Presenters

Tijana Petkovic, Director, Blanchfield Nicholls
Tijana is one of the Directors at Blanchfield Nicholls, a leading Family Law practice in Sydney and Australia as recognised by the independently researched and peer nominated Doyles Guide from 2015-2023 inclusive. Tijana has practiced exclusively in family law for 15 years, and has experience in a variety of parenting and property matters, including acting for parties with significant asset pools, matters involving complex business structures, spousal maintenance claims, child abuse and child sexual abuse matters, overseas relocation, as well as representing third parties who have been joined to family law litigation. Tijana has a special interest and expertise in complex financial matters and matters with international elements including where jurisdiction is in dispute, assets are held across other jurisdictions, where a parent wants to relocate with the child overseas and matters pursuant to the Hague Child Abduction Convention. While Tijana regularly appears in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia as well as the Supreme Court and is a confident litigator, she is also trained and has experience in Collaborative Practice. She advises and guides families and individuals towards practical, amicable and respectful solutions to their family law problems and understands that litigation is a last resort for most clients. Tijana is on the Executive of the City of Sydney Law Society, serving as Secretary for a second term. Tijana is a member of the Family Law Section of The Law Council of Australia, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, Collaborative Professionals NSW, Central Sydney Collaborative Forum and is an occasional guest lecturer at the University of Technology, Sydney, lecturing in the family law undergraduate program and juris doctor program. Tijana regularly presents papers to members of the legal profession, as well as other professionals on family law issues. Tijana has been recognised as a ‘Family Law Rising Star NSW 2018’ by the Doyles Guide for 2018.


Susan Warda, Partner, Mills Oakley
Susan Warda is a Partner with national law firm Mills Oakley, an Accredited Specialist in Family Law, a Collaborative Lawyer, and a trained Parenting Coordinator. With extensive expertise in family law matters that involve complex financial issues, including property settlements dealing with family businesses, multiple assets, and superannuation splitting, she is highly regarded for both her knowledge and her professional approach. As an experienced mediator and trained collaborative law practitioner, Susan brings a wealth of experience working alongside other professionals to resolve clients’ disputes outside the Court system. Susan has played a pioneering role in the development of collaborative practice in Australia and is an advocate for alternative dispute resolution. As well as property and financial issues, Susan also acts for parents in a wide range of parenting disputes including Hague Convention Applications for international child abduction and complex matters concerning parenting arrangements. Susan is a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) and her achievements have seen her named again by Best Lawyers Australia Family Law 2024 as well as a Leading Family & Divorce Lawyer Sydney and a Leading Family Lawyer High Value & Complex Property Matters in the Doyle’s 2023 Guide. An active member of the profession and the community, Susan holds Board positions with the Australian Association of Collaborative Professionals and Variety the Children’s Charity Asia Pacific.