Which pathway is the best choice? With constant changes in immigration law, from the Skills in Demand visa to student visas, employer-sponsored pathways and refugee protection,  keeping up has been a challenge. How have these updates affected your practice? How are you managing client expectations amid delays and evolving requirements? Join leading experts as they unpack key reforms, from compliance risks and self-incrimination concerns for migrant workers to shifts in skilled migration policies. Gain practical insights on judicial reviews, ART appeals, visa cancellations, and handling documentation challenges, including domestic violence claims in visa applications.

Presenters

Wajiha Ahmed, Partner and Mediator, Buttar, Caldwell & Co
Born in Lahore, Pakistan, Wajiha came to Australia with her family at age five. As a third generation lawyer, Wajiha is committed to the plight of social justice and rights of women in Australia and ensuring access to justice. She joined Buttar, Caldwell & Co. Solicitors in March 2001. She is a NMAS mediator and sits on a number of panels. Her main practice areas are civil litigation, family law, employment and immigration. In 2006, Wajiha was appointed as a part time Commissioner with the Community Relations Commission of NSW for six years. She served on the NSW Police Multicultural Advisory Council for a number of years. Since 2012 she has been a member of the Human Rights committee of the Law Society of NSW. She has served as an Officer for the Human Rights Committee of the International Bar Association since 2018. Wajiha has taught “Business, Law and Ethics” and “Contemporary Business Law” at University of Technology, Sydney from 2005 until 2019 and other private Colleges in Sydney. Wajiha has written opinion pieces in the Daily Telegraph, Sydney Morning Herald and the Guardian with respect to her views on various human rights issues over the years.


Professor Mary Crock, Immigration Lawyer, Professor, The University of Sydney
Mary Crock is Professor of Public Law and solicitor who has worked in the area of immigration and refugee law since 1985. An Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law, she maintains a pro bono practice alongside her academic role. She has been recognised in the peer publication Best Lawyers in Australia in immigration law since 2008. In a career spanning over 30 years she has authored 15 books and over 80 articles and book chapters. Her work spans every aspect of migration law from citizenship, labour migration, family and asylum law as well as merits and judicial review. Mary has worked over many years to advocate for respect of international law and human rights. She has worked as consultant to the Australian Human Rights Committee and for various senators. Earlier in her career she held leadership roles with Law Societies in Victoria and New South Wales as well as with the Law Council of Australia. Her academic research has a strong focus on vulnerable migrants and comparative law and policy.


Simon Jeans, Principal, Jeans Lawyers
Simon Jeans has been practising law since 1989. He is an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law and listed by Best Lawyers for Australia in Immigration Law. He has worked as an advocate for refugees and migrants with the Jesuit Refugee Service, RACS, Legal Aid (NSW), UNHCR and in his law firm. He was appointed as a member of the Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal from 2010-2015. He was engaged by the College of Law in 2019-2020 as an assessor and external moderator for the Capstone Migration Agents Assessment.


Chris Honnery, Barrister, Tenth Floor St James Hall Chambers
Chris Honnery is a barrister who is experienced representing applicants in administrative law and judicial review proceedings. He passed the England and Wales Bar Transfer Test prior to being called to the NSW Bar, and has worked in a number of jurisdictions. Before becoming a barrister, Chris was a solicitor for almost a decade, working at Victoria Legal Aid, the Federal Court of Australia, and representing asylum seekers detained on Nauru. Based in Sydney, Chris also appears interstate, and has particular expertise in migration matters and challenging visa-related decisions. Website https://www.chrishonnery.com.au/


Alex Kaufman, Senior Solicitor, Playfair Legal
Alex Kaufman is a practising Solicitor and former RMA with almost 20 years' experience in business, investment and employment related migration and the provision of associated legal services.


Ndi Ruppert, Principal & Founder, Ruppert Legal
Ndi Ruppert obtained her Bachelor of Business and Law with a Diploma of Legal Practice from the University of Newcastle in 2010 and was admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales as a solicitor in 2011. In 2017, Ndi obtained her Master of Laws from the University of Newcastle, majoring in Human Rights and International Business; her master thesis was published in the African Journal of International and Comparative Law. Ndi is the Principal Solicitor & Founder of the law practice, Ruppert Legal and was formerly a solicitor with Hicksons Lawyers. She also currently uses her immigration expertise to assist refugee clients one day a week through Mosaic Multicultural Connections. Ndi has significant experience with the Australian Migration system, both personally and professionally and was honoured by being listed on the 202, 2022 and 2023 Doyles list of leading New South Wales Immigration Lawyers. She is also the Vice Chair on the Board of the Hunter Community Legal Centre and is part of the executive leadership team of the Centre for African Research, Engagement & Partnerships at the University of Newcastle.


