Attend the annual premier event for Government Lawyers and earn all 10 CPD points in a single day. The Symposium is tailored specifically to cover the latest updates and skills that you need to excel in your role. Gain updates on cyber security, automated decision making, managing privacy risk in program delivery and design, WHS and employment law relating specifically to the public sector. Hear a timely reminder of your model litigant obligations and the principles of use of documents under the Harman Undertaking. Earn your core CPD points hearing about government use of AI, ethics and probity in procurement and the modern approach to statutory interpretation.

Presenters

Maxine Feletti, Partner, Sparke Helmore Lawyers
Maxine Feletti is a safety, risk and disputes lawyer with significant experience acting for both Australian Government and private sector clients. Her primary areas of expertise are common law and statutory claims arising from workplace accidents, work health and safety (WHS), asbestos litigation, transport related coronial inquiries, various insurance and indemnity matters and statutory interpretation more generally. Maxine has extensive advocacy and dispute resolution experience and has appeared in various State and Territory courts, tribunals, mediations, arbitrations and settlement conferences. She also has extensive legal compliance audit experience, especially in the context of WHS. Maxine holds a lead auditor in WHS management systems qualification, to complement her existing audit experience and capability.


Daniel D’Onofrio, Managing Principal, Adiem Law
Daniel brings a wealth of expertise and leadership to his role as Managing Principal at ADIEM Law. Known for his strategic acumen and commitment to excellence, Daniel oversees daily operations, leads the firm’s direction and ensures the team’s efficiency in delivering high quality legal services. Daniel is also a Principal in our Employment and Administrative law practice. He brings extensive experience gained through advising Commonwealth and State Government clients, large multinational corporate clients and not-for profit organisations on a wide range of employment and workplace relations issues. His proactive approach to legal challenges and steadfast advocacy has earned him the respect of peers and clients alike.


Annie Hagger, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright Australia
Annie Haggar is a cybersecurity and technology lawyer based in Canberra, Australia. Annie has 20 years of experience advising government and private sector clients in technology law, enterprise security risk, procurement security considerations, global security regulation, and cybersecurity risk in M&A. Annie has supported clients from start-ups to global Fortune 500 enterprise clients on technology development, product launch, and global regulatory compliance in cybersecurity, as well as complex technology transactions, acquisitions. Annie has also worked as advisor to Australian Commonwealth and State government agencies, including on extended secondment. Prior to joining the firm, Annie founded and was the principal lawyer for a boutique cybersecurity and technology law firm Cyber GC in 2023, advising clients on cybersecurity, critical infrastructure security, security in procurement, and supporting cyber incidents. Annie was awarded the Sole Practitioner of the Year Award and Cyber GC was a finalist for the Boutique Firm of the Year in the Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards, 2024. Annie’s deep technical understanding of technology and cybersecurity issues was gained during her 12 years as legal counsel for one of the world’s largest technology companies, Accenture, including 6 years as global legal counsel for its global cybersecurity business. During Annie’s time in this role, Annie supported the acquisition of 14 cybersecurity businesses, led negotiation of world-first ‘everything-as-a-service’ transactions for global clients, and complex multi-tower outsourcing and systems integration projects and some of Australia’s first hyperscale cloud deals.  Annie was awarded the Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards General Counsel of the Year, and Lawyers Weekly, Corporate Counsel Awards, Technology, Media and Telecommunications Lawyer of the Year awards for her work in this role in 2021. Annie has also advised government, critical infrastructure and private sector clients on cybersecurity in procurement, developing tailored precedents, clause-banks, training and resources for legal and procurement teams, and advising on and negotiating complex security service and technology procurements. Annie’s brings to her advice a deep understanding of business at the global and local scale, and provides value beyond traditional ‘legal’ spheres, as trusted advisor and part of the team.


