Agenda

Opening

Monday, June 23

Day 1

Tuesday, June 24

Day 2

Wednesday, June 25

Day 3

Thursday, June 26

Side Events

Friday, June 27
Filter by activity

Registration

08:00 – 16:00 (CET)

Lobby

Civic Space Under Threat: How the Power of the People Can Make a Difference

09:00 – 10:15 (CET)

Warsaw Hall

A conversation on how civil society organizations, independent media and the business community navigate their constraints in authoritarian contexts, sharing experiences of what has worked to counteract shrinking civic space and enhance an enabling business environment.

Speakers

Emilia Díaz-Struck

Aidan Eyakuze

Margaret Levi

Flávia Pellegrino

Sirpa Rautio

Type

PLENARY

Action Spotlight

10:15 – 10:45 (CET)

Warsaw Hall Foyer

The OECD and Thailand Institute of Justice will hold this action spotlight event to present key findings from an upcoming OECD paper on «Access to Justice and the Economic Toll of Crime in Thailand». As Thailand reconsiders its criminal justice approach, the study offers a structured analysis of the economic and social costs of crime, highlighting how unequal access to justice can fuel cycles of violence and mistrust. It draws on national and international data to assess impacts, identify knowledge gaps, and inform future policy and research.

Speakers

Reza Lahidji

Phiset Sa-ardyen

Type

NETWORKING

The Role of Courts as Guardrails of the Rule of Law

10:45 – 11:30 (CET)

Warsaw Hall

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Legacy Keynote: A conversation between women global rule of law champions working in service of the former U.S. Supreme Court Justice’s commitment to equality and integrity.

Speakers

Justice Natalia Ángel-Cabo

Suet-Fern Lee

Judge Margaret Mckeown

Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla

Type

PLENARY

Presentation of the European Convention on the Profession of Lawyer

11:30 – 12:00 (CET)

Warsaw Hall

The European Convention on the Profession of Lawyer is the first ever binding legal instrument protecting the rights and independence of lawyers and their professional associations, which is crucial for the protection of the rule of law. Leadership from the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe and the Council of Europe will formally present the Convention to the Forum participants.

Speakers

Mark David Agrast

Clare Ovey

Thierry Wickers

Type

PLENARY

Lunch

12:00 – 13:00 (CET)

Warsaw Hall Foyer

Effective Justice Services for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises to Increase Competitiveness and Promote Economic Growth

13:00 – 14:30 (CET)

Warsaw Hall IV

Organized by: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Ministry of Justice of Poland. This working session will aim to examine the legal needs and justice problems of SMEs, explore effective solutions, and identify approaches to improve justice service delivery through the lens of the OECD Recommendation on Access to Justice and People-Centred Justice Systems. Access to legal and justice services for businesses and consumers spans a range of judicial and non-judicial solutions, providing individuals and businesses with legal information, advice, resources, and representation. It also includes formal and informal mechanisms for resolving disputes and addressing legal needs, such as alternative dispute resolution methods that facilitate negotiated solutions, and initiatives that promote prevention and de-escalation.

Speakers

Udo Jude Ilo

Maaike de Langen

Katarzyna Jakimowicz

Dagmara Rybicka

Anda Smiltēna

Tatyana Teplova

Type

WORKING SESSIONS

Strengthening Accountability through Rule of Law Reforms in Asia Pacific

13:00 – 14:30 (CET)

Warsaw Hall V

Organized by: World Justice Project and Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ). This session will explore evidence-based strategies to advance the rule of law across the Asia Pacific region’s diverse political and legal landscapes. Drawing on data from the 2024 Rule of Law Index, it will highlight successes in countries like Japan and Thailand and examine persistent challenges in others, such as Cambodia and India. Through an interactive panel, speakers will share how evidence and data have driven impactful reforms, offering actionable insights for promoting fairness, transparency, and justice. The session will foster cross-sector dialogue and inspire the adoption of data-driven approaches to strengthen the rule of law in the region.

Speakers

Nozomi Iwama

Jaewoo Jung

Justice (Retd.) Madan B. Lokur

Karimov Alisher Nishanovich

Srirak Plipat

Phiset Sa-Ardyen

Type

WORKING SESSIONS

Innovative Approaches to Uphold the Independence of Horizontal Accountability Institutions

13:00 – 14:30 (CET)

Meeting Room 2

Organized by: World Justice Project and INTOSAI Development Initiative. This sessions focuses on the challenges faced by horizontal accountability institutions (like SAIs, judiciaries, ombudsmen, and human rights commissions) due to the global decline in the rule of law. These institutions, crucial for government transparency and upholding legal norms, face threats to their independence (executive interference, budget cuts), hindering their mandates. A joint WJP-IDI project will examine the link between the independence of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in the EU and accession countries and their impact on the rule of law. The project will also explore how threats to SAI independence correlate with threats to other accountability bodies and assess the role of EU policies, national/supranational institutions, and non-state actors in mitigating these threats. The aim is to identify ways to better utilize existing mechanisms to safeguard the independence of these vital institutions.

Speakers

Laurent Grosse-Kozłowski

Jesper Johnsøn

Freddy Ndjemba

Roby Senderowitsch

Type

WORKING SESSIONS

Building Pro-Democracy Coalitions: Lessons from Brazil

13:00 – 14:30 (CET)

Warsaw Hall II

Organized by: Pacto pela Democracia. As democratic backsliding grows worldwide, pro-democracy coalitions are more crucial than ever. This interactive workshop draws on the experience of Brazil’s Pacto pela Democracia to explore how diverse actors can unite around shared democratic values. Participants will engage in a coalition mapping activity, reflect on common challenges, and walk away with actionable strategies to defend democracy in their own contexts. Ideal for civil society leaders, activists, and changemakers seeking practical tools for coalition-building.

