If your role includes navigating legal risk and governance in faith-based organisations then join us for a powerful day designed specifically for leaders, legal advisors and governance professionals in religious institutions. Equip yourself with the knowledge to navigate complex legal duties, protect your organisation’s integrity and lead with confidence in today’s regulatory landscape. Gain critical insights into your safeguarding responsibilities, expert understanding into internal risk management law and procedure, asset protection needs for your organisation and practical, up-to-date deep-dive into your duty of care in relation to historical child abuse claims - all delivered by leading experts through real-world case studies and recent legal developments.

Presenters

Luke Geary, Partner – NFPs, Human Rights & Social Impact, Mills Oakley
Luke has a particular expertise assisting institutions in responding to claims of child sexual abuse under a restorative justice framework and in accordance with best practice principles identified by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. In this regard, Luke appeared as a legal advisor in a number of public hearings before the Royal Commission, he participated in many of the Royal Commission’s roundtables (both public and private) for the development of policy positions and has appeared before the Australian Senate Committee and worked with the Commonwealth Redress Taskforce in its design of the National Redress Bill (which is anticipated to provide assistance in justice outcomes for approximately 60,000 Australians). Luke is regularly briefed by major institutions in the most sensitive and significant common law abuse claims and assists in their delicate resolution in a trauma-informed way. Additionally, Luke acts for survivors of abuse in claims against State government institutions, assisting them to obtain either common law or redress justice outcomes compassionately and giving them assistance in finding healing in their lives. Luke was named one of Australia’s Best Lawyers for Non-Profit/Charities Law in the 2023/2024 Best Lawyers list for the eighth consecutive year, including in both 2020/2021 and 2023/2024 being named as Australia’s Non-Profit/Charities ‘Lawyer of the Year’.


Josephine Heesh, Partner, Carroll & O'Dea Lawyers
Josephine has built a distinguished 45year career as a solicitor, specializing in supporting religious, charitable, philanthropic and other not-for-profit organizations. Her expertise includes setting up their structures, designing and advising on their governance, long term planning to ensure their ongoing mission and charitable purpose and advising on tax and property law issues. Josephine's educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney, followed by a Master of Laws. Her professional journey includes significant roles such as becoming a partner at Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers and a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has served on various boards, including The Catholic Weekly Newspaper and Kincoppal Rose Bay School, and chaired the Sancta Sophia College Council for a decade. Currently, she is a board member of the North Sydney Retirement Trust which operates James Milson Village at North Sydney and Woolwich and is a committee member of OLSH Overseas Aid Incorporated, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to community service.


Vera Visevic, Partner, NFPs, Human Rights & Social Impact, Mills Oakley
Vera Visevic heads up the Sydney NFPs, Human Rights and Social Impact team at Mills Oakley. Acting for numerous charities, religious and not-for-profit organisations, Vera has 30 years' experience in the profession. In the not-for-profit sector, Vera focuses on constitutional reviews, mergers, governance and fundraising issues and regularly advises on ACNC and ATO endorsements. Vera is an author in "Charity Law", European Lawyer Reference (2012, 2016 and 2018). Vera sits on several Not-For-Profit boards and committees.


Nathan Donovan, Director, Donovan Winkler Lawyers
Nathan has practiced as a solicitor in Queensland since 2005. Nathan has a broad and well-rounded practice including not-for-profit and charity law, commercial law, dispute resolution, property law and wills and estate law. Nathan is a sought-after legal advisor who is valued for his insightful legal analysis and his capacity to help navigate client’s safely and as quickly as possible through legal issues. Nathan’s client’s include schools, churches, charities, SMEs and individuals. His experience includes Charity/NFP Law, Commercial Law and Dispute Resolution. Nathan has served on a number of school, church and charity boards and audit and risk committees. He currently sits on the board of Outback Futures Limited, a Queensland-based PBI.


