Anna Cody is an Australian human rights lawyer, academic, and human rights commissioner. She was a professor and Dean of the School of Law at Western Sydney University before becoming the Sex Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission commencing in 2023.
Anna Cody | |
|---|---|
| Sex Discrimination Commissioner of the Australian Human Rights Commission | |
| Assumed office September 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Kate Jenkins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Australia |
| Occupation |
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Education
editCody has a PhD in Law from the University of New South Wales, a Master's in Law from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts and Law from UNSW.[1]
Career
editCody has worked in human rights law both in Australia and internationally, engaging in human rights advocacy in Mexico, development work in East Timor and Indonesia, and developing the health program at Manhattan's Center for Economic and Social Rights.[1][2]
From 2019 to 2023, Cody was the Dean of the School of Law at Western Sydney University where she championed equity, diversity, and indigenous perspectives and support for first nations students in teaching, learning and research within the school.[3]
In July 2023, Cody was appointed by the Federal Attorney-General as the Sex Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission. In commencing the role she highlighted First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse women and girls as a key focus.[4] Cody has overseen the Speaking From Experience[5] and Equal Identities[6] reports.
References
edit- 1 2 AHRC - Sex Discrimination Commissioner
- ↑ Salemme, Nadia (7 January 2025). "'Used against them': Major issues facing Australian women".
- ↑ Western Sydney University News Centre: Congratulations To Professor Anna Cody Appointed As Australias Next Sex Discrimination Commissioner
- ↑ AHRC Media Release: Dr Anna Cody commences as Australia's Sex Discrimination Commissioner
- ↑ Australian Human Rights Commission (June 2025). Speaking from Experience: What needs to change to address workplace sexual harassment (PDF) (Report). Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ Australian Human Rights Commission (March 2026). Equal Identities: A human rights review of the experiences of trans and gender diverse people in Australia (PDF) (Report). Retrieved 28 May 2026.