Speakers

Flávia Pellegrino

Type

WORKING SESSIONS

Building Effective Volunteer-Based Court Monitoring Programs

13:00 – 14:30 (CET)

Warsaw Hall III

Organized by: Court Watch Poland Foundation. Drawing on over 15 years of the Court Watch Poland Foundation’s experience, this interactive workshop will demonstrate how civil society organizations can establish and sustain impactful volunteer-based court monitoring programs. Participants will learn practical strategies for developing monitoring initiatives that enhance judicial accountability, educate citizens about the justice system, and generate valuable data for evidence-based reforms – even with limited resources. The session will emphasize how meaningful public engagement in monitoring can directly improve people’s experiences with the justice system and foster a more people-centered approach to justice.

Speakers

Stanisław Burdziej

Bartosz Pilitowski

Type

WORKING SESSIONS

Lessons learned from Poland: 2015-2023

13:00 – 14:30 (CET)

Light Room

Organized by: Free Courts Foundation. Amid a global rule of law crisis, even in established democracies like the United States, this session draws on Poland’s 2015 – 2023 experience as both a cautionary tale and a source of key lessons. It explores how rapid institutional changes, including judicial politicization, can erode democratic governance and public trust. Using Polish case studies, we’ll examine the role of civil society, strategic litigation, and European institutions in resisting these trends. The session offers practical insights and resistance strategies relevant to Poland, the U.S., and other countries facing similar threats.

Speakers

Barbara Grabowska-Moroz

Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram

Ewa Kulik-Bielińska

Maciej Nowicki

Mikołaj Pietrzak

Mirosław Wyrzykowski

Type

WORKING SESSIONS

Launch of the Assessment Tool for ICT-Driven Reform in Justice

14:00 – 15:00 (CET)

Meeting Room 4+6+8

Organized by: Korea-World Bank Partnership Facility, World Bank Legal Vice Presidency, and World Justice Project. The World Justice Project (WJP), in collaboration with the Korea-World Bank Partnership Facility (KWPF) and the World Bank Legal Vice Presidency (LEGVP), introduces the Assessment Tool for ICT-Based Reform in Family Justice, a user-centric framework to prepare for justice solutions leveraging technology. This Tool tackles a key issue: the gap between the information and assistance people need to resolve critical justice issues and what they currently receive. Many ICT-based reforms lack intentionality, leading to under-adoption, access inequities, and sustainability challenges. By assessing barriers to implementation, the Tool provides actionable strategies for decision-makers to enhance effectiveness. During this Side Event at the World Justice Forum, Version 1.0 will launch, inviting feedback from practitioners to refine and expand its impact.

This is a hybrid event. Registration is required to attend the event online. Please register here. 

Speakers

Daniela Barba

Alejandro Ponce

Christopher Stephens

Keongmin Yoon

Type

WORKING SESSION

Coffee Break

14:30 – 15:30 (CET)

Warsaw Hall Foyer

Type

NETWORKING

Collective Action to Advance the Rule of Law

15:30 – 16:50 (CET)

Warsaw Hall

Closing Plenary: Leaders of global organizations and multilaterals take the stage in a rapid-fire session, committing to the Warsaw Principles for the Rule of Law and pledging actionable commitments to advance the rule of law.

Speakers

Shaikha Abdulla Al-Misnad

Elizabeth "Betsy" Andersen

Jan Beagle

Sumit Bisarya

Gianluca Esposito

Aidan Eyakuze

Blair Glencorse

Ken Godfrey

Udo Jude Ilo

Vivek Maru

Alejandro Ponce

Sirpa Rautio

Jimena Reyes

Andrea Rocca

Type

PLENARY

Anthony Lewis Journalism Prize Awarded to CamboJA News

16:50 – 17:20 (CET)

Warsaw Hall

The Forum will conclude with the presentation of the Anthony Lewis Prize for Exceptional Rule of Law Journalism to the team at CamboJA News , one of Cambodia’s last remaining independent media outlets, for their relentless reporting amidst shrinking press freedoms civic space.

Coby Hobbs

John Nery

Vy Nop

Type

PLENARY

Closing Reception

17:30 – 19:30 (CET)

Lobby Bar

Participants are invited to join a farewell reception before departing Warsaw.

Type

NETWORKING

Coffee Break

10:15 – 10:45 (CET)

Warsaw Hall Foyer

Type

NETWORKING

Coffee Break

14:30 – 15:30 (CET)

Warsaw Hall Foyer

Type

NETWORKING

Closing Reception

16:30 – 18:30 (CET)

Plenary

Participants are invited to join a farewell reception before departing Warsaw.

Type

NETWORKING

Civic Space Under Threat: How the Power of the People Can Make a Difference

09:00 – 10:15 (CET)

Plenary

A conversation on how civil society organizations, independent media and the business community navigate their constraints in authoritarian contexts, sharing experiences of what has worked to counteract shrinking civic space and enhance an enabling business environment.

Speakers

Emilia Díaz-Struck

Aidan Eyakuze

Flávia Pellegrino

Sirpa Rautio

Type

PLENARY

The Role of Courts as Guardrails of the Rule of Law: The Ruth Bader Ginsburg Legacy Keynote Conversation

10:45 – 12:00 (CET)

Plenary

A conversation between women global rule of law champions working in service of the former U.S. Supreme Court Justice’s commitment to equality and integrity.

Speakers

Judge Margaret Mckeown

Type

PLENARY

Closing Plenary: Collective Action to Advance the Rule of Law / Presentation of the Anthony Lewis Prize for Exceptional Rule of Law Journalism

15:00 – 16:30 (CET)

Plenary

Leaders of global organizations and multilaterals take the stage in a rapid-fire session, committing to the Warsaw Principles for the Rule of Law and pledging actionable commitments to advance the rule of law; WJP awards the Anthony Lewis Prize to recognize outstanding rule of law media reporting.

