Jonathan Liljeblad received a PhD and JD from the University of Southern California (USC), an MS from the University of Washington (UW), and a BS from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). His research largely focuses on rule-of-law, with case studies from human rights and environmental issues. His fieldwork is mostly in Myanmar. Generally, his research falls within the fields of international law, rule-of-law, human rights, environmental law, law & development, and law & society. Due to the empirical nature of his research, his work connects academia, government, and civil society; seeks interdisciplinary, transboundary, and cross-cultural collaborations; and endeavors to nurture direct impact upon policy-makers and societal leaders. He was born in Myanmar, but grew up in Sweden and the United States. He received an Endeavour Research Grant (2018) and was a Fulbright Scholar (2014-2015). He currently is working on projects supported by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Danish Institute of Human Rights (DIHR), Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Melanie Montalban recently joined the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) as the Managing Lawyer of the ACT Practice in January 2021. Prior to this, Melanie worked at the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office where she advised Victorian government bodies in relation to administrative law, and in particular on planning and environment law. Melanie has previously worked as a refugee lawyer in Australia and overseas, and has gained broad expertise in administrative, environmental, migration, human rights and international law. Melanie has a particular interest in environmental justice and advocating for the recognition of the human right to a healthy environment.

Annika is a young Queer* leader in the environment movement, advocating for a more inclusive vision of climate justice. She founded GreenLaw in 2019 and is its ongoing CEO. Annika established GreenLaw to address legal and policy gaps in the environmental movement and to provide a platform for young law students, lawyers and activists.

Annika is a current Law (Honours)/International Security Studies student at the Australian National University, with a minor in Korean. She is a Research Assistant at the ANU College of Law, working on federal environmental regulation and matters of international law in the South Pacific. Annika was appointed as a legal consultant to the Australian Conservation Foundation during 2020 on federal management of threatened species.

Annika is a Board Director for Zero Emissions Noosa Inc (ZEN), providing strategic guidance for ZEN’s communication and advocacy. She is also the Co-Founder of the Rainbow Bee-Eaters LGBTIQA+ Group for connecting the Queer* community to nature in the ACT. In 2021, Annika was awarded the Michael Kirby AC CMG scholarship under the Pinnacle Foundation in recognition of the hardships she has overcome and her leadership within the Queer* community.

Annika has been a private consultant for government departments, a researcher in the Australian Commonwealth Parliament, an intern in NSW State Parliament, and worked in private law. Annika is also a recognised national and international speaker on youth empowerment and legal change, as well as a published researcher on environmental law and climate impacts in the South Pacific.