Conference Agenda
BRISBANE: 10 SEPTEMBER
MELBOURNE: 17 SEPTEMBER
PERTH: 17 SEPTEMBER
SYDNEY: 24 SEPTEMBER
8:30
Registration and Morning Refreshments
8:45
Welcome Address
8:50
Chairperson Welcome Address
Melbourne: David Dilger, Director, Edge Legal
Perth: Kate Walawski, Principal, Cullen Macleod Lawyers
Sydney: Erin Lynch, Partner, Gadens
Brisbane: Meghan De Pinto Smith, Senior Associate, McKays Solicitors
09:05
Presentation: Saying ahead - your employment law checklist
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Navigate evolving obligations under Fair Work, discrimination, and WHS legislation
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Preparing for regulatory priorities on the horizon
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Key takeaways from recent landmark Fair Work decisions shaping employer risk and HR practices: emerging legal trends and how to prepare
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Manage legal responsibilities relating to ill and injured employees, including return-to-work and reasonable adjustments
Brisbane: Louise Hogg, Partner, Moray & Agnew
Melbourne: Partner, Moray & Agnew
Perth: Brian Jackson, Special Counsel, Moray & Agnew
Sydney: Elizabeth Radley, Partner, Moray & Agnew
09:50
Presentation: Psychosocial safety in practice
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Clarify your legal responsibilities under psychosocial hazard legislation
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Apply practical frameworks to address psychological risk and WorkSafe scrutiny
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Distinguish between culture risk and individual performance: legal considerations
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Align HR and WHS to meet obligations around psychological risk, including life-stage and neurodivergent health factors
Brisbane: Jasmine Tiong, Senior Associate, Ashurst
Melbourne: Sarah Pain, Senior Associate, Clayton Utz
Perth: Jordan Leahy, Senior Associate, Ashurst
Sydney: Alana Rafter, Senior Associate, Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors
10:35 Morning Tea
10:55
Presentation: Navigating legal risks and compliance in data, AI, and employee rights in an evolving privacy landscape
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Prepare for Privacy Act reforms and increased scrutiny of data use in HR
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Address legal grey zones in AI, analytics, and workplace surveillance across hiring, performance, and exits
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Manage consent, retention, and breach obligations – and respond to complaints and regulatory action
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Strengthen governance by embedding legal safeguards across all people-data practices
Brisbane: Luke Gallant, Senior Associate, MinterEllison
Daniel Szabo, Senior Associate, MinterEllison
Melbourne: Jennifer Bourke, Special Counsel, MinterEllison 
Laura Skazlic, Associate, MinterEllison 
Perth: Prevot van der Merwe, Special Council, MinterEllison
Clare Tunney, Senior Associate, MinterEllison
Sydney: Georgia Good, Senior Associate, MinterEllison
11:40
Interactive scenario-based discussion:
Flexible work requests – Navigating the legal grey zone
During this session explore a real-world scenario involving a flexible work request. Assess what constitutes a ‘reasonable’ refusal, manage competing team needs, and ensure your response complies with the Fair Work Act.
Brisbane: Sophie Baartz, Special Counsel, Kingston Reid
Melbourne: Rebekah Glover, Senior Associate, Kingston Reid
Perth: Xavier Burton, Associate, Kingston Reid
Sydney: Emily Baxter, Partner, Kingston Reid
12:25 Networking Lunch
1:15
Panel: Beyond the exit – Enforcing post-employment obligations
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Practical enforcement of non-compete and restraint clauses considering recent reforms
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Lessons from disputes over device return, IP theft, unauthorised use and disclosure of confidential information, and client solicitation
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Case law insights: How the courts are treating breaches post-employment
Brisbane: Laura Hillman, Special Counsel, Clayton Utz
Tim Capelin, Partner, Piper Alderman
Michael Michalandos, Partner, Baker McKenzie
Melbourne: Melinda Bell, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
Gemma Carroll, Senior Associate, KHQ Lawyers
John Evans, Special Counsel, Piper Alderman
William Marshall, Partner, Gadens
Perth: Sarah Thiruneelakandan, Senior Associate, Clayton Utz
Jo Alilovic, Director, 3D HR Legal
Gemma Wheeler-Carver, Special Counsel, Kennedy Vinciullo
Sydney: Cynthia Elachi, Partner, Clayton Utz
Alexandra Shields, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
Alicia Mataere, Partner, Holman Webb Lawyers
Tim Capelin, Partner, Piper Alderman
2:00
Interactive Roundtable Discussions
Roundtable discussion to work through and resolve a common, yet complex HR issue whilst increasing awareness of relevant employment laws and policies.   
Brisbane and Melbourne
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Breakout A: Enterprise bargaining – Navigating industrial action and legal risks
Brisbane: Brigid Maher, Partner, Baker McKenzie
Melbourne: Melinda Bell, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
Breakout B: Discrimination and DEI
Brisbane: TBC
Melbourne: Diana Diaz, Special Council, Gadens
Breakout C: Managing ill, injured and medicated workers
Brisbane: Laura Hillman, Special Counsel, Clayton Utz
Melbourne: Jack Bourke, Senior Associate, Piper Alderman
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Breakout D: HR compliance meets emerging technology
Melbourne: Gemma Carroll, Senior Associate, KHQ Lawyers
Perth
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Breakout A: Managing ill, injured and medicated workers
Perth: Sarah Thiruneelakandan, Senior Associate, Clayton Utz
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Breakout B: Wise Work: embracing experience, avoiding discrimination
Breakout C: Neurodiversity and legal adjustments
Perth: Jo Alilovic, Director, 3D HR Legal
Cara Leavesley, Special Counsel, 3D HR Legal
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Sydney
Breakout A: Enterprise bargaining: navigating industrial action and legal risks
Breakout B: Discrimination and DEI
Sydney: Alexandra Shields, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
Breakout C: HR compliance meets emerging technology
Sydney: Cynthia Elachi, Partner, Clayton Utz
Breakout D: Addressing-cross border employment risks and challenges
Sydney: Alicia Mataere, Partner, Holman Webb Lawyers
2:45 Afternoon Tea
3:05
Presentation: Wage theft crackdown: How to protect your organisation
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Understand how criminal liability is being applied to underpayments
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Practical steps to identify, audit, and rectify payroll and award risks
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Build systems and documentation that demonstrate intent to comply
Melbourne: Rick Catanzariti, Partner, DLA Piper
Perth: Leanne Nickels, Partner, DLA Piper
Sydney: Mitch Robertson, Special Counsel, DLA Piper
3:05
Presentation: Mandatory sexual harassment prevention plans (BRISBANE ONLY)
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Comply with Queensland’s mandatory prevention plan requirements
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Structure risk-mitigation strategies that hold up under Work Safe scrutiny
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Understand your responsibilities – consultation, implementation and review
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Avoid common compliance gaps using regulatory guidance
3:50
Interactive scenario-based discussion: Unfair dismissal – managing allegations and ensuring procedural fairness
Work through a complex case involving allegations that could lead to dismissal. Step through the process from initial complaint to outcome, learning how to uphold procedural fairness, meet legal obligations, and minimise risk throughout the investigation and decision-making stages.
Melbourne: Peter Watkins, Senior Associate, Dentons
Perth: Kate Walawski, Principal, Cullen Macleod Lawyers
Sydney: Katie Kossian, Special Counsel, Employment, Safety and People, Maddocks
4:35 Chairperson’s Key Takeaways and Closing Address
4:45 End of Conference