Speakers

Elizabeth Andersen

Kevin Casas-Zamora

Aidan Eyakuze

Blair Glenclose

Udo Jude Ilo

Alejandro Ponce

Sirpa Rautio

Type

PLENARY

Working Sessions

13:00 – 14:30 (CET)

Plenary

Concurrent breakout sessions designed to foster interaction amongst Forum participants and generate new insights, actionable recommendations, and next steps.

Type

WORKING SESSIONS
Day 2, Wednesday, June 25

Get updates on the Forum and more:

Emilia Díaz-Struck

Executive Director, Global Investigative Journalism Network

Emilia Díaz-Struck is the Executive Director of the Global Investigative Journalism Network and former Data and Research Editor at the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). She participated in over 20 ICIJ award-winning projects, including the Panama Papers, Offshore Leaks, and Pandora Papers, collaborating with journalists in 110+ countries. She was investigative reporting coordinator at the Press and Society Institute of Venezuela and in 2012 Reporter in Residence at Boston University and CONNECTAS. A data journalism pioneer in Venezuela, she co-founded Armando.info and has contributed to The Washington Post, El Universal, and El Mundo. Emilia has taught at Columbia University and the Central University of Venezuela and mentored hundreds of Latin American journalists

Aidan Eyakuze

CEO, Open Government Partnership

Aidan Eyakuze is the Chief Executive Officer of the Open Government Partnership. He previously served as Executive Director of Twaweza East Africa, promoting open governance and citizen agency in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. Aidan joined the OGP Steering Committee in 2016 and served as civil society co-chair (2021–2022). He sits on the Board of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data and is a Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow and member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Before joining OGP, Aidan was Associate Regional Director of the Society for International Development (SID) and Head of the SID Tanzania. He has over 15 years of experience in scenario-building and futures thinking across Africa.

Margaret Levi

Prof. Emerita, Stanford; Sr. Fellow, CDDRL; Bacharach Prof. Emerita, UW

Margaret Levi is Professor Emerita of Political Science, Senior Fellow of Center for Democracy, Development and Rule of Law (CDDRL), and co-director of Ethics and Society Review, Stanford University; and Bacharach Professor Emerita at the University of Washington. A past president of the American Political Science Association, she was Sara Miller McCune Director of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS). Awarded the 2019 Johan Skytte Prize, 2020 Falling Walls Breakthrough, and an honorary doctorate Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, she is in the National Academy of Sciences, British Academy, American Academy of Arts and Sciences and American Philosophical Society. The author of eight books and numerous articles, she studies trustworthy governance and cooperative behavior in the interest of others.

Flávia Pellegrino

Executive Director, Pacto Pela Democracia

Flávia Pellegrino is the executive director of Pacto pela Democracia, a broad and cross-ideological coalition that orchestrates the pro-democracy ecosystem in Brazil in order to counter authoritarian threats, defend the Democratic Rule of Law, and revitalize the democratic environment in the country. Over the past decade, Flávia has built and coordinated networks focused on democracy and human rights. She holds a degree in journalism and a master’s degree in political science. Pellegrino has become a key figure within the Brazilian pro-democracy movement, and, internationally, she’s been engaged in different initiatives aimed at strengthening transnational cooperation on promoting democratic values, practices and strategies to counter the current autocratization phenomenon worldwide.

Sirpa Rautio

Director, EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)

Sirpa Rautio is Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), a role she assumed in March 2024. Previously, she was the founding Director of the Finnish Human Rights Centre (2012–2024) and chaired the European Network of Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) from 2022 to 2024. She has over 20 years of international experience with organizations such as the United Nations, World Bank, OSCE, Council of Europe, and the EU, working in both field and leadership roles. Rautio also served on FRA’s Management Board (2015–2020), including as Chair. She has extensive experience working in post-conflict settings and countries in transition. A lawyer by training, she graduated from the University of Turku, Finland.

Reza Lahidji

Founding Partner, Future Horizons (Oslo)

Dr. Reza Lahidji is an economist specializing in policy analysis and evaluation. He is a founding partner of Future Horizons, a research consultancy in Oslo, and an associated researcher with the Climate Economics Chair at Université Paris Dauphine. His work focuses on applying economic evaluation to government policies, especially in access to justice, fundamental rights, and the rule of law, as well as to public investments under uncertainty. He has advised governments across continents and organizations such as the OECD, IMF, and UN. He co-authored the OECD White Paper on «Building a Business Case for Access to Justice.

Phiset Sa-ardyen

Executive Director, Thailand Institute of Justice

Dr. Phiset Sa-Ardyen is the Executive Director of the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ), where he leads efforts to strengthen the rule of law and justice system through a people-centered, evidence-based approach. He also promotes implementation of the UN Bangkok Rules in Thailand and Southeast Asia. Previously, he served as TIJ’s Director of External Relations and held key positions at Thailand’s Ministry of Justice, including Director of the ICT Center, leading digital transformation and cybersecurity initiatives. He holds degrees in Bioengineering, Chemistry, Law, and Translation from institutions in Japan, the U.S., and Thailand.

Justice Natalia Ángel-Cabo

Justice of the Constitutional Court of Colombia

Natalia Ángel-Cabo is a Justice of the Colombian Constitutional Court. She holds a J.D. from Universidad de los Andes, an LL.M. from Harvard, and is a doctoral candidate at Osgoode Hall, York University. She was Associate Professor at Los Andes Law School, Editor of the Latin American Law Review, and Founder/Director of the Program for Equality and Social Inclusion. She consulted for the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the World Bank, the United Nations, and the Inter-American Development Bank. Her work explores the intersection of law and society in areas such as constitutional law, access to justice, participatory democracy, local government, and rights of women and persons with disabilities, for which she has received several distinctions.

