Travel and Learning Award for Mitchell McClenaghan
Supporting Mitchell McClenaghan to participate in the Visiting Professional Programme at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
Borrin Foundation Travel and Learning Award
Mitchell’s plan
Mitchell has been awarded a Travel and Learning Award to support a Visiting Professional placement at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, the Netherlands. During this placement, he will work within the Court and assist either the Office of the Prosecutor or the Chambers Section on matters relating to the prosecution and adjudication of international crimes.
The award will allow Mitchell to experience how international criminal cases are managed and prosecuted before the ICC, and to develop his knowledge of international criminal law and international humanitarian law in practice. He will gain insight into the work of the Court and learn from practitioners engaged in addressing crimes of concern to the international community. The knowledge and skills gained will be of value when he returns to New Zealand to undertake criminal prosecution work.
About Mitchell
Mitchell graduated from the University of Otago with degrees in Law and History in 2012. Following his studies, he interned at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague, where he assisted the Office of the Prosecutor on cases concerning Srebrenica. He then returned to New Zealand and took up the position of Judges’ Research Counsel at the Rotorua District Court, assisting five district court judges on criminal law matters. Following this, he commenced work as a Crown Prosecutor in 2015, firstly in Invercargill and then in Christchurch, a position he held until 2024. He has conducted numerous trials in the District and High Courts and was appointed Senior Crown Counsel in 2021.
In September 2024, Mitchell moved to Amsterdam, where he has recently completed Master’s in International Criminal Law at the University of Amsterdam, with his thesis focusing on individual criminal responsibility relating to indiscriminate bombing of Gaza. He has a particular interest in criminal law, international criminal law, and international humanitarian law.
Grant Amount
$10,000 in 2025 to support travel
“The Borrin Foundation’s support enables me to develop practical experience in international criminal law and share those insights in Aotearoa New Zealand, reinforcing efforts to promote accountability and challenge impunity across both national and international legal contexts.”