocide. His 17-year film project on the Rohingya Genocide will be launched globally in 2026. In 2012, he founded Counter Foto—A Centre for Visual Arts. It’s the first government-approved photography institute in the country, offering world-class photography education with a focus on human rights and social justice. He has taught photography around the world and has worked for major human rights organizations and media outlets. His work has been shown in more than 20 countries, published by many major publications, and he has won numerous awards.
Tomás Ojea Quintana
Human Rights Lawyer; former UN Special Rapporteur
Tomás Ojea Quintana is an Argentine human rights lawyer who served as United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar and later on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. He has worked extensively with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and represented victims of enforced disappearances and child abductions during Argentina’s military dictatorship. His career has focused on accountability for mass atrocities, transitional justice, and the protection of victims of state violence.
Phil Robertson
Human Rights Advocate; former Deputy Director, Asia Division, Human Rights Watch
Phil Robertson is a leading human rights advocate with more than three decades of experience working on Southeast Asia and the Korean Peninsula. He previously served as Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia Division, where he oversaw investigations and advocacy across the region. Before joining Human Rights Watch, he worked for many years with NGOs, trade unions, and UN agencies on labor rights, migrant protection, and counter-trafficking initiatives. He is widely recognized for his field-based advocacy and policy engagement on regional human rights crises.
Thomas Sadoski
Actor and Human Rights and Humanitarian Advocate
Thomas Sadoski is an award-winning film, television, and stage actor known for his work in The Newsroom and Life in Pieces. He is the founding ambassador of War Child USA, an emeritus board member of Refugees International, and a board member of INARA, which provides lifesaving medical treatment to children wounded in war. Through his advocacy, fundraising, and field engagement, he has helped mobilize resources and political support for refugees and civilians affected by conflict around the world.
Charles Santiago
Former Member of Parliament, Malaysia; Chair of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights
Charles Santiago served for 15 years as a Member of Parliament in Malaysia, including as Chair of the Select Committee on Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs. He is currently Co-Chair of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights and a founding member of Parliamentarians for a Fossil-Free Future. Trained as an economist, he has spent his career working at the intersection of governance, human rights, and regional policy reform, and continues to play a leading role in Southeast Asian parliamentary advocacy on democracy and accountability.
Dr. Sasa
Myanmar Pro-Democracy Leader and Humanitarian
Dr. Sasa is a Myanmar pro-democracy leader, humanitarian, and medical doctor who served as Minister for International Cooperation in Myanmar’s National Unity Government and as its Special Envoy to the United Nations. He is the founder and President of the Institute of Peace and Federal Democracy. Born in Chin State, he has led major humanitarian relief efforts and is internationally recognized as one of Myanmar’s leading voices for federal democracy, human rights, and peace.
Beth Van Schaack
U.S. Ambassador-at-Large (ret.); Distinguished Fellow, Stanford University
Beth Van Schaack is a former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice and a Distinguished Fellow at Stanford University’s Center for Human Rights and International Justice. She previously served in senior roles in the U.S. government and has spent her career advancing accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. She is a leading global expert on international criminal law, transitional justice, and sanctions and accountability mechanisms.
Ahmed Shaheed
Professor of International Human Rights Law; former U.N. Special Rapporteur
Ahmed Shaheed is a Professor in the Essex Law School and Human Rights Centre and an Academic Affiliate of the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights at the University of Oxford. He served two terms as a United Nations Special Rapporteur, first on the situation of human rights in Iran and later on freedom of religion or belief. A former Foreign Minister of the Maldives, he has made globally influential contributions to combating antisemitism, protecting freedom of thought, and strengthening international human rights mechanisms.
Ellie Shefi
Educator, and Media Host
Ellie Shefi is an author, educator, consultant, and media host with more than three decades of experience in law, business, education, and leadership development. She is the founder of Made to Change the World Publishing and has guided numerous leaders and changemakers in using storytelling and publishing to amplify their impact. A multiple international bestselling author and Quilly Award recipient, her work focuses on building resilient organizations, values-driven leadership, and purpose-centered culture.
Jim Silk
Professor Emeritus, Yale Law School
Jim Silk is Professor Emeritus at Yale Law School and a founder of Yale’s Multidisciplinary Program in Human Rights. He previously served as Director of the Allard K. Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic and as Director of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights. Over a distinguished career in academia and advocacy, he has played a central role in advancing human rights education, clinical legal practice, and interdisciplinary engagement between law, policy, and the arts.
Stephen Smyk
Marketing Executive and Senior Advisor
Stephen Smyk is a seasoned marketing and media executive with extensive experience in digital, podcast, and influencer marketing. He most recently served as Senior Vice President of Podcast and Influencer Marketing at Veritone One, following more than two decades as Founder and CEO of Performance Bridge Media, a digital advertising firm he built and led through its acquisition. He now advises media and marketing organizations on growth, strategy, and audience engagement at the intersection of technology and communications.
Tom Tugendhat MBE MP
Member of Parliament, United Kingdom; former Security Minister
Tom Tugendhat is a Member of the UK Parliament and former Minister of State for Security. A former Army officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, he later chaired Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and played a central role in modernizing UK security and countering foreign interference, corruption, and authoritarian threats. He has been sanctioned by Russia, China, and Iran for his positions on human rights and security and is widely regarded as one of the UK’s leading voices on foreign policy and democratic resilience.
Lara Warner
Strategic Advisor and Former Credit Suisse Executive
Lara Warner is a senior financial services executive and strategic advisor with extensive experience across risk, compliance, technology, and corporate governance. She previously served on the Executive Board of Credit Suisse as Group Chief Risk Officer and Chief Risk and Compliance Officer. She now advises organizations on leadership, risk management, and institutional resilience and serves on several nonprofit and academic advisory boards.
Tanya Woods
Lawyer, Board Director, Chairwoman of the Centre for Global Good (Project In-Kind) and Kind Village
Tanya is an accomplished technology, finance, and trade lawyer, with over 20 years of experience advising governments, multinational companies, nonprofits, and startups. A former member of Canada’s national trade negotiations team and policy leader, Tanya specializes in designing legal and technical frameworks that support economic growth, resilience, and just systemic change for people and the planet. Tanya has spearheaded initiatives such as the first global charity-led AI literacy program, the first decentralized in-kind donations and humanitarian aid platform, and mental health treatment innovation for soldiers and their families in Ukraine. Her efforts have been recognized by the Obama Foundation, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Government of Canada, CC UNESCO, and other global organizations for her leadership in digital innovation, technology for good, and philanthropic and sustainable impact.