Suet-Fern Lee

Managing Partner, Morgan Lewis LLP, Singapore Office

Ms. Lee is Managing Partner of the Singapore office of Morgan Lewis LLP, with a practice focused on M&A, capital markets, and corporate finance. She has advised on many of Singapore’s most significant transactions and is consistently recognized in leading legal publications, including Chambers Global, Asia Law, Who’s Who Legal, and Euromoney. She received the inaugural Asian Legal Business Lifetime Achievement Award and was featured in 100 Inspiring Rafflesians. A past president of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association, she also served on the IBA Council. Ms. Lee sits on several corporate and public boards, and holds roles with the National Heritage Board, Singapore Management University, and Nanyang Technological University. She earned her MA in Law from Cambridge University in 1980.

Mary Margaret McKeown

Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Judge M. Margaret McKeown has served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit since 1998. A Georgetown Law graduate, she was the first woman partner at Perkins Coie, specializing in antitrust and IP law. Judge McKeown is also a member of the Board of Directors of the World Justice Project. She is the former President of the Federal Judges Association and chaired the U.S. Judicial Conference Codes of Conduct Committee. She leads the Ninth Circuit Workplace Environment Committee and served on Chief Justice Roberts’ National Workplace Conduct Working Group. A global lecturer on law, she has led rule of law initiatives worldwide. Her honors include the ABA Margaret Brent Award and John Marshall Award. She has published widely on IP, ethics, and the rule of law.

Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla

Supreme Court Justice, Nepal

Hon. Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla is Nepal’s senior-most Puisne Supreme Court Justice since 2016. A leading voice for judicial independence and human rights, advocating for women’s property rights, criminalizing marital rape & domestic violence, and decriminalizing abortion. Her judgments reinforce judicial accountability, environmental protection, gender and electoral justice. She was a legislator in Nepal’s First Constituent Assembly who helped draft the constitution, and a member of the UN Committee Against Torture. She chairs the Supreme Court’s Planning and Research Committee, spearheading judicial digital transformation and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion initiatives in the judiciary. She holds an LL.M. from Delhi University and a MPA from Harvard.

Mark D. Agrast

Vice President, World Justice Project

Mark David Agrast is Vice President of the World Justice Project and helped develop the WJP Rule of Law Index. He previously served as Executive Director of the American Society of International Law, Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice, and in senior roles at the U.S. House of Representatives and the Center for American Progress. He has held leadership roles in the ABA, including on its Board of Governors and as chair of key commissions. A Rhodes Scholar and Yale Law graduate, he is a life fellow of the American Bar Foundation and serves on the Anti-Defamation League’s D.C. board. He is admitted to practice in Ohio, D.C., and before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Clare Ovey

Director of Human Rights, Council of Europe

Clare Ovey became Director of Human Rights on 1 August 2024. A London native, she studied law at Cambridge University and qualified as a solicitor in England, specializing in criminal law. She worked on law reform at the Law Commission before joining the European Court of Human Rights in 1995. In 2015, she began working on the execution of the Court’s judgments, first with the Secretariat of the Committee of Ministers and then as Head of the Department for the Execution of Judgments from 2020. Ovey is widely recognized for her expertise on the European Convention system and is co-author of a leading textbook on the subject.

Thierry Wickers

President, Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe

Thierry Wickers, President of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), has been a distinguished lawyer since 1978. He has held numerous leadership roles, including Bâtonnier of the Bordeaux Bar (2000-2001), President of the Conference of Batonniers (2004-2005), and President of the National Council of Bars (2009-2011). A co-author of Rules and Uses of the Lawyer Profession, the definitive reference on legal ethics in France, he has been deeply engaged in shaping the legal profession. Since joining the CCBE in 2012, he has led the French delegation and chaired the «Future of the Profession and Legal Services» committee (2016-2022), contributing to key initiatives on Brexit, governance reforms, and quality standards in legal practice.

Udo Jude Ilo

CEO, HiiL

Udo Jude Ilo is the CEO of The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) and a human rights advocate with over 21 years of experience addressing impunity, advancing democratic reforms, and promoting good governance. As Director of Open Society Foundations in Nigeria for a decade, he led efforts to expand civic space, support emerging activist movements, and strengthen accountability. He has held key leadership roles at the Nigerian Bar Association’s social justice program, the Forum of Federations, and the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), where he served as Interim Executive Director. Udo is widely recognized for his thought leadership on civic engagement, rights protection, and democratic resilience in West Africa.

Maaike de Langen

Senior Policy Advisor, OECD

Maaike de Langen is a Senior Policy Advisor at the OECD, leading initiatives on justice and rule of law and supporting governments to build people-centred justice systems. She is a Visiting Scholar at Arizona State University’s Justice Futures project and a Senior Fellow at NYU’s Center on International Cooperation. Her career began with socio-legal research in Mali and governance work with UNDP in Chad and New York, contributing to the Legal Empowerment of the Poor report. As a senior civil servant, she founded and led the Department for Strategy and Policy of the Dutch National Ombudsman. At NYU, she directed the Pathfinders for Justice Program, co-led the Justice for All report, and helped launch the Justice Action Coalition, Ibero-American Justice Alliance, and Young Justice Leaders.

Katarzyna Jakimowicz

Director of the Department of Analysis and Strategy, Ministry of Justice of Poland

A manager with over 20 years of experience in the public administration sector: responsible for correct operation of institutions; expert in public budget, administration, property, civil law and employment; responsible for drawing up and appropriate implementation of annual budget and multiannual investments. She has extensive experience in HR management and implementation of new HR solutions and projects. She is a competent specialist in conducting public procurement procedures, responsible for institutions’ legislative processes, including the development and implementation of regulations, decisions, expert reports and legal opinions. Advisor to and member of top management bodies, participating in financial negotiations and agreements with trade unions.

