David Cooke to chair Human Rights committee

Konica Minolta managing director Dr David Cooke has been appointed to chair the first Australian Human Rights Institute advisory committee, located at UNSW, Sydney.

Cooke is well known for championing rights for oppressed or exploited people, particularly in south east Asia. At the first meeting of the committee he said, “I feel enormously privileged to join with these champions of human rights in the formation of this advisory committee to further the work of the Australian Human Rights Institute.”

The Institute, which launched in March last year, is part of a broader UNSW Sydney strategy to encourage researchers from various disciplines to work towards breakthroughs for communities around the world that are most in need.

This spirit continues with the Institute’s inaugural advisory group, which features people who have achieved in fields as diverse as business, politics, law, medicine, sport and the arts.

Well known committee members include Socceroo and TV pundit Craig Foster, who was instrumental in freeing Melbourne-based refugee and soccer player Hakeem Al Araibi from a Thai jail.