Danielle Captain-Webb

2024 Cohort

Pronouns: she/her

Through governance and advocacy, Danielle is challenging the status quo of the justice system in order to achieve systemic change, justice and equilibrium for First Nations people and communities across New South Wales.

Danielle is a Wiradjuri and Gomeroi woman (Western NSW) who was born and raised on Darkinjung Country (Central Coast NSW). She is the Solicitor Advocate, Coronial Inquest Unit at Legal Aid NSW. In this role, Danielle manages, coordinates and provides general oversight of the coronial inquest practice. She also advises and represents families and interested parties throughout the coronial inquest process.

Danielle is also an elected board member of Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council, an elected Councillor of the Law Society of NSW and Deputy Chair of its Indigenous Issues Committee.

She holds a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), a Graduate Certificate of Legal Practice from the College of Law, and was admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW in 2016. Danielle recently completed a Master of Business Administration (MBAX) (Social Impact) from UNSW.

Danielle is passionate about addressing systems issues within the justice system and creating systemic change to reduce the disproportionate contact that First Nations peoples have with the system. Her vision is to re-imagine the coronial inquest system by creating culturally safe and appropriate structures that will respond to the needs of First Nations people.

“I aspire to decolonise the justice system to ensure it is culturally responsive and aligned with the sovereignty and leadership of First Nations people.”

Social change work

Within her community on Darkinjung Country, and as an elected board member of Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council, Danielle is responsible for the mandate of our members to achieve social, cultural and economic change through the power of land rights. This extends to all First Nations people in her role as Deputy Chair, Indigenous Issues Committee with the NSW Law Society, where she contributes to advocacy surrounding policy and law reform for both proactive and reactive issues. In her role as Solicitor Advocate, Danielle has the ability to advocate for systemic change to prevent any future harm or deaths from occurring across a range of settings, both within and external to the criminal justice systems.