Dagmara Rybicka

Spokesperson and Head of the Press Office of the SME Ombudsman, Poland

Dagmara Rybicka is the Spokesperson and Head of the Press Office of the SME Ombudsman in Poland, experienced PR strategist, journalist, and consultant. She specializes in public relations, crisis communication, CSR, and public affairs, with over 15 years of experience. Author of expert publications and original training programs. She has led media strategies, managed reputational crises, and conducted more than 150 interviews with leaders in business, sports, and culture. As an Ombudsman office expert, she contributes to the AI Task Force. Passionate about new technologies and their use in modern crisis management and strategic communication.

Anda Smiltēna

Deputy State Secretary on Law Policy, Ministry of Justice in Latvia

Anda Smiltēna holds Ph.D in law and a Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Latvia. She is the author of several scientific publications and co-author of several books on constitutional and administrative law issues. She has worked in various civil service positions at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Latvia since 2006, has led several reforms and worked in the institutions of the European Union in Brussels. She currently holds the position of Deputy State Secretary on Legal Policy, overseeing policy-making in the areas of civil law, criminal law and constitutional law, as well as supervising the activities of 8 state institutions subordinated to Ministry of Justice. She is the Head of the Latvian Delegation to the OECD Working Group on Bribery.

Tatyana Teplova

Head of Division and Senior Counsellor, Public Governance Directorate, OECD

Tatyana has over 20 years of experience in governance, rule of law, justice, integrity, gender equality, and public sector reform. She joined the OECD in 2010 and is currently Head of Division and Senior Counsellor in the Public Governance Directorate. She leads OECD’s work on justice, rule of law, gender equality, and inclusion, developing international standards, advising governments, and managing multi-country projects. Her work spans OECD countries, MENA, Eurasia, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Tatyana began her career as a Senior Analyst in Canadian public administration and has taught at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. She holds a Doctorate in Public Policy from Carleton University and a postgraduate diploma in Strategy and Innovation from Oxford.

Nozomi Iwama

Deputy Director General, Governance and Peace Building Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Ms. Nozomi Iwama is the Deputy Director General in charge of governance cooperation of JICA, at the Governance and Peace Building Department. Prior to this assignment, she was the Senior Director and Head of Office for Global Issues and Development Partnership, Operations Strategy Department of JICA from February 2021 to February 2024. She was responsible for JICA’s partnership relations and strategic dialogues with development partners. She served as Senior Representative of JICA’s Vietnam Office from 2017 to 2021. Her other previous assignments include Director for Southeast Asia and Pacific Department, Deputy Director of Office of International Affairs of Financial Services Agency of Japan. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration in International Development (MPAID) from John F. Kennedy School of　Government of Harvard University.
 

Jaewoo Jung

Judge, Jinju District Court, South Korea

Jaewoo Jung is a presiding judge at the Jinju District Court in South Korea. Since his appointment as a judge in 2013, he has served for 12 years in various levels of courts, including the Seoul Central District Court. Notably, for the past two years, he served as a Director of Criminal Procedure at the Court Administration Office, responsible for the overall policies and administration of the South Korean judiciary. He graduated from Seoul National University College of Law in 2008 and received his LL.M. degree from Harvard Law School in 2022. Drawing upon his extensive experience in criminal trials and criminal justice policy within the Korean judiciary, as well as his focused studies on criminal justice at Harvard, Jaewoo Jung is eager to share his insights on judicial justice in Korea with legal professionals worldwide.

Justice Madan B. Lokur

Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India

Justice Madan B. Lokur is a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India and the first Indian to be appointed to the Supreme Court of Fiji, where he served until January 2025. He currently serves as Chairperson of the United Nations Internal Justice Council and continues his work as an independent arbitrator and legal commentator. As a Supreme Court Judge, Justice Lokur was known for handling key social justice cases, with his Bench becoming widely known as the “Social Justice» Bench. Justice Lokur has been a strong advocate for judicial reform, access to justice, child rights, and environmental protection. He chaired key committees in the Indian judiciary, including the Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee and the E-Committee for court computerization.

Karimov Alisher Nishanovich

Deputy Minister of Justice of Uzbekistan

Karimov Alisher Nishanovich holds a law degree from Tashkent State Law Institute (1999) and the Academy of Public Administration (2011). He began his career at the Ministry of Foreign Economic Affairs and later held senior roles in the Ministry of Investments and Trade and the Embassy in Ukraine. Since 2017, he has worked at the Ministry of Justice, where he became Deputy Minister in 2021. He oversees law-making policy, regulatory impact assessment, anti-corruption expertise, and coordinates multiple departments, including legislation, legal harmonization with WTO agreements, and registration of legal acts.

Srirak Plipat

Regional Director for Asia Pacific

Srirak Plipat is the World Justice Project’s Asia Pacific Regional Director, where he leads initiatives to advance the rule of law through partnerships, knowledge-sharing, and platforms for action. He has 20+ years’ experience in international law, governance, and human rights. He previously served as Executive Director of Freemuse, and as Asia Pacific Director at Transparency International, where he led anti-corruption research and advocacy. At Amnesty International, he directed global movement building and regional operations. Dr. Plipat also worked with the World Bank Institute and holds a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh.

