Presenters

Melanie Findlay, Managing Partner, Rees R & Sydney Jones Solicitors
Melanie is Rees Jones’ Managing Partner and the head of Energy Environment and Agriculture division of the firm. She began her career as a lawyer at Rees R & Sydney Jones in 2006, became a Partner of the firm in 2010, and in 2020 became the first female Managing Partner of the Firm. Melanie takes great pride in representing the hardworking and resilient landowners in the Central Queensland region. She is the current Chair of the QLS Energy and Resources Policy Committee and she is a member of the QLS Water and Agriculture Policy Committee. Melanie has a particular interest in environmental markets. She is also passionate about contributing to the local community through fundraising efforts for drought-affected rural families and a Director of the Fitzroy Basin Association.


Trent Thorne, Partner, Hamilton Locke
Trent has a passion for solving complex, multifaceted problems and leveraging his niche knowledge of the law to help achieve successful outcomes for clients. He is detail-orientated and takes a curious and innovative approach to his client representations. Trent has over 20 years of experience acting for clients across a range of industries including, food and agribusiness, regional and real estate. He has substantive experience advising on a variety of commercial matters including complex commercial disputes, financial, corporate and regulatory matters, negotiations, alternative dispute resolution and major pastoral property transactions. He is known for his commitment to the agricultural sector and extensive skills in alternative dispute resolution and has acted for major agribusiness entities, large property developers, multinational resource companies, major Government Owned Corporations and large corporate entities. Trent’s experience also includes seeking urgent interlocutory injunctions, defending and prosecuting class actions and resolving licensing and regulatory disputes. Known for his down to earth and pragmatic style, Trent is focused on providing practical and commercial advice to his clients. Trent is also a director on the boards of Beef Australia, AAM Investment Group and Rural Aid and prior to joining Hamilton Locke, Trent worked for McCullough Robertson and Ashurst.


Angela Hellewell, Barrister, Inns of Court
Angela has a broad public, regulatory and commercial litigation practice. She advises and appears in a range of planning, environmental, construction, human rights, mining, family, property and land-related matters. Her experience has included appearances in courts and tribunals in both state and federal jurisdictions, as well as appearing as Counsel Assisting in an inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act. Angela has developed a significant practice in mining, energy and resources, and environmental law. She regularly appears in cases before the Land Court of Queensland and the Planning and Environment Court for mining proponents, statutory parties, and landholders. Angela has acted (led and unled) in resource compensation disputes, land access disputes and mining objections proceedings. She has experience in objections proceedings before the Land Court including appearing in the New Acland and Waratah Coal objection proceedings. She is a nationally accredited mediator, family dispute resolution practitioner (FDPR) and has been appointed to the Land Court ADR Panel as a Panel Mediator. Angela was admitted as a solicitor in 2007, and prior to being called to the Bar in 2017 was an in-house corporate lawyer for an energy company advising on regulatory approval, land access, environment and property. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Business (Accounting).