Delia Browne

Director, National Copyright Unit

Delia is a highly respected copyright lawyer who leads the National Copyright Unit (NCU) providing specialist copyright advice to Australian Schools and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes with a focus on the rapidly changing digital teaching environment –www.smartcopying.edu.au. She has led the advocacy for copyright law reform in Australia resulting in the successful introduction of new education use exceptions in Australia’s copyright legislation.She is a sought-after speaker and participates in many international conferences and think tanks on copyright and open education.

Delia is a member of the Creative Commons Board of Directors and a long time member of the Creative Commons global network – http://www.creative.commons.org. She has represented Creative Commons at the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights and is dedicated to furthering the WIPO Limitations and Exception agenda particularly with regard to education. Delia is also on the boards of the Australian Digital Alliance and P2PU. She is also a member of the editorial board of Media and Arts Law Review and has taught Intellectual Property at the University of New Wales, Griffith University and the University of Auckland (her alma mater).

Jessica Smith

Manager, National Copyright Unit

Jessica Smith is a dual qualified lawyer admitted to practice in both the United States and Australia. Jessica has extensive copyright experience and is the Leader for the National Copyright Unit (NCU). Jessica advises and represents Australian schools and TAFEs on copyright issues, negotiates copyright licences for the sector and liaises with education, industry and government on copyright policy issues.

Prior to joining the NCU in 2012, Jessica worked in private practice. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in molecular biology and biochemistry, a Juris Doctor and a Masters of Laws specialising in international intellectual property law.

Jessica is currently based in Brisbane, Queensland.

Alison Davis

Manager, National Copyright Unit

Alison Davis has extensive experience as a copyright lawyer, with previous roles in magazine publishing, television production and the arts. She has also worked as Chief Executive Officer of Autism West, a Western Australian for-purpose organisation.

Alison first worked in the National Copyright Unit from 2006-2011. She re-joined the team in 2020.

She holds Bachelor of Arts and Laws degrees from the University of Western Australia, and a Master of Laws from the University of New South Wales, specialising in Media, Communications and Information Technology Law.

Alison is based in Perth, WA.

Holly Cordell

Senior Policy Officer, National Copyright Unit

Holly Cordell is a lawyer and Senior Copyright Advisor at the National Copyright Unit. In 2010, she completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney majoring in Sociology and History. She returned to her hometown of Perth, Western Australia and completed a Bachelor of Laws in 2014. She was admitted to practice in 2016.

Prior to joining NCU in early 2020, Holly worked as a Mediation Officer for the Office of the NSW Small Business Commissioner, assisting the Commissioner with the administration of the Retail Leases Act 1994 (NSW) by providing strategic advice and mediation services to small businesses across New South Wales.

She was also a Legal Officer in the legal branch of the Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation, a native title representative body for the Yamatji and Pilbara regions of WA, where she negotiated heritage agreements on behalf of Traditional Owners.

In 2017, she volunteered with Salvos Legal Humanitarian in Sydney, with primary responsibility of a range of matters in the area of Family Law, as well as providing assistance with applications under the Migration Act 1958.

Since joining the NCU, Holly has provided copyright policy advice to 150 teachers in Schools and TAFEs about the Statutory Educational Licence scheme and exceptions in the Copyright Act 1968, conducted research projects involving surveying and interviewing teachers across Australia and assisted with copyright law reform submissions.

Holly is currently based in Perth, Western Australia.

Arabi Shivaramanan

Senior Copyright Officer, National Copyright Unit

Arabi is lawyer and National Copyright Advisor at NCU. She completed a double degree of a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing)/Laws at the University of Sydney and was admitted as a Solicitor in 2019. Prior to joining NCU, Arabi worked as a Copyright Assistant at the University of Sydney where she reviewed and provided compliance advice on copyright for the University’s Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Program. She was also a Paralegal in the Forensic and Technology Services team at Clayton Utz where she worked on several high-profile matters ranging from Commercial Litigation to Public Law.

Since joining the NCU in mid-2019, Arabi has assisted in licence negotiations and law reform with a focus on improving access to materials for schools and TAFEs. She has also advised over 250 schools and TAFEs on managing their copyright obligations and prides herself on a client-focused approach.

Claudia Lewis

Senior Copyright Officer, National Copyright Unit

Prior to joining the NCU in 2023, Claudia worked as a senior IP lawyer in private practice, specialising in copyright litigation. She has extensive experience managing and advising on complex and high-profile disputes and transactions.

Claudia is currently based in Sydney, New South Wales.

Sara Lewis

Administration and Support Officer, National Copyright Unit

She has a Bachelor of Arts (Linguistics and Psychology) from the University of Sydney and a Masters of Teaching (Primary) from the University of New England.