Tess Kelly

2011 - 2013

Human rights lawyer and advocate Tess Kelly works at the intersection of criminal justice reform, policy and technology. She lived at John XXIII College from 2011 to 2013 while studying a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts at the Australian National University, before pursuing a career focused on addressing inequality within justice systems.

Tess has worked across Australia and internationally in roles dedicated to improving outcomes for vulnerable communities. In the Northern Territory, she advocated for First Nations children in detention, and in New York she contributed to civilian oversight of state prisons, supporting accountability and transparency within correctional systems. She now works with a nonprofit technology organisation in the United States, developing data-driven solutions aimed at reducing incarceration and improving justice outcomes.

Alongside her work in criminal justice reform, Tess undertakes research focused on the health and wellbeing of incarcerated people, contributing to a deeper understanding of the systemic challenges within correctional systems. She also co-leads the John Skipper Kelly Fund, which supports young people to access leadership and training opportunities in memory of her late father. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University, reflecting her commitment to combining legal expertise with public policy to drive meaningful reform.

Quote

"Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you." 

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

All photographs © Bronte Morel 2026 and not to be reproduced.