The Water Law Symposium 2025 with its uniquely multi-disciplinary approach offers a premier platform for professionals in water regulation and policy, enriching your understanding of water management issues. Gain a deep dive into the current regulatory frameworks and anticipated policy shifts in Water regulation in the Murray Darling Basin. Navigate river restoration reforms and the evolving Murray-Darling Basin water markets. Gain valuable insights water law and compliance throughout the Basin and water industry competition. Review the indigenous water rights and water policy and regulation.

Presenters

Ms Kathryn Ridge, Solicitor Director,
Kathryn Ridge is the Solicitor Director of Ridge & Associates Pty Ltd. The firm has a range of private sector clients, and government clients specialising in human rights, land rights, native title and environmental law. Kathryn has also developed a public interest law practice working with indigenous people protecting cultural heritage and their environment. Kathryn has over 15 years’ experience in environmental law reform and implementation, particularly in pollution, water, native vegetation and climate change areas. Kathryn is the author of the Water Law Chapter for Environmental Law Handbook. Kathryn is the co-author of the Biodiversity and Conservation Chapter for Butterworths Legal Publishing Service. Kathryn has strong strategic skills and advocacy skills with a proven capacity to deliver complex reforms. Having operated at a Board level for over 15 years, Kathryn has a strong background in Audit and Compliance, including having implemented compliance programs in two public sector Boards, including the establishment Board of State Water Corporation. Kathryn has served on government and non-government boards.


Mr Nicholas Thomas, Partner, Clayton Utz


Mr. Andrew Beatty, Director,
Andrew Beatty is the founder and Director of Beatty Legal. Admitted in 1985, Andrew has been consistently ranked as a leading environmental and planning lawyer in various Australian, regional and global directories. Before establishing Beatty Legal in 2012, Andrew had been a senior partner of three tier one law firms. Andrew’s practice has focused on dispute resolution and advisory work for clients in the property, resources, energy and finance sectors. Andrew is admitted in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory.


Mike Young, Professor Water and Environment, University of Adelaide
Mike Young holds a Research Chair in Water and Environmental Policy at the University of Adelaide, was the Founding Executive Director of its Environment Institute, is a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, and is a Distinguished Fellow of the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society. Mike is a specialist in water policy reform and his research led to the unbundling of Australia’s water licences and the resultant development of an efficient trading system and the Australian Government decision to transfer responsibility for the administration of the Murray Darling Basin’s water resources to an independent expertise-based authority. He played a key role in establishing Australia’s National Land and Water Resources Audit. Mike is a current member of the Global Water Partnership's Technical Committee and is a recent member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Water Security He was a founding member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists. In 2006, Mike was awarded Australia’s premier water research prize – the Land and Water Australia Eureka Award for Water Research. He has played a critical role in the consideration of options for the Murray Darling Basin. Prior to joining the University of Adelaide, Mike spent 30 years with CSIRO where amongst other things he established their Policy and Economic Research Unit. In 2003, Mike was awarded a Centenary Medal “for outstanding service through environmental economics”. His full curriculum vitae lists over 240 publications. More information is available at >www.myoung.net.au


Ballanda Sack, Special Counsel, Beatty Hughes & Associates
Ballanda Sack is Special Counsel at Beatty Hughes & Associates. Beatty Hughes & Associates is a boutique law firm based in Sydney specialising in Environmental and Planning Law. Ballanda has acted for consent authorities and objectors in water management and coastal protection related planning appeals. She has advised State and local government agencies on climate change and coastal risk management issues. Ballanda has a strong background in water licensing requirements for mining, extraction and waste management operations and surface water and groundwater impact assessment for mining and other development projects.


Claire Miller, CEO, NSW Irrigator’s Council
Claire Miller is the CEO of the NSW Irrigators’ Council, representing water users across the State since 1983. Claire has a professional background in journalism, as a senior ministerial water policy adviser, and various roles for irrigated agricultural industries and communities. She has a Masters Degree in Environmental Studies, and is a director on the East Gippsland CMA board.


Grace Mang, General Manager, Murray Darling Basin Authority


Emily Livingston, Senior Associate, Thomson Geer


Amy Dula, Director of Programs, Natural Resources Commission