Staff

Inspector: Rebecca Minty

Rebecca Minty has worked in human rights law and policy for more than fifteen years, both in the ACT and internationally. Rebecca’s work has focused particularly on conditions and treatment of persons deprived of their liberty, including with the Geneva-based non-government organisation, the Association for the Prevention of Torture, on their Asia Pacific Program (2012 - 2016). She also worked in Bangkok in 2016 as Human Rights Officer for the UN Office of the Human Rights Commissioner (OHCHR). In 2018 Rebecca joined the ACT Office of the Inspector of Correctional Services when it was established, as Deputy Inspector and was appointed Inspector in 2023 for a five year term.

Rebecca holds a LL.M (International Law), University of California, Berkeley School of Law and a MA in International and Area Studies (Indonesian Language) from Berkeley as well a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) from the Australian National University.  Rebecca was also a Rotary World Peace Scholar, 2009-2011.

Deputy Inspector: Sean Costello

Sean Costello has experience applying human rights standards in several jurisdictions, most recently as Principal Lawyer at the Queensland Human Rights Commission. Sean has experience in human rights litigation and has drafted several reports applying human rights standards to government policy and practice. Much of his work has focussed on the treatment of person deprived of their liberty. In 2016, Sean worked with Philip Moss AM on the “So Much Sadness in our Lives” report, which led to the establishment of the ACT Inspector of Correctional Services. From 2008 to 2019, Sean worked in various roles at the ACT Human Rights Commission, as well as Director of the Civil Law area of the ACT Justice and Community Safety Directorate. Sean spent the early part of his career working for the Scottish Legal Aid Board in Edinburgh.

He previously served as Deputy Chair of the Queensland Law Society’s Human Rights and Public Law Committee and has published several articles on human rights in Australia.

Sean holds bachelor degrees in Communications (Journalism) and Laws (Honours), as well as a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice.

Assistant Inspector: Pip Courtney-Bailey (she/her)

Pip Courtney-Bailey commenced her role with the ACT Office of the Inspector of Correctional Services in June 2021. Pip holds a Bachelor of Health Science from Deakin University, where she majored in Health Promotion and Nutrition, her background is in the fields of health promotion, advocacy, and social research.

Prior to her current role, Pip worked for Women's Health Matters where she worked closely with detained women at the Alexander Maconochie Centre delivering impactful health promotion and advocacy initiatives. Pip is a passionate advocate for the fair and equal treatment of people whose lives are impacted by the criminal legal system and aims to amplify the voices of people with lived experience through her work.