Public Law Project (PLP) has appointed Elizabeth Prochaska as the new Chair of the board of trustees following the resignation of Ben Jaffey QC who steps down after nearly four years in post.

Elizabeth is a practising barrister specialising in public, equality and human rights law. Between 2017-2019, she was Legal Director of the Equality and Human Rights Commission where she oversaw high-profile public interest litigation and investigations. Elizabeth is a non-executive member of the Bar Standards Board and chair of Birthrights, a charity she founded in 2013 to promote women’s reproductive rights.

Public Law Project Director Jo Hickman said: “I speak for everyone at PLP when I say we are delighted that Elizabeth has agreed to take up the role of Chair of the board of trustees. Elizabeth brings a wealth of experience to the board and we are all looking forward to working with her as PLP enters its 30th year and the next phase of our evolution.”

Elizabeth Prochaska said: “PLP is doing vital work at a challenging time. We face persistent and growing threats to public law remedies and access to justice and so I am very proud to be joining an organisation that is committed to holding executive power to account and to helping people to enforce their rights, regardless of poverty or other disadvantage. I look forward to working closely with the senior management team and the board of trustees to build on the excellent progress already made against our five-year strategy and towards the ambitious objectives towards which PLP is working so effectively.”

Outgoing Chair Ben Jaffey QC said: “It has been a pleasure to serve as PLP’s Chair for the last four years and as a trustee for the last ten. PLP continues to have a big impact in its areas of focus and as an organisation it is going from strength to strength. Elizabeth has a huge range of legal, charity and board experience and I have no doubt that she is the right person to help PLP to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.”