Holly Doel-Mackaway

Holly Doel-Mackaway is an academic at the Macquarie University Law School. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on international human rights law with a particular focus on children and young people.

Her 2022 book 'Indigenous Children's Right to Participate in Law and Policy Development' (Routledge) presents a model for reforming and developing Indigenous related legislation and policy in Australia and internationally. The model provides guidance about how to seek, listen to and respond to the voices of Indigenous children and young people.

Before becoming an academic Holly worked as a lawyer across more than 20 countries for the United Nations and various international non-government organisations providing specialised advice on international children’s rights law. She has held senior legal and managerial positions with a range of child focused agencies including UNICEF, Save the Children and the NSW Department of Community Services. Holly also operates a child rights consulting practice providing children's rights research, training, legislative and policy advice nationally and internationally on matters relating to child protection, girls’ rights, the commercial sexual exploitation of children, children engaged in armed conflict and child rights-based approaches to research and development.

Prior to becoming a lawyer Holly worked as a social worker with women and children who had experienced domestic violence and sexual abuse.