Staff and Consultants

Edwin J. Bernard is the founding Executive Director of the HIV Justice Network (HJN), a global community-led organisation working to end punitive laws, policies and practices that undermine public health and human rights for people living with HIV. He has worked in HIV advocacy, communications and policy for more than three decades and is internationally recognised for his expertise on HIV criminalisation.

Since establishing HJN in 2012, Edwin has overseen the organisation’s growth into a global resource for evidence, advocacy and capacity building. He has overseen the development of the Global HIV Criminalisation Database, the HIV Justice Academy and Positive Destinations, and coordinates the HIV JUSTICE WORLDWIDE coalition of civil society organisations working to end HIV criminalisation.

Edwin has authored and co-authored numerous reports, policy papers and advocacy resources, and regularly contributes to consultations, technical meetings and international conferences. He works closely with UN agencies, civil society organisations and academic partners to promote rights-based approaches to HIV and the law. He currently serves on the Track F Committee for AIDS 2026.

Living with HIV since 1983, Edwin brings both professional expertise and lived experience to his work. Originally from the United Kingdom, he has been based in the Netherlands since 2019.

Sive Stofile is an Operations Consultant who supports the HIV Justice Network’s grant management, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), organisational systems, and programme delivery. She works closely with the Executive Director and HJN’s consultants to support the effective delivery of the organisation’s activities and help meet funder requirements.

Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sive has more than 15 years’ experience in project management, grants administration, organisational development and governance within the public health and civil society sectors. Before working with HJN, she held programme and operations roles with organisations including the International Civil Society Support (ICSS), the Global Fund Advocates Network (GFAN), and South African government agencies.

Sive brings extensive experience supporting international partnerships, strengthening organisational systems and enabling community-led organisations to deliver high-quality programmes that advance health and human rights.

Sylvie Beaumont is a Knowledge Management and Multilingual Communications Consultant who supports the HIV Justice Network through research, editing, knowledge management, and multilingual communications. She contributes to HJN’s publications, curates HIV Justice News, supports partnerships and advocacy across Francophone countries, and provides French translation and interpretation.

Before working with HJN, Sylvie spent more than two decades with NAM (now aidsmap), where she served as International Editor and played a key role in developing multilingual HIV information resources and strengthening relationships with community organisations around the world.

Based in France, Sylvie brings extensive experience in HIV communications, editorial development and international knowledge exchange, helping ensure that HJN’s work is accessible to diverse audiences across languages and regions.

Sofía Várguez Villanueva is a Global Programmes Consultant who supports the HIV Justice Network’s international programmes across advocacy, capacity building and strategic partnerships. She contributes to the HIV Justice Academy, supports the HIV JUSTICE WORLDWIDE coalition, and collaborates with partners and networks to advance rights-based approaches to public health and HIV justice.

Before working with HJN, Sofía served on the Mexican Delegation to WHO, UNAIDS and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), contributing to intergovernmental negotiations and multilateral policy processes.

Sofía holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from El Colegio de México and a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. She is based in Mexico.

Alison Symington is a Policy and Legal Consultant who supports the HIV Justice Network through legal and policy analysis, strategic advocacy and the development of evidence-informed resources. Her work focuses on advancing rights-based approaches to HIV, with particular expertise in HIV criminalisation, gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and the rights of women living with HIV.

A lawyer based in Toronto, Canada, Alison has more than two decades’ experience working at the intersection of law, public health and human rights. Before working with HJN, she served as Co-Director of Research and Advocacy at the HIV Legal Network, where she led national and international advocacy on HIV, women’s rights and access to justice.

Alison has contributed to numerous international policy and legal initiatives and is widely recognised for her expertise on HIV-related legal and human rights issues. Her work with HJN draws on extensive experience in research, policy development and collaborative advocacy with community-led organisations, networks and UN agencies.

Nicholas Feustel is a Creative Consultant who supports the HIV Justice Network through creative communications, visual storytelling, film production, graphic design and digital media. He collaborates on the development of advocacy campaigns, publications, webinars and online learning resources, helping communicate complex issues in accessible and engaging ways.

Based in Germany, Nicholas is an independent filmmaker and multimedia producer with extensive experience in documentary production, digital communications and visual design. His work has focused on public health, human rights and social justice, combining creative storytelling with community-centred approaches to advocacy.

Nicholas has collaborated with HJN since its early years and has contributed to many of the organisation’s flagship initiatives, including Beyond Blame, HIV Justice Live, the HIV Justice Academy, HIV Justice News, international conferences and global advocacy campaigns.