Wednesday 03 October 2012 by John Hyde

Campaign group Justice has appointed human rights lawyer Andrea Coomber (pictured) as its new director.

Coomber, currently legal director of the international human rights organisation Interights, replaces Roger Smith. Smith announced his decision to step down in May after 11 years in the post.

Coomber will become the fifth director in Justice's 55-year history when she takes up the post on 18 February 2013.

She said: 'Justice has a rich history in this country and an international reputation for excellence in providing thoughtful legal analysis of critical rule of law and human rights issues.

'I am honoured to be part of its future and look forward to working with staff to build on its many successes.'

Coomber is an Australian-qualified lawyer who spent five years working in human rights in New Delhi, Geneva and Cairo. She joined Interights in 2002 and has advised and co-represented applicants before the European Court of Human Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and UN treaty bodies.