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Kaldor Centre Director Daniel Ghezelbash was today shortlisted for Innovator of the Year in this year’s for outstanding achievements in the profession across the country.

He is the first academic to be shortlisted in this category, recognised for his groundbreaking work using technology to drive scalable, evidence-based improvements in access to justice.

About the awardÌý

Innovator of the Year celebrates big-thinking, cutting-edge work that improves legal practice. It honours those who are delivering transformational change and successfully implementing strategic, innovative legal projects.

Professor Ghezelbash’s nomination highlighted key major achievements in 2024–25:Ìý

• Co-developing Hear Me Out — one of the world’s first direct-to-consumer, generative-AI legal self-help tools. The free complaints platform was created with the National Justice Project and a network of legal, academic and tech partners.

• Supporting the expansion of Wallumatta Legal — the not-for-profit, low bono firm he co-founded, which addresses the justice gap facing the ‘missing middle’ by offering affordable legal help to those not eligible for legal aid.Ìý

• Developing the Kaldor Centre Data Lab, Australia’s first judicial analytics data lab focused on refugee law, which has influenced structural reforms, including the redesign of the Administrative Review Tribunal and increased resourcing for refugee legal assistance.

• Founding the Access to Justice and Technology Network — a peak national body bringing together legal and tech innovators to drive ethical, effective use of technology in expanding justice.

His leadership at the Kaldor Centre has also produced rigorous quantitative legal research that directly shaped national refugee policy — improving support and protection for people seeking safety.

‘These initiatives reflect Professor Ghezelbash’s unique ability to bring together academia, technology and the legal profession to tackle real-world barriers to justice,’ said Professor Andrew Lynch, Dean of ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Law & Justice. ‘He exemplifies the kind of ethical, collaborative leadership that drives systemic change.’

About the Australian Law AwardsÌý

The Australian Law Awards honour excellence across the legal profession — from managing partners and general counsel to barristers, legal scholars and rising stars. According to the organisers, the program celebrates ‘those who work tirelessly to make the legal industry thrive’.

Winners will be announced on Thursday, 14 August, at The Star in Sydney.

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For more information, visit the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law.

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