Berry-born human rights barrister Jennifer Robinson made her mark on the legal fraternity long before she helped free activist Julian Assange.

Ms Robinson worked quietly behind the scenes for over a decade as a member of Assange’s legal team before the WikiLeaks founder was finally freed in 2024, catapulting the former Bomaderry High School student into the spotlight.

But the 44-year-old has been racking up accolades and awards for as long as her friends and family can remember. The most recent is being named alongside fellow high flyers as a winner of the 2025 Global Australian Awards.

The awards recognise “extraordinary Australians who are quietly shaping the world” through life-saving breakthroughs in fire safety, ageing science and humanitarian action, to global leadership in business, innovation, culture, human rights and space discovery.

Global Australian Awards CEO Kate McQuestin says Ms Robinson was one of several winners, from hundreds of nominees across 140 countries, selected by an independent panel of judges.

“(Jennifer) represents Australians succeeding well beyond our borders and, in doing so, strengthening Australia’s influence, reputation and competitive position at home,” says Ms McQuestin.

“From London to New York, Vietnam to Singapore - we are very proud to be shining a light on the success of Australians around the globe.”

Ms Robinson, who lives and works in London’s Doughty Street Chambers but splits her spare time between her Gerroa holiday home and her family’s farm in Berry, has never been one to shy away from a challenge, taking on her first human rights fight at just 21.

She was still a student at the Australian National University when her legal work helped political prisoner Benny Wenda and his family escape West Papua. She graduated in 2006 with the University Medal in Law and went on to become a Rhodes Scholar.

At Oxford she chaired the Law Faculty’s pro bono postgraduate organisation, Oxford Pro Bono Publico, which provides research assistance on major human rights cases around the world, and was named by the UK Attorney-General as a National Pro Bono Hero for her work in 2008.

While at Oxford she worked with renowned human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson to expose child abuse in the Catholic Church and in 2019 was named International Pro Bono Barrister of the Year.

She is the youngest Australian woman to appear before the International Court of Justice, and as well as taking on high-profile cases like Julian Assange.

Despite all the awards and all the wins across her stellar career, she describes Assange’s emotional reunion with his wife Stella as the “highlight”.

Ms Robinson looked on, with tears in her eyes, as Assange stepped off the plane into the waiting arms of his wife after fighting for freedom for almost two decades.

It was after defending Amber Heard in the infamous Johnny Depp deflation case - the Hollywood actress was subjected to widespread online hate and Ms Robinson received death threats - that the lawyer used the “power of the pen” to explore how the system often fails victims of gender-based violence.

Ms Robinson co-wrote a book How Many More Women? Which was in part inspired by Heard and other women the law failed but also the “strong female role models” who helped raise her.

Jennifer’s maternal grandmother worked in women’s refuges in Sydney to support those fleeing domestic violence, she was instrumental in shaping her sense of social justice from a young age.

“That bears out in a lot of what Jen does,” says her father, Terry.

“She wrote her first book about how women are mistreated, she’s very passionate about changing that.”

Ms McQuestin says the human rights lawyer joins a host of talented Aussies “transforming global systems, saving lives, empowering communities and elevating Australia’s influence worldwide”.

“Australians back themselves and they back each other. That ‘have-a-go’ attitude and spirit is loved around the world and is at the heart of our global reputation.

“And yet, Australians are famously modest. Many don’t seek recognition for what they’ve achieved.”

“Together, they represent Australian ambition at its best — bold in vision, generous in spirit and determined in action. They are resilient, curious and adventurous.”

Mr Robinson agrees. “Jen takes a lot on,” he says.

“I don’t know how she does it. She had to work hard to get where she is today, coming from a small country town. But Jen never shied away from hard work.

“She got her first job at 15 at the local pub, The Berry Hotel. All my kids did, and it taught them a great work ethic.”