Laurent Grosse-Kozłowski

Senior Manager, INTOSAI Deveopment Initiative (IDI)

Laurent Grosse-Kozłowski has been working as a Senior Manager in the INTOSAI Deveopment Initiative (IDI since January 2021. He works on governance issues, particularly the legal aspects related to the independence of supreme audit institutions, which he also supports in strategic management. Before joining the IDI, Laurent worked for 27 years (1991–2018) at the INTERPOL General Secretariat, where he held various positions, including General Counsel & Director of Legal Affairs, Director of Administration and Budget, and Executive Director of Resource Management. In 2018, he set up a consulting firm (lgk consultancy) specialising in legal and governance issues.

Jesper Johnsøn

Deputy Head of Division, Anti-Corruption and Integrity in Government, OECD

Dr. Jesper Johnsøn supports governments in strengthening anti-corruption and public sector integrity systems, working with senior officials through the OECD Working Party on Public Integrity and Anti-Corruption. He leads the OECD Public Integrity Indicators team and specializes in indicator development, evaluation design, and methods. Previously, he led work on SIGMA’s Principles of Public Administration for EU Enlargement countries, the Government at a Glance: Western Balkans report, and led the Evaluation and Measurement efforts at the U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre. Jesper holds a PhD and a Master’s degree from the University of Cambridge, and another Master’s degrees from the University of Copenhagen.

Freddy Yves Ndjemba

Senior Manager, INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI)

Freddy Yves Ndjemba, leads IDI’s work on SAI independence, which includes managing the SAI Independence Rapid Advocacy Mechanism, the SAI Independence Research Centre, the relationships with Donors on SAI Independence, and interactions other accountability institutions. Concurrently, he also operates as IDI’s Regional Manager for CAROSAI. Before that, he developed and managed IDI’s flagship initiative on Strategic Management SPMR (Strategy Performance Measurement and Reporting). Before joining IDI in 2017, he worked in the SAI of Cameroon for a decade as an engagement leader in performance audit, and later as the Chief Operating Officer of the AFROSAI Secretariat. Finally, he is an alumnus of Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne University (Masters in Audit, Control and PFM) and the National School of Administration of Cameroon.

Roby Senderowitsch

Practice Manager for Public Administration, Governance Global Practice, World Bank Group

Roby Senderowitsch is Practice Manager for Public Administration in the Governance Global Practice at the World Bank. He previously held roles including Practice Manager for Europe and Central Asia (West), Manager of the Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA), and Country Manager in the Dominican Republic. His work focuses on political economy analysis, coalition-building, anti-corruption, and performance-based public management. He has lectured on HR management in nonprofit organizations and served as director of educational programs, community development, and HR management in the private sector.

Stanisław Burdziej

Professor, Department of Sociology, Nicolaus Copernicus University

Stanisław Burdziej is a Professor of Sociology at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland. He holds degrees from Heidelberg University (MA) and Nicolaus Copernicus University (MA, PhD). His research focuses on procedural fairness and court legitimacy in Poland. He co-founded Court Watch Polska, an NGO promoting court monitoring and legal education. He has collaborated with leading Polish universities on problem-solving justice and community courts, and with ODIHR on court visits in Armenia, Croatia, Georgia, and Montenegro. He also contributed to the Euro-Expert project led by Prof. Livia Holden (Oxford), studying expert witnesses. His current work explores youth and digital tech. He has published in Law & Social Inquiry, Utrecht Law Review, Employee Relations, and other journals.

Bartosz Pilitowski

CEO, Court Watch Poland Foundation

Bartosz Pilitowski is the founder and chair of the Court Watch Polska Foundation, a leading Polish NGO promoting judicial transparency, accountability, and professionalism. A manager with private sector experience, data analyst, and legal sociologist, he brings a multidisciplinary, evidence-based approach to justice reform. Since 2010, he has led the «Civic Court Monitoring» program, mobilizing nearly 4,000 volunteers in 260 towns, generating over 60,000 court hearing reports. This work has supported systemic improvements and reduced judicial irregularities. He co-authored the “Court Monitoring Methodology” and has shared it internationally. His efforts have fostered dialogue within the judiciary, including with Poland’s Supreme Courts.

Barbara Grabowska-Moroz

Senior Research Fellow and Director of Rule of Law Clinic, CEU Democracy Institute

Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Rule of Law Clinic at the CEU Democracy Institute in Budapest. She holds a PhD in constitutional law from the University of Warsaw and an LL.M. from Central European University. Dr. Grabowska-Moroz has extensive experience in rule of law, human rights, and oversight of security services, previously working as a lawyer and project coordinator at the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights.

Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram

Board Member, Free Courts Foundation

Attorney, human rights defender, co-founder and member of the Board of the Free Courts Foundation. Before courts and tribunals, she represents national and sexual minorities and victims of violence. She is involved in activities for the development of civil society, protection of the rule of law and systemic changes in the Polish justice system. She also actively participates in the defense of women’s rights, supporting several NGOs in this regard.  

Ewa Kulik-Bielińska

Member of the Board, Stefan Batory Foundation

Ewa Kulik-Bielińska is a translator of fiction and a long-time activist in non-governmental organisations. Since 2000, she has been associated with the Stefan Batory Foundation, where she has served as director since 2010, responsible for information, development and external relations, among other things. She is actively involved in activities aimed at improving the functioning of social organisations and developing philanthropy and civic engagement in Poland and abroad. 

Maciej Nowicki

President of the Board, Helsinki Foundation

Lawyer, graduate of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw. Since 1998, he has been associated with the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, where he has served as President of the Management Board since 2021. As part of the Foundation’s activities, he supervises the Migration Department and the Communications Department, and also deals with the crisis of the rule of law in Poland. 

Mikołaj Pietrzak

Former Dean of the Council of the Warsaw Bar Association

Advocate, former Dean of the Warsaw Bar Association (2016-2025), and Partner at Pietrzak Sidor & Partners. He specializes in criminal law and human rights protection, representing clients before Polish and international courts, including the European Court of Human Rights. He is a member of several international legal organizations and has served as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture (2021–2022). Mikołaj Pietrzak is also a co-founder of the Prof. Zbigniew Hołda Association (est. 2010) and has been recognized for his commitment to justice and the public good. 

