Whistleblower Project Public Forum

Gabrielle is a professor of public law at the University of New South Wales and the Research Director at the Centre for Public Integrity. Through her research and advocacy, Gabrielle has shaped national understanding of executive accountability, judicial integrity, and parliamentary practice.

Vanessa commenced in the public sector as a law graduate in 2006 as a Judge’s associate in the District Court in South Australia. She spent almost 15 years as a prosecutor in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in various roles, including solicitor work, trial counsel work and acting in positions managing legal staff. Vanessa commenced at the Office for Public Integrity as Assistant Director in 2022. She was appointed Acting Director in January 2025 before being appointed formally to the role for a 3 year term in March 2025.

Anneliese is a lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre’s Whistleblower Project where she advises current and prospective whistleblowers on their legal rights and obligations, and contributes to the Centre’s law reform work.

Rory McClaren presents Mornings on 891 ABC Adelaide. Prior to moving into the role, he was state political reporter with ABC News South Australia and Nine News. He has covered multiple state and federal elections and has spent time in Canberra working in the Press Gallery. Across his career, he has worked for multiple commercial broadcast and print media organisations in South Australia and interstate. Rory is President of the SA Press Club, and he is interested in how whistleblower protection laws facilitate external disclosures - including to journalists.

Tom commenced as a Deputy Ombudsman in September 2025. Tom has worked in the office since 2006, with a period at the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission from 2021–23. He has worked across a range of areas, including police oversight, project and corporate roles and as Executive Officer to 2 former Ombudsman. Most recently, he was the Manager of the Complaints Handling System Review Unit.

Frank started his career in the Australian Federal Police. After twelve years investigating organised and transnational crime and police corruption, Frank joined the consulting industry where he spent over thirty years working across sectors in identifying the risk of wrongdoing, investigating it when it happened, and developing programs to prevent it. Frank has worked with hundreds of whistleblowers and has a strong desire to see that we learn from the mistakes organisations and governments have made and to ensure that those with a commitment to seeing that wrongs are righted are properly supported.