We currently have three consultants and one support staff working closely with the Association in the different regions.

Sankar Pani received his law degree from Utkal University, Odisha (India), in 2006, and has since specialised in issues relating to land rights, environmental impact assessments, waste management law, tribal rights, human rights, corporate accountability and laws around transparency. He also has a postgraduate degree in Life Sciences (specialisation in Environmental Biology) and worked as a quality control executive for packaged drinking water production prior to becoming a lawyer.

Arpitha Upendra Kodiveri graduated from ILS Law College, Pune (India), in 2011 with a keen interest in issues relating to the rights of Indigenous communities in protected areas, traditional knowledge and environmental ethics. After law school she was a fellow of the multidisciplinary Young India Fellowship in association with the University of Pennsylvania and worked on the construction of the Composite Index for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth (COMSIG). She is now interested in exploring multidisciplinary approaches to environmental legal education in India with a focus on biocultural rights and jurisprudence.

Lassana Koné is an Ivorian lawyer. He has an LL.B (University of Bouake, Cote d’Ivoire) and an LL.M in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (University of Pretoria). Lassana’s LL.M thesis was on the human rights implications of the illicit trade of toxic waste in Africa. Prior to joining Natural Justice Lassana worked at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Commission) in Banjul, the Gambia. He was a technical assistant to the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. He was involved in the drafting of the Principles and Guidelines on the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights in the African Charter adopted by the African Commission during its 50th ordinary session. Lassana is currently supporting Natural Justice Initiatives in francophone Africa. Lassana is keenly interested in the linkages between human rights and environment, especially around customary lands rights in Africa.

Felicity Queenie holds a national diploma in internal auditing and has five years of experience in bookkeeping in the retail sector. She supports Laureen’s work in managing Natural Justice’s finances.

PREVIOUS CONSULTANTS

Johan Lorenzen supported Natural Justice’s communications and engaged in programme work in South Africa. He joined Natural Justice after working for a few years in communications, reporting and policy for various development and/or advocacy organisations, primarily based out of Kampala, Uganda. Johan is now studying law at the University of Cape Town.