Fr Brian Lucas, National Director – Australia, Catholic Mission
Fr Brian Lucas is the National Director of Catholic Mission and was previously the General Secretary of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. He has served on several church boards including 12 years as a Director of Catholic Church Insurance Limited. He has post-graduate qualifications in law, theology and general studies and is a co-author of the Church Administration Handbook and author of Collaborators in Ministry: A Guide for Lay People and Clergy. He is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.


Patrick Barry, Barrister, State Chambers
Patrick has a national practice specialising in workplace health and safety law (including National Heavy Vehicle and mining prosecutions), employment law, and appearing at inquests. Patrick regularly appears as sole counsel and opposed to Senior Counsel in matters at first instance and on appeal in courts and tribunals across all Australian jurisdictions. His practice focuses principally on defending corporate entities and individuals in workplace safety prosecutions across a range of industries including construction, mining, petroleum and gas, manufacturing, aviation and road transport. He also appears for employers in a variety of employment disputes. Patrick is recognised as among the leading Workplace Safety barristers in New South Wales and South Australia in Doyle’s Guide, consecutively from 2017. Prior to being called to the Bar in 2014, Patrick practised as a solicitor at Freehills and K& L Gates. Patrick also holds a Master in Historical Studies from the University of Oxford.


Chris Mills, Director, Neumann & Turnour Lawyers
Chris Mills is a director of Neumann & Turnour Lawyers and heads its litigation and dispute resolution divisions. He has extensive experience serving not-for-profits and charities including schools, churches, disability and community care organisations and sporting clubs involved in complex litigation or facing insolvency. In addition to his legal qualifications, he obtained a Research Masters degree in Business through the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies at QUT. He calls upon his experience sitting on Boards of charities and not-for-profits to understand the issues clients in the not-for-profit sector face and provide practical advice.


Gregory Burton SC, 5 Wentworth Chambers
Gregory Burton SC FCIArb FRI TEP practises primarily in commercial/equity matters, at trial and appellate levels, from 5 Wentworth Chambers, with a focus on corporations, finance and securities, insolvency, insurance, trusts, property (intellectual, personal, real) and succession/family provision. He took silk in 2004. He is also a long-standing mediator and arbitrator, expert determiner, and domain name dispute determiner for auDA. He edits and co-authors a banking and finance law journal and text, and has authored and edited books, articles and commentary, and speaks, on aspects of commercial law/equity, public law, evidence and practice/ethics and ADR. He is Procurator (church counsel) for the Presbyterian Church of Australia, federally and in some States, chairs and has chaired or been a member of dispute or discipline panels for various organisations and holds a part-time tribunal appointment (primary and appellate).


Jessica Lipsett, Director, Vocare Law
Jessica is a passionate charity lawyer and assists charitable and not-for-profit organisations with all aspects of their work including establishment and structuring, regulatory compliance, and complex dispute resolution. She is also a regular presenter of technical papers, training and professional development to the sector. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from Bond University and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2013 and the High Court of Australia in 2014. Having worked across multiple roles in the Education and Not-for-Profit sector, Jessica combines her practical experience and legal knowledge to assist institutional clients navigate their way through dispute-related matters. While methodical by nature with great attention to detail, Jessica’s ability to ‘see the big picture’ allows her to develop flexible solutions for the needs of clients and work alongside them to achieve desired outcomes. Jessica has experience conducting matters in the Supreme Court of Queensland, Federal Court, Federal Circuit Court, Family Court of Australia, Queensland Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, Australian Human Rights Commission and Fair Work Commission. Jessica serves as a Commissioner for Uniting Education: Schools and Colleges, a ministry of the Uniting Church in Queensland which oversees the delivery of education to children and young people through its 18 affiliated schools and residential colleges. She is also a Board member of a Uniting Church school in North Brisbane. When not working, Jessica is an adventurous traveller and a passionate supporter of the Church’s international partners, frequently combing her overseas adventures with opportunities to support the humanitarian work of the local church abroad.