Sanmati Verma

Sanmati Verma joined the Human Rights Law Centre in 2022 to lead the Centre’s work upholding the rights of people who migrate and seek asylum. She is an LIV accredited specialist in immigration law and has worked exclusively in the area for over a decade.

Before joining the Human Rights Law Centre, Sanmati was the partner of specialist immigration firm based in Melbourne. While in that role, she conducted a significant public interest litigation practice, focussing on the rights of people in immigration detention, subjected to visa cancellation or adverse action by Australia’s security agencies. Before that, Sanmati worked with Victoria Legal Aid and the Western Suburbs Legal Service, where she assisted to establish the International Student Legal Advice Clinic.

Sanmati currently works as an advisor to the United Workers Union, serves on the board of the Migrant Workers Centre and is the deputy chair of the national Visa Cancellation Working Group. Sanmati’s work has been recognised through the Law Institute of Victoria’s ‘Emerging Lawyer’ award.

Sanmati holds combined Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law (Honours) degrees from the University of Melbourne, where she is also completing a Master of Public and International Law.