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.

Catherine Leach, CEO, LeachLegal
Catherine Leach is the founder and CEO of Leach Legal and is listed in Doyle's Guide 2026 as a Leading High Value and Complex Property Family Lawyer in Western Australia. Catherine specialises in acting for business owners in property settlements which commonly involve corporate structures, discretionary trusts and business valuations. Catherine commenced her articled clerkship in 1989 and was admitted in 1996, developing her complex property practice under the mentorship of the Honourable Peter Dowding SC. She became a partner of DCH Legal Group in 1998, co-founded Maughan & Leach, and established Leach Legal in 2004. She completed her Masters in Family Law in 2012 and has lectured for the College of Law. Catherine is a trained collaborative lawyer, mediator and arbitrator and a long-standing advocate of ADR. She was Deputy Chair of the Family Law Section National Conference held in Perth in 2024, is a member of the global Entrepreneurs' Organization, and is a regular commentator on family law and business in national media.

Steven Cole, Managing Director, Cole Corporate
Steven Cole has over 40 years of professional, corporate and business experience through senior legal consultancy, as well as a range of executive management and non executive appointments. His extensive boardroom and board sub-committee experience includes ASX listed, statutory, proprietary and NFP organisations covering the industrial, financial, educational, professional services, agribusiness, health, local government and resources sectors. Steven's professional qualifications include Llb (hons)- University of Western Australia; AICD Company Directors Diploma and Fellow and Wharton School - University of Pennsylvania - Corporate Governance Program 2010. Steven is a sought after speaker and presenter at industry and professional conferences and seminars in Australasia and Asia as well as having authored publications and journal articles on emerging governance related issues. Steven's continuing board appointments include Deputy Chairman of Neometals Limited (ASX listed); Non-Executive Director of Matrix Composites and Engineering Limited; Chair of Commissioners for the City of Canning Western Australia; Chairman of 2 investment trust companies with around $20m under management; Chairman of Brightwater Care Group Inc, a major charitable NGO in aged and disability care services; Chairman of Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre Trust, a WA statutory authority concerning health related property planning and development and Chairman of Government and Fiscal Reform Policy Forum - CCI of Western Australia.