Our Executive Team
President - Michael Cope
Michael Cope is a Special Counsel with Cornwalls, a national law firm with offices in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
Michael commenced his legal career at a well known Brisbane legal firm specialising in criminal law where he assisted representing the Queensland Police Union before the Fitzgerald Inquiry. These days he practices in commercial litigation, mainly building disputes.
Michael has a long standing interest in civil liberties issues and has been active in the Council and other human rights related organisations for most of his adult life.
Michael was Vice-President of the Council between 1999 and 2005, and has held the office of President from 2005.
Vice President (Junior) – Angus Murray
Angus was elected as Junior Vice President in 2015. He is a Partner and Trade Marks Attorney at Irish Bentley Lawyers and practices in intellectual property, taxation and administrative law. He holds a Masters of European Intellectual Property Law from Stockholm University, Sweden having his thesis published in the Nordic Intellectual Property Law Review, and a Graduate Diploma of Intellectual Property Law at Melbourne University. He has a strong community focus and is also the current Vice-Chair of Electronic Frontiers Australia and sits on the Executive Board of The Legal Forecast as Editor.
Angus has a passion for advocating the importance of civil liberties and believes that an informed and unified understanding of the importance of civil liberties is fundamental to society.
Vice President – Terry O’Gorman
Terry O’Gorman’s public role in the Queensland and Australian Councils for Civil Liberties is well known.
He has been practicing solely as a criminal defence lawyer since 1976 and is an Accredited Criminal Law Specialist in Queensland.
Terry has sat on the Queensland Law Society Criminal Law Committee since 1979 and has been an Executive Member of the National Association for Criminal Lawyers since its inception in 1986. Terry is also a frequent speaker at National and International Criminal Law Conferences.
Secretary – Katherine Gough
Katherine has been a member of the Council executive since 2018 and was appointed secretary of the Council in 2019.
With a background in research and musicianship as well as legal, Katherine brings a wide range of skills and talent to the Council.
OTHER EXECUTIVE MEMBERS
Treasurer
Auditor
Executive Members
Executive Support Group
John Drew
Katherine Barnet
Eugene O’Sullivan, David McIveen, John Ransley, Nicola Murray, Siegfried Clarke, Greg Jones
Debbie Kilroy, Bill Lane, Beryl Holmes, Roger Byrom
Want to Learn More?
If you’re interested in learning more about the Council’s history and Queensland history, you can pick up a copy of Guardian of Your Rights: The Queensland Council of Civil Liberties: A History, 1966-2007 written by Eddie Clarke.
ABOUT THE BOOK
The Supreme Court of Queensland Library is pleased to present this inaugural volume on the history of civil liberties in Queensland. It is the twelfth title in a series of books published by the Library, aimed at preserving unique aspects of Queensland’s legal heritage. Its social and political importance, in tracing the development of civil liberties issues and achievements in this State, will be widely welcomed by lawyers, historians and indeed any person with an interest in the protection of rights. The Library is proud to be associated with the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties and congratulates Eddie Clarke on conveying the significance of its work to the people of Queensland. The persistent dedication and enthusiasm of the Council President and members should also be acknowledged in bringing this value work to fruition.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eddie Clarke taught in Queensland schools for many years before being seconded to the Educational History Unit of Education Queensland, for whom he researched and wrote about historical aspects of Queensland State education. He has authored three entries for the Australian Dictionary of Biography and other articles for education history publications, as well as co-editing two volumes of Soldiers of the Service that deal with the educational history of Queensland. At the end of writing this book, Clarke was so impressed with the aims of the Council and the integrity of its members that he became a member himself.