Join leading family law experts, barristers and mental health professionals for this essential one-day conference on two of the most complex areas in parenting matters: child welfare and financial support. Gain practical insights on family violence, relocation, child support, trauma-informed practice—and don’t miss the expert panel on parental alienation. A must-attend for all family law professionals handling high-conflict parenting cases.

Presenters

Alicia Elliott, Practice Director, Broun Abrahma Burreket
Alicia Elliott is a family law specialist accredited by the Law Society of New South Wales. She practises exclusively in family law and provides clear guidance and advice on all aspects of family law, including financial matters, parenting issues, child support, spouse maintenance and de facto relationships. Alicia has successfully represented clients in complex financial and parenting cases, including high net worth matters, valuation disputes and international relocations and was named as a pre-eminent parenting and children's matters and a recommended leading family and divorce lawyer in the 2025 Doyle's Guide.


Mark MacDiarmid, Principal, Mark MacDiarmid Family Law Specialist and Mediator
Mark MacDiarmid has been a lawyer for over 30 years. He is an Accredited Family Law Specialist, a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and a registered Family Law Arbitrator. Mark is a former Director of national law firm Gadens Lawyers (where he worked in the commercial law and banking & finance sections), a former specialist family law consultant for Coleman & Greig Lawyers, and for many years was the Principal Solicitor of the Elizabeth Evatt Community Legal Centre. As a lawyer Mark's practice is currently focused on Independent Children's Lawyer appointments, and as a mediator he focuses on legally assisted property mediations. He holds degrees in Arts & Law from the University of Sydney, as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology.


Neil McGregor, Barrister, Brisbane Chambers
As a highly experienced barrister in Brisbane, Neil McGregor appreciates the challenge of family law trial work and advocacy. Neil was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand in 1974 before moving to Australia. In Queensland, he was admitted as a solicitor in 1980, and then a barrister in 1984. He is a nationally accredited Mediator and an Arbitrator under s.10M of the Family Law Act 1975. Whilst specialising predominantly in the field of Family Law for more than 25 years, Neil's career includes a wide range of disciplines including drawing Wills and contracts; conveyancing and complex commercial transactions; criminal work (trial and appellate); personal injuries; and civil, commercial and property litigation. Throughout his career, Neil has contributed to a number of publications such as Butterworth's Court Forms and Pleadings Queensland, and was a reporter for the Queensland Reports. He regularly presents and speaks at specialist legal conferences and seminars on the many facets that make up Family Law.


Karen Shea, Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Karen specialises in family law and children’s care and protection. Prior to coming to the Bar, Karen practiced as a family law solicitor for 18 years. Karen was a Family Law Advocate at Legal Aid NSW from 2009 to 2018. She has extensive experience in appearing for parties and children’s representatives in the Federal Circuit & Family Court of Australia, the Children’s Court and District Court. She also has experience in adoption proceedings and complex matters involving children in the parens patriae jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. In addition to her practice, Karen co-teaches Family Law Advocacy & Practice and Children & the Law at the University of NSW. Karen is named on the Doyles list of Leading Family Law Junior Counsel (NSW) 2025 and Leading Parenting & Children’s Matters Barristers (NSW) 2025.


Dr Mandy Ellis, Psychologist, Strive and Thrive Psychology
Dr Mandy Ellis is a registered psychologist with over 20 years’ experience working with separating families as a single expert report writer, conducting child inclusive assessments, all aspects of family and individual therapy for separating families and individual support, as well as working with neurodiverse children and families. As a child/adolescent consultant, she has a deep understanding of the developmental needs of children and young people particular to their age and circumstances and specifically in relation to family separation, blending families, trauma informed practice, extreme alignment/parental alienation, and family violence. She provides ethical, evidenced based practice with a pragmatic approach.


Darren Mort, Barrister, Patterson’s List
Darren practiced as a solicitor for three years with one year in the Gippsland area performing mainly advocacy work. From 1988 - 1990 he was employed by Judge Hassett at the County Court as a Judges' Associate. During that time, he also performed research work with other Count Court Judges for the Sentencing Manual. In 1990 Darren signed the Bar Roll and read with Mr Howard Mason. In 2001 Darren became a Mentor to his first reader, Mr Russell Stubbs. Darren practices solely in the area of Family Law and DeFacto Property Law. On April 2002 he became an accredited Arbitrator registered on the List of Arbitrators kept by the Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators. Darren also lectures at Victoria University in relation to legal aspects affecting the fitness industry and profession.


Alexandra Metherell, Barrister, Foley’s List
Alex is passionate about guiding families through complex legal challenges with empathy and clarity. Alex prides herself on building strong relationships with stakeholders to achieve practical and positive outcomes, and adopts a detailed approach to trial practice. Alex specializes exclusively in family law and related jurisdictions, accepting briefs to appear at local and interstate registries. She undertakes regional and circuit work, mediations, and drafting tasks. With significant experience in high-risk parenting matters involving allegations of unacceptable risk, as well as complex property disputes related to spousal maintenance, third-party interests, equitable interests, child support, and injunctions, Alex has a firm understanding of the intricacies of family law. Recognized by Doyle's Guide to the Australian Legal Profession since 2022, she has been listed in the categories of Leading Family Law Junior Counsel (Recommended) and Leading Parenting & Children's Matters Barristers (Recommended). Alex read with John Williams. Her senior mentor is Andrew Kirkham AM RFD KC.


Melanie Rubin, Director, Principal Lawyer, Rubin Blight hardy Family Lawyers & Mediators
Melanie Rubin is a Director of Rubin Blight Hardy Family Lawyers & Mediators and is a highly respected and experienced family lawyer. Melanie is known for her strategic approach, attention to detail, and deep understanding of the complexities of family dynamics. She has acted in a wide range of matters including high-net-worth property settlements, varied and complex parenting matters, financial agreements, child support and family violence matters. With a strong commitment to dispute resolution including mediation and collaborative practice she works with clients to achieve outcomes outside of Court. At the same time, she brings a methodical approach to litigation where necessary. Melanie is well regarded for her complex family law work, her child focussed, sensitive and pragmatic approach and is committed to promoting client focussed and commercially sensible outcomes in family law. Melanie is a trained collaborative lawyer, mediator, Accredited Specialist in Family Law and recognised as a Preeminent Parenting and Children’s Matters Lawyer and a Recommended Leading Family & Divorce Lawyer in Sydney in Doyles Guide and is recognised by Best Lawyers for Family Law in Australia.


Amanda Nates, Assistant Director, Child Support Program Branch, Services Australia
Amanda Nates is an Assistant Director in the Child Support Program branch within Services Australia with 20 years’ experience. Amanda has maintained a particular focus on the legislative provisions relevant to agreements, and on supporting legal practitioners to prepare agreements that are validly made and can be properly implemented.


Cath Devine, Barrister, Foley’s List
Cath Devine has extensive experience in all areas of Family Law, with a particular interest and expertise in Child Support advice and advocacy. Cath has appeared as junior counsel and on appeal on numerous occasions. Cath has a reputation as a fearless and forceful advocate for her clients, and also on behalf of children when she appears as Counsel for the Independent Children's Lawyer. Cath is a qualified mediator and arbitrator. Cath is also currently an Adjunct Lecturer in the Masters of Laws program at the College of Law.