Bryan lives and works in Melbourne. He graduated LLM in 1970, lectured at Monash University, worked with the ALRC in Sydney, practised as a barrister in Melbourne for 35 years, was appointed Queens Counsel in 1996, and retired in 2016. He acted mainly in native title, human rights, refugee appeals, and administrative and constitutional law cases, including in the High Court.
Writers Victoria has a hard-working voluntary Committee of Management which oversees the strategic and administrative operations of the organisation.