Advisory Board

Lord Alan Beith

Lord Alan Beith is a former Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats and former Chair of the House of Commons Justice Select Committee. He was appointed to the House of Lords in 2015.

Natalie Byrom

Dr. Natalie Byrom is Director of Research at The Legal Education Foundation where she leads work to build the evidence base for what works in helping individuals to secure their rights.

She sits on the Administrative Justice Council and the Litigants in Person Engagement Group of the Civil Justice Council.

Andrea Coomber KC

Andrea Comber is Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform. Andrea was appointed Queen's Counsel (Honoris Causa) in 2022 for making a major contribution to the development of the law in England and Wales.

She joined the Howard League in 2021, having previously worked at JUSTICE, INTERIGHTS, at the International Service for Human Rights in Geneva and at the South Asia Documentation Centre in New Delhi. She is qualified as a barrister and solicitor in Australia.

Anne Fox

Anne Fox is the Chief Executive of Clinks, which is the leading organisation offering support to the voluntary sector working in the criminal justice system. Anne leads on strategy, future focus and capacity, as well as managing the senior team. She joined Clinks in 2015 – prior to that having experience of a range of roles in campaigning and policy.

Liz Hogarth OBE

Liz Hogarth OBE is former Ministry of Justice lead on women in the criminal justice system. She was awarded an OBE in 2008 for services to women offenders.

Now retired, she continues to advocate for the reforms called for by Baroness Corston, working in a voluntary capacity.

Roma Hooper OBE (Chair)

Roma Hooper OBE is Chair of the CJR Advisory Board.

Roma is the founder of Prison Radio Association and Make Justice Work, and served for a number of years as chairperson at Clinks, which supports, promotes and represents the voluntary sector working with people in the criminal justice system and their families.

Baroness Helena Kennedy KC

Helena Kennedy is a leading barrister and an expert in human rights law, civil liberties and constitutional issues.

She has spent her professional life giving voice to those who have least power within the system, championing civil liberties and promoting human rights.

Jo King JP

Jo King JP served as a trustee of the Magistrates’ Association and is a member of the Judicial Conduct and Investigations Office disciplinary panels. Outside of the magistracy, Jo is an Independent Member of the Parole Board and the Sentencing Council.

Sir Bob Neill KC

Sir Bob Neill KC (Hon) is a British barrister and former Conservative Party politician. He served as a Minister in the Department for Communities and Local Government and chaired the House of Commons Justice Select Committee from 2015-2024.

Professor Julian Roberts

Professor Julian Roberts was a member of the Sentencing Council of England and Wales from 2008-2018.

He is currently Executive Director of the Sentencing Academy, a London-based institute which links scholars with practitioners, and promotes greater public understanding of sentencing in England and Wales.

Andrea Simon

Andrea Simon is the Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, which represents organisations and experts from across the UK working to end violence against women and girls.  Through her work at EVAW she is transforming the political and social systems that enable abuse and discrimination.

HH Judge Zoe Smith

HH Judge Zoe Smith practised as a Barrister for 29 years specialising in the Criminal Law. She was appointed to the Circuit Bench and sat as a Judge at Reading Crown Court until 2014 when she moved to Oxford Crown Court. She retired in 2019 and has an active involvement in issues relating to women’s justice.

Professor Betsy Stanko

Professor Betsy Stanko, OBE, was formerly head of evidence and insight in the Mayor of London’s Office for Policing and Crime.

She is now Visiting Professor at UCL’s Department of Crime Science and Security and City University London’s Sociology Department, and Emeritus Professor of criminology at Royal Holloway, University of London. She is Strategic Advisor And Academic co-lead at the Home Office funded Operation Soteria Bluestone.

The Rt Hon. the Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, John Thomas

Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, Roger John Laugharne Thomas, is a current member of the House of Lords.

He was appointed as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 2013-2018. He is one of the founding members of the European Law Institute, a non-profit organisation that conducts research, makes recommendations and provides practical guidance in the field of European legal development. He is a member of its executive committee.