Maggie Blanden
Lawyer and Co-Founder
Naarm Law Students
Maggie Blanden is a proud Palawa woman and great-granddaughter of matriarch Aunty Ida West AM. She is a lawyer, community member and advocate working at the intersection of First Nations justice, climate justice, and human rights. As Co-Founder of Naarm Law Students, Maggie champions a youth-led initiative delivering free legal education for young people, by young people, to help navigate the settler legal system. She has contributed to leading national and international research addressing systemic inequities across the criminal justice, child protection, family violence, housing and healthcare systems. On a global stage, Maggie has collaborated with institutions including MADRE and the International Criminal Court to address gender-based persecution. She has also led international initiatives to strengthen human rights protections and advance First Nations-led climate and environmental action. Across all of her work, Maggie remains deeply committed to First Nations self-determination and the rights of First Nations peoples and children.
11:15
Youth Keynote: Our Stories, our Justice: A young voice for change
How culture, community and education are integral to shaping a young person's journey
Why Indigenous voices must lead in creating laws and systems that reflect cultural values and lived experience
Empowering young people to use their voices, knowledge, and identity to drive change for safer, stronger communities.
Maggie Blanden, Lawyer and Co-Founder, Naarm Law Students