Karl Pattenden, Barrister, Key Chambers
Karl was called to the Bar in 2015. He practices across numerous areas of law including bankruptcy & insolvency, building & construction, commercial & civil litigation, contract disputes, corporations, consumer protection, employment & industrial, occupational health and safety, property and commercial leasing disputes, personal injuries and workers compensation, and administrative law. Before coming to the Bar Karl was the principal of Pattenden Law – a litigation practice which specialised in bankruptcy and insolvency, building and construction, and commercial and civil litigation. He appeared as counsel on behalf of clients and other solicitors in various jurisdictions including the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme Courts of the ACT and NSW. Prior to establishing Pattenden Law Karl was an associate and partner of Gillespie-Jones & Co for nine years where he was responsible for the management and supervision of the commercial dispute resolution/litigation practice. In this capacity he supervised and had the carriage of a variety of commercial and common law litigation matters on behalf of clients and appeared as counsel. Before Gillespie-Jones & Co Karl was employed for five years as a solicitor in a large scale plaintiff’s litigation practice specialising in personal injuries, workers compensation and industrial relations. He also served as principal legal officer for one year with the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority where he advised on the prudential supervision of banks, life and general insurance companies and superannuation funds. Before that, Karl was employed for a year in a large defendant/insurance litigation practice. Before becoming a lawyer, Karl was employed by the Department of Defence, Inspector-General’s Division engaged in the review of Commonwealth procurement and outsourcing procedures/contracts together with the management and supervision of multi-disciplined teams investigating matters of significant implication for Defence programs. He was also employed by the Australian Federal Police for a period of fourteen years where he managed, investigated and prosecuted offences throughout Australia.


Ashley Tsacalos, Partner, Clayton Utz
Dr Ashley Tsacalos is a dispute resolution lawyer based in Sydney and a leading adviser to government. He is also a leading authority on the government's "model litigant obligations". He was ranked in a recent Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific Guide in the Government Category and was described in a recent APL 500 as "brilliant" in the area of dispute resolution. Ashley has experience in all forms of dispute resolution, including litigation in various courts and tribunals, as well as mediation and conciliation. He is engaged by both the public and private sector due to his extensive experience in managing complex and often sensitive disputes. He has particular expertise in relation to contractual disputes, intellectual property disputes, negligence claims and other tortious claims generally (such as misfeasance in public office) as well as applications for merits-based review and judicial review. He regularly provides advice in relation to procurement and tendering issues, governance and probity issues generally as well as risk allocation and insurance. He also has earned a reputation as a "go to" person for royal commissions and inquiries as a result of his experience in acting for a range of individuals and organisations in Royal Commissions, Commissions of Inquiry, Judicial Inquiries and coronial inquiries. He is currently acting for the Low family in the Dreamworld Coronial Inquest. Also, in the last 3 years, he has acted for Aussie Home Loans in the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry; RSL LifeCare in the Inquiry under the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 (NSW) being conducted by the Hon. P A Bergin SC; The Uniting Church in relation to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse investigating the Knox Grammar School; three officers of a corporation in relation to the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption as well as the former CEO of Greyhound Racing NSW in the Special Commission of Inquiry into Greyhound Racing in NSW. Ashley's expertise in administrative law and insurance law provides him with a unique perspective in terms of dispute resolution generally. He has acted for numerous Australian government and NSW government departments and agencies. He is regularly engaged to provide advice on administrative law and public law issues, including freedom of information, privacy and administrator decision making. Ashley established and continues to teach a government law course and an insurance law course at the University of Wollongong where he has also been appointed an Honorary Professorial Fellow. He has previously taught insurance law at the University of Sydney, the University of Adelaide and the Australian National University as well as dispute resolution and civil procedure as well as corporations law at the Western Sydney University. Ashley is a state editor of the LexisNexis publication: Privacy Law and a regular author of articles in this publication. He completed his Doctorate of Philosophy in Law at the University of Sydney in 2012 with a doctoral thesis on constitutional law and appellate advocacy.


Natalie Butler, Partner, Mills Oakley
Natalie has significant government sector experience. She’s advised government and quasi-government clients on a broad range of public law and regulatory matters. With nineteen years experience as a privacy practitioner, she’s particularly knowledgeable about data privacy compliance, privacy risk management and data governance. She’s most recently applied her information law expertise to digital transformation projects, helping clients to maximise the value of data assets in ways that are legally and ethically sound. Natalie champions a privacy-by-design ethos to policy design, customer experience, service strategies and technical solutions. She’s also an advocate for embracing a genuine multi-disciplinary approach to legal advising, risk management and compliance to enhance the longevity, and value, of legal risk strategies and solutions. Natalie has worked closely with a number of government clients, especially those from the social services and health portfolios.


Sonja Gasser, Principal Solicitor, ACT Government Solicitor
Sonja works for the ACT Government Solicitor acting as Practice Leader Regulation and Employment – which involves supervising advice and litigation in administrative law areas of planning, revenue, licencing, and environment – and previously led the Information Privacy and Access practice area. Sonja won the ACT Public Service Award for Excellence in the Leadership category. Sonja is committed to volunteering, having previously worked her way up into management in Community Legal Centres federally and in Victoria, and within the ACT State Emergency Service.


