MICHAEL POWER Learn more about Michael's work
MICHAEL POWER
Director // Co-founder

Developing international human rights law
ABOUT MICHAEL
Learn more about Michael and his work
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Michael is an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa and a Director and Co-founder of ALT Advisory. He holds B.A., LL.B. (with Distinction), and LL.M. in Public International Law (with Distinction) degrees from the University of Witwatersrand, and a Certificate in International Trade Regulation from the World Trade Institute, University of Bern. Michael is also an Executive M.B.A. candidate at the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town.
Michael focuses on strategic and rights-based advisory, research, and technology development in the areas public law and policy, information rights, data privacy, and emergent technology. He has a particular interest in advising on the development and implementation of human rights-related laws at the domestic, regional, and international levels, and on rights-based tools and strategies to achieve public interest outcomes. Michael is also a Director and Co-founder of Power & Associates (2018-), a public interest law firm which works in association with ALT Advisory, and currently acts as an adviser to the International Network of Civil Liberties Organisations (INCLO) in its Protest Rights and Policing thematic area.
Before forming ALT Advisory, Michael practised public and international law at the Legal Resources Centre (2012-14; 2015-17), and he clerked at the Constitutional Court of South Africa (2014, Justice Bess Nkabinde) and the Gauteng Local Division of the High Court, Johannesburg (2011, Justice Kathleen Satchwell).
Michael has a keen interest in understanding the intersection between law and technology and how technology can be used to protect and promote fundamental rights, including in the fight for climate justice.
He is presently running the Data Protection Africa and Democracy 2.0 special projects.
Promoting rights-based technology innovation
MICHAEL’S RECENT WORK
Learn about Michael’s recent projects
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- Developing a diaspora engagement framework for the Economic, Social & Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union.
- Providing ongoing strategic guidance and project management support to the International Network of Civil Liberties Organisations (INCLO).
- Co-authoring a report for the International Network of Civil Liberties Organisations titled “Lethal in Disguise 2: How Crowd-Control Weapons Impact Health and Human Rights“.
- Crafting an advocacy campaign for the ratification of the Malabo Convention.
- Conducting research on how to make democracy appropriate for a time of social media, global connectivity, digital communication, artificial intelligence, and data-driven surveillance.
Developing Africa’s digital rights landscape
OUR PEOPLE
The ALT Advisory Team