She heads policy and strategy at Australian Pro Bono Centre
The board of the Victoria Law Foundation (VLF) has announced the appointment of Dr Rebekah Farrell – who currently heads policy and strategy at the Australian Pro Bono Centre – as the VLF’s next executive director, effective in early July 2026.
“We are confident she will further develop the research capability of the Foundation, as well as continuing our fine work in Education and Grants, supporting better justice for all Victorians,” said Greg Garde, the VLF board’s chair and reserve judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria, in the news release.
Farrell will replace Lynne Haultain, who will step down at the end of June after holding the position for nine years.
“We also take this opportunity to thank Lynne Haultain for her service and wish her well in her future endeavours,” Garde said in the news release.
Farrell’s LinkedIn profile and the VLF’s news release provide more information regarding her professional experience and educational background, including in socio-legal research.
“Dr Farrell’s blend of skills and experience make her an outstanding choice to lead the VLF into its next phase,” Garde said in the news release.
Farrell has led policy and strategy at the Australian Pro Bono Centre since September 2023.
She headed the legal policy work of the Law Institute of Victoria from October 2021 to September 2023. In this role, she led a team of 17 legal professionals, including special counsel, senior lawyers, lawyers, and paralegals.
Farrell’s team produced accessible legal research, analysis, and advocacy in legal areas such as family law, criminal law, human rights, administrative law, property law, and commercial law in Victoria and Australia.
Also at the Law Institute of Victoria in Melbourne, she worked as legal policy manager from July 2021 to October 2021, as a senior lawyer from March 2021 to July 2021, and as a lawyer from December 2013 to February 2018.
At the RMIT Business and Human Rights Centre (BHRIGHT) in Melbourne, Farrell has served as an associate policy adviser beginning in September 2021, and as managing director from April 2020 to July 2021.
At RMIT University, she worked as a sessional lecturer and researcher from June 2010 to May 2021 and as a research fellow at the Graduate School of Business and Law from April 2020 to March 2021.
Farrell received legal training from the Human Rights Law Centre from January 2012 to July 2012.
She obtained her LLB with first-class honours from Monash University. From RMIT University, she earned her PhD in multi-national corporate accountability and her BA in international studies. She also studied in the human rights law program at Murdoch University in Geneva, Switzerland.