Brodie Buckland, Barrister, Blackburn Chambers
Called to the ACT Bar in July 2015, Brodie has experience in a range of matters including administrative review (including revenue and valuation matters as well as judicial review applications), medical negligence, commercial matters (including partnership disputes and insolvency), professional negligence and disciplinary matters. In 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, Brodie was recognised in Doyle’s Guide as a leading Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution Barrister in the ACT. In 2012, Brodie represented Australia at the 2012 London Olympic Games, placing fifth in the Men’s Pair with James Marburg.


Vanessa Flowers, Principal, McInnes Wilson Lawyers
Vanessa is a Principal in the firm’s Commercial division, providing advice to Commonwealth Department’s and Agencies and private clients. She provides pragmatic advice to her clients and has been involved in negotiating significant and high-value contracts for utility providers, corporate entities and individuals. Vanessa has been part of a team providing probity advice on high-value and sensitive procurement processes for Commonwealth Agencies and Departments. She also advises on Commonwealth grant processes. Vanessa establishes strong relationships with her clients by being approachable and working closely with them to achieve the best outcome.


Katherine Armytage, Partner, Maddocks
Katherine Armytage is a partner in the Maddocks Canberra office, where she has a vibrant practice in information law, particularly in the areas of privacy and data protection. Katherine has provided detailed advice on the operation and application of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), and has undertaken numerous privacy impact assessments (PIAs) for Australian Government and other clients. Katherine is a self-confessed ‘privacy nerd’, and actually enjoys identifying and examining information flows associated with complex Australian Government projects, identifying privacy and other legal risks and existing mitigations, and developing creative and practical solutions to help her clients minimise those risks. Katherine has recently been involved in some very interesting privacy and data governance matters – from PIAs for complex new legislation (the Digital ID Bill 2023), to working through eligible data breaches involving loss of highly sensitive personal information, to helping with the establishment and operation of complex data sharing arrangements.


Philip Jones-Hope, Partner, Holding Redlich
With over 30 years of experience across both private and public sectors, including roles as a senior solicitor and principal advisor in a Commonwealth agency, Philip’s career has encompassed addressing complex commercial, regulatory, and legal challenges. His expertise includes significant contributions to legislative and regulatory reform, advising on multi-jurisdictional frameworks, and supporting the development of compliance and enforcement regimes. An accomplished negotiator, Philip has extensive experience navigating complex, high-value commercial contracts and building relationships in challenging environments. His project management and planning skills were developed through oversight of large-scale infrastructure projects in the private sector, as well as implementing regulatory models and procurement processes in the public sector. Passionate about advocacy and negotiation, Philip has successfully presented to diverse audiences, fostering engagement and achieving impactful outcomes in legal and regulatory matters.


John Harris, Founding Partner, O’Connor Harris & Co
John Harris is a founding director of O’Connor Harris and Co Solicitors and has been a practicing solicitor for over 40 years in Canberra. John studied at the Australian National University, graduating in 1976. The majority of his time is spent working in Commercial law, Property law, Family law and Building and Construction law, however he is not limited to these areas. He enjoys the wide variety of work that O’Connor Harris allows him to undertake, and the constant challenges. John actively participates in a wide range of hobbies and interests, including rowing, skiing, fishing, reading, cooking and spending time with his thirteen grand-children, as well as being a father to six children. He is also a keen motorist with a particular interest in British sports cars. He is a member of the ACT Rowing Association, the Triumph Motor Club and the Master Builders Association. When John has spare time, he enjoys weekends in the mountains tending to his gardens and woodworks.


Christopher Erskine SC, Blackburn Chambers
Chris Erskine SC was admitted in 1982 and went to the bar in 1993, becoming a Senior Counsel in 2008. He practices in Canberra in all civil litigation, but especially litigation involving the government. He was one of the counsel for NSW in the largest civil litigation in the history of the ACT, the case arising from the 2003 bushfires, which ran from 2003 to 2014.


Gavan Mackenzie, Partner, Maddocks
Gavan specialises in providing commercial, procurement and contracting advice to Commonwealth agencies on a broad range of matters. In particular, he has extensive experience advising on complex, high-value and high-profile ICT and other outsourcing projects for Commonwealth agencies. Gavan has been involved in developing, negotiating and advising on numerous ICT procurements and funding agreements and has an extensive understanding of the various issues and risks associated with developing and managing those arrangements. He regularly advises Commonwealth agencies on their procurement processes , develops and negotiates commercial documents, and advises on contract management issues.