Alastair McEwin AM has had a long involvement in disability and human rights policy work, encompassing roles at both domestic and international levels and across the private, government and non government sectors. Born profoundly deaf, Alastair’s tertiary and professional studies include humanities, law, business administration, governance and directorship.
Alastair’s roles have included Associate to the Honourable Justice John von Doussa of the Federal Court, management consultant with Accenture, Manager of the Australian Centre for Disability Law, CEO of People with Disability Australia, and Executive Director of Community Legal Centres New South Wales. His two statutory appointments have been as Disability Discrimination Commissioner, based at the Australian Human Rights Commission, and most recently as a Commissioner with the Disability Royal Commission. He is currently working as a consultant in disability and human rights, including with the Grattan Institute as a Senior Fellow. He is also Adjunct Professor with the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM), UNSW Business School at the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
In the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours list, Alastair was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to disabled people. In May 2022, he was awarded a Degree of Doctor of the University of Adelaide (honoris causa).
