Sawathey Ek OAM is a lawyer, Principal of E K Lawyers (Sydney) and founder of Cambodian Action Group. Sawathey is a former refugee from Cambodia in 1983 and has recently been successfully coordinating with federal Cross Benchers, the Greens and the Labor Party to secure a motion passed in the Federal Senate on 25 June 2018 human rights situation in Cambodia. He is the founder and CEO of the Australian South East Asian Network - ASEAN Ltd and on 7 May 2025, a motion was passed in the NSW Legislative Council recognising initiatives of the Network to promote Australian values for social cohesion. The Constitution of the Network registered with ASIC successfully enshrined statements of Australia's former justice of the High Court, the Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG, as part of the definition of Australian Values.