Institute alumnus Tim Wilson (GHD ’08) has been appointed Australian Human Rights Commissioner.

The Australian government recently appointed Tim Wilson, an outspoken classical liberal, to its Human Rights Commission. Commissioner Wilson's agenda is ambitious: He seeks to promote a culture of rights and responsibilities so that every citizen understands their rights and confidently stands up for them against government encroachment.

Dubbed the "Freedom Commissioner", Tim is a proud and passionate defender of universal, individual human rights. As Commissioner he is focused on promoting and advancing traditional human rights and freedoms, including free speech, freedom of association, worship and movement and property rights.

Prior to his appointment Tim was a public policy analyst and a policy director at the world's oldest free market think tank, the Institute of Public Affairs. He has also worked in trade and communication consulting, international aid and development, as well politics. He has served as a Board member of Monash University's Council and on the Victorian Board of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Tim is a Director of Alfred Health.

He has extensive experience in public debate and has had many regular radio and television commitments, with both commercial and public broadcasters. The Australian newspaper recognised Tim as one of the ten emerging leaders of Australian society. He has written extensively for newspapers, journals and books. He recently co-edited the book Turning Left or Right: Values in Modern Politics.

Tim graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Policy) and a Masters of Diplomacy and Trade (International Trade) from Monash University. He has also completed executive education in Global Health Diplomacy at Geneva's Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (2008) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation's Worldwide Academy.

Article paru dans Scoop [Nouvelle Zélande], 9 juin 2014