Presenters

Kirsten Mander, Chair, Legalsuper; Non-Executive Director, Peninsula Health
Kirsten Mander is an experienced director, executive and lawyer. She has over 30 years' experience in the financial services, health and minerals sectors within Australia and internationally. She is currently chair of legalsuper, the superannuation fund for Australia’s legal community, and a director of Peninsula Health and chair of its Audit and Risk and MePACS Committees. She was formerly chair of the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority, the International Women’s Development Agency and a director on various boards including the Law Institute of Victoria and chair of its Ethics Committee. Prior to this she had over 20 years’ experience as a senior executive, general counsel & company secretary for a number of Australia's top companies in various sectors, namely Australian Unity, Sigma Pharmaceuticals, TRUenergy, Smorgon Steel Group and Western Mining, working throughout Australasia, Asia and the former Soviet Union. She holds a Master of Laws from Melbourne University and is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Governance Institute of Australia.


Sonia Petering, Principal, Sonia Petering Lawyer
Sonia runs her own broadly based commercial legal practice with a particular specialty in representing landowners of native vegetation in their negotiations with ASX listed and other companies on native vegetation offset agreements. Sonia is also an experienced non executive director and Chair in various highly regulated sectors including professional services, financial services, insurance, biotechnology and healthcare. Currently, she is Chair of ASX listed QantmIP Limited (ASX:QIP); Chair of Vitrafy Life Sciences Pty Ltd and a non executive director of TAL Dai Ichi Life Australia Pty Ltd. Sonia is also a member of the University of Melbourne Law School Foundation. Sonia is a member of and chairs various board committees - including Remuneration and Audit and Risk Committees. Sonia has previously served as Chair of Virtus Health Ltd, Rural Finance Corporation, and board member of Transport Accident Commission and Cuscal. Sonia served as a member of the Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry with Justice Bernard Teague and Professor John Catford, submitting their final report to the Governor of Victoria in August 2014. Sonia completed her law and commerce degrees (LLB and B. Com) at the University of Melbourne. In other roles, Sonia recently assisted the State Government of Victoria Minister for Water as one of the members of the selection panel for the 18 Water Corporation Board appointments interviewing many aspiring board members. Sonia is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and a member of Chief Executive Women and Law Institute of Victoria.