Our Board

Dean Clifford-Jones (he/him)

National Director – Founder and Chairperson

Dean Clifford-Jones is a graduate of Griffith University – Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (2008), Bachelor of Arts (Politics, Government and Public Policy) (2008), Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, Skills and Ethics (2009), Queensland University of Technology – Graduate Certificate in Business (Public Sector Management Program) (2018), College of Law – Nationally Accredited Mediation Program and Assessment (2021), and University of Queensland – Master of Laws (Distinction) (2022).

Mr Clifford-Jones commenced working in the legal profession in 2004 and was admitted as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2009. He is also admitted to the High Court of Australia and an accredited mediator.

Mr-Clifford-Jones currently serves as Executive Director, Family Law Services, Legal Aid Queensland, after commencing in August 2025.

Mr Clifford-Jones served as a Professional Board Member on the Parole Board Queensland (2020–2025), having served as an acting member from 2019. He has also acted as the Deputy President on the Parole Board Queensland.

Prior to his appointed on the Parole Board Queensland, Mr Clifford-Jones practised in both civil and criminal law, which included serving as a Judge’s Associate in Queensland (2009-10). From 2010 to 2016, Mr Clifford-Jones worked at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Queensland) in various legal positions, including as a Crown Prosecutor. Mr Clifford-Jones worked as a Principal Lawyer and acted as a Assistant Director at the Office of the Director of Child Protection Litigation (2016-19). In 2024, Mr Clifford-Jones was also appointed to act as a Coronial Registrar at the Coroners Court of Queensland.

Mr Clifford-Jones served as the founding member of Australia’s first National LGBTIQA+ Law Association – Pride in Law (2017), President (2017-21) and continues to be a National Director and Chairperson (2017–). Mr Clifford-Jones has been a member of the Queensland Law Society since 2004 and sits on the Domestic and Family Violence Committee (2018–). Mr Clifford-Jones is a continuing member of the Griffith Law School Visiting Committee (2021–).

In December 2020, Mr Clifford-Jones was named, by the Law Council of Australia, as the 2020 Australian Young Lawyer Award recipient. Mr Clifford-Jones’ other accomplishments include being selected to be on the Dean’s Honour Roll at the University of Queensland (2022), being the beneficiary of Griffith University’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award (AEL) (2018), Queensland Public Service Commission Diversity Scholarship Award (2018), Justice Michael Kirby Award (finalist) (2008), and George Alexander Foundation Scholar (2004-06).

Benjamin Koval (he/him)

National Director – Deputy Chairperson

Benjamin Koval is Lead Counsel, Technology, Data and Privacy at Ampol and previously the Senior Privacy Officer at Endeavour Group. He has been President of the NSW Chapter of Pride in Law since January 2025 and has overseen its expansion.

A dedicated advocate for the LGBTIQA+ community, Ben has been involved in community organisations since 2009. His career began in the arts and media sector at the ABC before transitioning into law, where he discovered his passion for privacy and public law. Now working in-house, Ben advises on complex technology and privacy matters in his day job while leading initiatives to strengthen LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the legal profession.

As NSW Chapter President, Ben has been instrumental in building Pride in Law’s presence through community engagement and events.