Presenters

Daniela Tonon, Director, Daniela Tonon Legal
Daniela Tonon Legal was established in July 2017. Daniela has over 25 years’ experience providing strategic advice to the resources, energy, infrastructure and government sectors in relation to stakeholder engagement & communication, land access & statutory approvals, native title & Aboriginal heritage, water regulation & policy, compliance & due diligence and corporate governance. Daniela is recognised in the 2025 Edition of The Best Lawyers™ in Australia for Native Title Law, Mining Law, Natural Resources Law and Water Law and was awarded Lawyer of the Year for Water Law in Perth. Daniela was also recommended in 2022 Doyle’s Guide Leading Native Title Lawyers (Project Proponent Representation) – Australia. Over the past 25 years, Daniela has thoroughly enjoyed unique opportunities to engage with project proponents and Traditional Owners to assist them to foster effective relationships. Daniela is currently involved in negotiating and drafting a number of agreements for projects of State significance.


Dr. Allison Cohen, Heritage & Native Title Manager, Horizon Power
Dr Allison Cohen has over 25 years of experience working in Indigenous affairs, particularly the Native Title space. Her expertise includes strategic planning, policy development, and stakeholder engagement. She has held positions in government, private sector, and an Aboriginal Corporation, working in regions such as Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields, and Mid-West. She holds a PhD in Political Geography from the University of Melbourne titled Geographical analysis of the interaction between resource development and Native Title, and a Bachelor of Science in Geography from James Cook University. Her background in political geography allows her to look at the bigger picture of people and places. She is dedicated to fostering open, honest, fair, and reasonable relationships among parties because she feels it is from that position, we can all move forward. Currently, as the Manager of Heritage and Native Title for the Pilbara Green Link Project at Horizon Power, she leads a team engaging with Traditional Owners about Heritage, social surrounds, and Native Title.


Bruce Rudeforth, Senior Associate, Houston Legal
Bruce Rudeforth is a proud Yawuru Traditional Owner who combines his own commercial experience with his legal expertise to support clients across matters in commercial law, land access, native title and corporate social responsibility and ESG. Bruce specialises in representing his clients in commercial negotiations with resource proponents and has successfully negotiated many land access and cultural heritage agreements in the Kimberley, Goldfields, Midwest and Goldfields regions. Bruce also has significant experience advising clients on governance matters including compliance matters under the Corporations Act, directors' duties, and optimal board practices. His extensive legal practice spans corporate, contract, energy and resources, native title, and property law, providing invaluable insights and guidance on complex matters concerning the Native Title Act 1993 and the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander) Act 2006.


Rob Houston, Managing Director and Principal Lawyer, Houston Legal
Rob is a driven and committed legal professional and strategic advisor with extensive experience dealing with all aspects of native title, commercial law, resource development law and regional development policy. Rob has previously held various senior management and legal positions at Nyamba Buru Yawuru, KRED Legal/KRED Enterprises and the Kimberley Land Council and since 2016 has operated his own legal and consulting practice advising clients across Western Australia for almost 10. Rob also has a Masters in Mineral Law and Policy at Dundee University, where he was awarded the Dean’s Medal and sits on the board as an independent director of the Robe River Kuruma Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC. Before moving into practice as a native title lawyer, Rob worked for 5 years in Sydney and London in corporate finance and tax consultancy. Rob's expertise lies in negotiating and finalising large-scale and complex land access and land management agreements and working with his clients to support the delivery of their strategic objectives and enhance economic outcomes. With a strategic mindset, Rob excels in providing comprehensive advice and representation on native title, commercial law, resource development law and carbon/environmental law and has acted on many significant transactions, land use agreements and negotiations for clients across Western Australia.


Abbey Shillingford, Manager Native Title, Mineral Resources Limited
Abbey Shillingford is a proud Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi woman from the Pilbara, Western Australia. Abbey has a wealth of experience in the field of law, particularly in areas related to native title, heritage, environment, alternate dispute resolution, and working with Aboriginal communities. Since being admitted to practice law in 2009, Abbey has gained experience in the community legal sector, native title representative bodies, private practice, government, and is currently working in the industry and resource sector. Abbey recognises the significance of the role she plays in advocating for Aboriginal rights and contributing to the development and implementation of strategies that promote positive outcomes for Aboriginal People and communities. Abbey’s vision is to see strong, prosperous Aboriginal communities where Traditional Owners are empowered in their decision making guided by lore and culture and complimented with respect and integrity. Abbey prides herself when it comes to building mutually beneficial relationships with Traditional Owners and resource companies, having been on both sides of the table throughout her career. Abbey’s career path demonstrates her dedication and passion for making a difference in the lives of others.