Kim Hunter, Criminal Defence & Immigration Lawyer, Hunter Flood Lawyers
Ms Kim Hunter is a criminal defence and immigration lawyer as well as an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law from Hunter Flood Lawyers in Sydney. Kim has a law degree, 3 first places in law exams (Criminal law, evidence & succession), second place in Constitutional Law and 2 Butterworths Law prizes. Kim Has always had her own private law practice and since becoming an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law now only practices in criminal defence and complex immigration matters. Kim has formerly lectured in post graduate law at Australian National University and regularly lectures for the Law Society of NSW, Legal Aid and various other professional bodies and organisations including the MIA and Law Council of Australia. Kim is on an expert panel for a research project led by Prof Alison Gerard and funded by the Australian Research Council, being undertaken by leading Professors from Charles Sturt, Flinders and Monash universities in Australia and Oxford University in the UK on the topic of ‘Crimmigration’ – the intersection of criminal and immigration laws in Australia.


Lily Ong, Principal, Lily Ong Business Lawyer & Migration Consultants
Lily Ong is originally from Malaysia and migrated to Australia in the 1980s. Lily obtained degrees in Economics and Law from Monash University. Admitted as a solicitor in 1989, Lily practiced with the Sydney firms Dunhill Morgan and Phillips Fox prior to relocating to Melbourne where she now resides. Lily opened her practice in 2000 and utilises her skills as an LIV accredited specialist immigration lawyer with a strong focus on Business Migration to assist clients daily. Lily enjoys a strong professional network with other firms and professionals and strives to provide quality legal advice with a high service standard for her clients. Contact us now and find out what for Lily Ong Business Lawyers and Migration Consultants can do for you.


Sean Kikkert, Barrister, Jessie Street Chambers
Sean Kikkert has more than 18 years of experience in immigration law and administrative law. He was admitted in 2007 and worked for the Department of Immigration for eleven years before opening his own law practice. He has appeared in many Federal Court, Federal Circuit Court and Tribunal matters, and provides complex legal advice based on his 16 years of experience in government law. Sean also has considerable experience in dispute resolution and conducted family and personal violence conferences as a Deputy Registrar with the ACT Magistrates Court between 2019-2022. Sean was born in Adelaide, South Australia and spent the early part of his childhood in the Netherlands before his family returned to Australia. He earnt a BA (Hons.) in Psychology in 2002 and an LLB (with Hons.) in 2005 from the University of Adelaide. He married his wife Jaquilyn in Hong Kong, and he is the father of five children. He is also an author and has had eight books published.


Rebecca Thomson, Principal Lawyer, Migration Services, BDO
Rebecca combines her postgraduate qualifications in law and business management, with her legal advocacy skills and experience to provide dedicated immigration and advisory services to a wide range of clients in all aspects of corporate immigration and related matters. Providing expert visa and related services, Rebecca achieves exceptional results and business solutions to meet global mobility, risk management and compliance and related requirements. Rebecca works extensively with senior HR personnel, Boards and Directors to align talent and risk strategies and achieve outstanding, effective and timely advice and business solutions.


Ms. Elena Su, Senior Associate,
Experienced immigration lawyer with a passion for Humanitarian law and practice focus on global mobility and corporate advisory/sponsorship compliance.


Sergio Zanotti Stagliorio, Barrister and Migration Law Lecturer
Sergio practises in Migration and Citizenship Law. Before becoming a barrister, Sergio worked as an immigration solicitor for a number of years and was an RMA prior to this. This past experience places him well to appreciate all facets of migration and citizenship law matters. As an advocate, Sergio has appeared and represented clients on matters before the High Court of Australia, Federal Court of Australia (including Full Court), Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Migration Review Tribunal, Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Immigration Assessment Authority and the Administrative Review Tribunal. Also, Sergio: - has authored over 1,300 court decision summaries on migration and citizenship law, most of which for his newsletter (https://migrationlawupdates.com.au), and some for LexisNexis (Administrative Law Decisions). - has authored over 1,000 articles and updates on migration and citizenship law, some of which for LexisNexis - is a former assessor at UTS (Graduate Diploma of Australian Migration Law and Practice - GDAMLP) - is a former unit coordinator and lecturer at UWS (GDAMLP) - has been a migration law CPD lecturer since 2019 - is often consulted by barristers, solicitors and RMAs on complex matters - holds a bachelor's degree in engineering

Ethics for Immigration Lawyers and Agents

Examine the ethical challenges immigration lawyers face when handling sensitive documentation for refugees and asylum seekers. This session covers the impact of documentation inconsistencies, the ethical considerations of family reunion applications, and the responsibility to address misleading or false information.