Bailey Grey 8th August 2024

I am utterly gutted, shocked, and saddened to lose such a wonderful colleague, friend, and human rights ally. Agnes came into my life as a student intern at HRLC. She was an exceptionally gifted intern, demonstrating a high degree of maturity, diplomacy, and intellect. I quickly hired her as my right hand at HRLC, and she played a central role in helping me (and our Co-Directors) to steer the ship during a period of growth, often tag teaming with me to manage a large portfolio of projects. She was warm, breezy, astute, and unapologetically 'German' (her synonym for organised). Her dry wit was her super power, and I have wonderful memories of gut-busting laughter through AHRI conferences, delegations of human rights professionals at UoN for training, summer courses, Dublin Statement drafts, FRA research, and so much more. She had a rare gift of understanding how people worked best, including my somewhat unconventional collaborative, power-sharing management style (at least in an academic setting at the time) and juggled the diverse personalities of her 3 bosses with grace. She was not only my natural successor when I left HRLC, but she broke the mould. (I admit to trying to bring her with me to my next job, which she graciously declined). Following my departure from HRLC, I enjoyed years of friendship and continued collaboration on HRLC projects, as well as the occasional tidbit of Nottingham gossip. I woke up this morning thinking of her, making a mental note that I should reach out, but all I can say is, 'Thank you, Agnes. I will deeply miss your sisterhood.'