Geoff Budlender SC is a human rights advocate, with clients ranging from the government to social justice organizations. In 1979, he co-founded the Legal Resources Centre, a public interest and human rights legal service for marginalized populations in South Africa. During his time there, he undertook cases involving the forced removal of communities, freedom of movement, detention without trial, citizenship, labour rights and consumer abuse.  From 1996-2000, he was director general of the Department of Land Affairs in the administration of President Nelson Mandela. Over the course of a 45-year career in the law, Mr Budlender’s legal work has helped millions of people in the country, including victims of apartheid-era law, babies born to HIV positive mothers and children affected by school closures during the Covid-19 pandemic. He was the recipient of International Bar Association Pro Bono Award in 2021.