Mirosław Wyrzykowski

Associate Professor, University of Warsaw; retired Constitutional Tribunal Judge

Professor of Law at the University of Warsaw, former judge of the Constitutional Tribunal of Poland (2001–2010), and a leading expert in constitutional law and human rights. He served as Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw (1996–1999) and was the founding head of its Human Rights Department. Prof. Wyrzykowski has held numerous public roles, including as a member of the Legislative Council to the Prime Minister (1996–2001) and as Director of the Centre for Constitutionalism and Legal Culture at the Institute of Public Affairs. 

Daniela Barba

Director of Research on Access to Justice, World Justice Project

Daniela Barba is Director of Research in Access to Justice at the World Justice Project. She leads survey research on barriers to justice and develops people-centered justice measurement tools and political economy assessments for reformers. Daniela holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Politics and Social Policy from Princeton University and an M.A. in Comparative Politics from NYU. Previously, she was a Postdoctoral Researcher at Vanderbilt’s LAPOP Lab. Her work focuses on access to justice, human rights, criminal and gender-based violence. She has also worked with the Mexican government and U.S.-based nonprofits on budgeting, services for at-risk children, and civic education in marginalized communities.

Alejandro Ponce

Executive Director, World Justice Project

Dr. Alejandro Ponce is Executive Director of the World Justice Project, where he leads global efforts to advance the rule of law through research and strategic initiatives. As Chief Research Officer (2012–2025), he developed the WJP Rule of Law Index and key data products, including justice diagnostics, environmental indicators, and the global justice gap study. He also led WJP’s expansion in Mexico and the EU. A former economist at the World Bank and researcher at Yale, his work on behavioral economics, financial inclusion, and justice has been published in top journals. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University.

Christopher Stephens

Senior Vice President & General Counsel World Bank Group

Christopher Stephens is Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the World Bank Group, overseeing the Legal Vice Presidency and advising on legal aspects of operations, development finance, anti-corruption, corporate governance, and risk. He serves as principal legal advisor to the Board of Governors, Executive Directors, and senior management. Previously, he was General Counsel of IFC (2019–2022), General Counsel of ADB, and a Managing Partner at Orrick. He leads with a focus on innovation, efficiency, and impactful legal support to advance the World Bank Group’s mission.

Keongmin Yoon

Counsel, Legal Advisory and Knowledge Unit, World Bank

Keongmin Yoon is Counsel in the Legal Advisory and Knowledge Unit of the World Bank, where he advises on digital policy, data governance, and legal frameworks for digital transformation. His work spans cybersecurity, cross-border data flows, and institutional governance. He serves as the Bank’s lead delegate to UNCITRAL on digital and technology law and represents the institution in related multilateral forums, including the UN Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime. He also leads the Bank’s engagement in the Legal Working Group of the Development Data Partnership. His work supports the creation of legal and institutional frameworks that enable governments to adopt, share, and manage digital services and data across sectors and borders.

Shaika Abdulla Al-Misnad

Board of Directors, World Justice Project

Professor Shaikha Abdulla Al-Misnad, a leading Qatari educator, has held prominent roles in teaching, research, and administration over nearly three decades. She served as President of Qatar University from 2003, after roles as Vice President for Research and Community Development (2000–2003), Head of the Department of Foundations of Education (1992–1995), and member of the University Council (1986–1989; 1998–2004). She earned a BA and Diploma in Education from Qatar University and a PhD in Education from Durham University in 1984. Her research has focused on education in the Gulf, particularly on women’s education, beginning during her doctoral studies in the UK.

Elizabeth “Betsy” Andersen

Executive Director, Basel Institute on Governance

Elizabeth «Betsy» Andersen is the Executive Director of the Basel Institute on Governance, leading its global efforts to counter corruption, strengthen governance and promote integrity in the public and private sectors. She assumed the role in March 2025, building on a distinguished career at the intersection of law, justice, governance and international development. Most recently, Betsy served as Executive Director of the World Justice Project. Previously she served as Director of the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative, as Executive Director of the American Society of International Law, and as Executive Director of Human Rights Watch’s Europe and Central Asia Division. Betsy is a frequent speaker and widely published author on topics relating to corruption, human rights, and rule of law development; and she has been honoured with numerous awards for her work advancing the rule of law.

Jan Beagle

Director-General, International Development Law Organization

Jan Beagle is Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO). She has served as UN Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance; Deputy Executive Director of UNAIDS; Deputy Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva; and Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources. Ms Beagle has held senior roles in the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General and UNDP, and led interagency efforts, including as Chair of the CEB Task Force on sexual harassment. A champion of gender equality, she is a member of the International Gender Champions network.

Sumit Bisarya

Head of Constitution Building, International IDEA

Sumit Bisarya heads International IDEA’s Constitution-Building and Rule of Law Programme, which produces comparative knowledge, engages in policy advocacy, and supports national constitution reform processes. In 2020-2021, he was seconded to the UN as Senior Constitutional Advisor in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. Previously, he worked with the International Development Law Organization, managing rule of law programmes in Afghanistan and East Africa, including initiatives on legal aid, judicial training, and institutions addressing violence against women.

Gianluca Esposito

Director General, Human Rights & Rule of Law, Council of Europe

Gianluca Esposito has served as Director General of Human Rights and Rule of Law at the Council of Europe since August 2024. He was previously Director of the Private Office of the Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General, as well as Executive Secretary of GRECO and Head of several departments, including Crime Problems and Equality and Human Dignity. Since joining the Council in 1995, he has led negotiations on key conventions in anti-corruption, cybercrime, terrorism, and human trafficking. From 2009 to 2015, he was Senior Counsel in the Legal Department of the IMF in Washington, DC.

Blair Glencorse

Co-CEO, Accountability Lab

Blair Glencorse is Co-CEO of Accountability Lab- a translocal network that makes governance work for people. Blair and his team have done everything from building large-scale socially conscious music campaigns across Africa; to monitoring and improving public services in South Asia; to running a prize-winning TV show around the world called Integrity Icon to “name and fame” honest government officials. Blair is also the outgoing Co-Chair of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and an outgoing member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Good Governance. He was previously a member of the World Bank’s Expert Advisory Council on Citizen Engagement. Blair speaks and writes regularly on issues of open governance, citizen participation, anti-corruption and democracy.

Ken Godfrey

Executive Director, European Partnership for Democracy

Ken Godfrey is the Executive Director of the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) and has led the organisation since 2015. Prior to joining EPD, Mr. Godfrey worked as an Electoral Advisor for the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste. He has also worked for the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan, at the European Parliament and as an external consultant for the European Commission. He holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics in Comparative Democratisation. Mr. Godfrey has also lived and worked in Argentina, Canada, China, Japan, Senegal and the United Kingdom.

Udo Jude Ilo

CEO, HiiL

Udo Jude Ilo is the CEO of The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) and a human rights advocate with over 21 years of experience addressing impunity, advancing democratic reforms, and promoting good governance. As Director of Open Society Foundations in Nigeria for a decade, he led efforts to expand civic space, support emerging activist movements, and strengthen accountability. He has held key leadership roles at the Nigerian Bar Association’s social justice program, the Forum of Federations, and the Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), where he served as Interim Executive Director. Udo is widely recognized for his thought leadership on civic engagement, rights protection, and democratic resilience in West Africa.

Vivek Maru

Co-Founder and CEO, Namati; Co-Convenor, Grassroots Justice Network

Vivek Maru is co-founder and CEO of Namati, which advances social and environmental justice by combining the power of law with the power of people. Namati works with partners deeply in six countries, from Myanmar to the United States, and co-convenes the Grassroots Justice Network, a community of 3000+ justice organizations from over 170 countries. Vivek is co-author of Community Paralegals and the Pursuit of Justice. His TED talk, “How to Put the Power of Law in People’s Hands,” has been viewed over a million times.

Jimena Reyes

Director for the Americas, International Federation for Human Rights

Jimena Reyes is a Paris Bar human rights attorney. As FIDH’s director for the Americas since 2003, she has conducted many investigations in Northern and Latin American countries, particularly on the rule of law, corruption, business and human rights and international crimes. Jimena frequently speaks as an expert before international bodies. She litigates before the ICC and before the Inter-American system of human rights representing victims from Chile, Honduras, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia and Nicaragua. She was a visiting professional at the International Criminal Court Trial Division and an Eleonor Roosevelt visiting fellow at Harvard Law School. She holds a Bachelor of Law from King’s College, a Maîtrise de droit from the Panthéon Sorbonne, and a master’s in European studies from the College of Europe.

Andrea Rocca

Head of Policy and Advocacy, Transparency International

Andrea Rocca is Head of Policy and Advocacy at Transparency International (TI), where he also led or contributed to the organisation’s work on civic space, protection of anticorruption activists, corruption and human rights, and TI partnership with investigative journalists. Prior to joining TI, Andrea worked at Front Line Defenders and the International Service for Human Rights. Andrea holds a law degree from Italy and a LLM in Public International Law from the University of Nottingham.

Coby Hobbs

Associate Editor, CamboJA

Coby Hobbs is a journalist based in Phnom Penh and associate editor at CamboJA, where he leads English-language coverage and investigative reporting for what is widely considered Cambodia’s last independent newsroom. His work has appeared in Al Jazeera, The Ken, Southeast Asia Globe, The Diplomat and other regional and international outlets. He covers political, economic, social and environmental issues, with a particular focus on transnational crime in Cambodia and the wider region.

John Nery

Director, WJP Board of Directors

John Nery is a journalist from the Philippines, currently a columnist and editorial consultant at Rappler, and a convenor of the Consortium on Democracy and Disinformation. He serves on the board of the Asian Center for Journalism at Ateneo de Manila University and lectures on media and politics. Formerly with the Philippine Daily Inquirer for 20 years, he was senior editor, editorial writer, and columnist. He is the author of Revolutionary Spirit: Jose Rizal in Southeast Asia and a former Visiting Fellow at ISEAS. He is also a Nieman Fellow at Harvard and a SOPA awardee in opinion writing.

Vy Nop

Executive Director, Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association

Vy Nop is the founder and current Executive Director of the Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA). He previously served as Media Director of CCIM from 2007 to May 2020. Vy holds an associate degree in journalism from the Royal University of Phnom Penh and a master’s in private law from the Royal University of Law and Economics. He has worked for over 20 years in leadership roles, including program manager, media director, and editor-in-chief, across various media outlets and NGOs in Cambodia. Throughout his career, Vy has championed press freedom, freedom of expression, and human rights.

Adam Krzywoń

Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Poland

Adam Krzywoń was appointed as Deputy Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Poland on 1 January 2025. Currently, he serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Constitutional Law at the University of Warsaw. His academic focus includes Polish and comparative constitutional law and the protection of human rights. Additionally, he is a researcher at the German Research Institute for Public Administration (FÖV), where he leads an international research project examining the transformation of public service systems across Europe. Prof. Krzywoń’s professional experience includes, inter alia, working at the Constitutional Tribunal (2007–2008). From 2010 to 2018, he was a secretary and member of the Prime Minister’s Legislative Council