Where is migration law heading through 2026? Record caseloads, tighter compliance, delays, new Ministerial Guidelines and legal alerts are constantly reshaping the practice. Migration practitioners are adapting fast, carrying the weight of clients whose futures depend on them, often navigating cultural and linguistic barriers along the way. Returning by popular demand after last year’s sold-out success, this year’s conference brings together judges from the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, leading barristers and solicitors to share frontline insights and strategies. Gain practical guidance to manage new visa policies, compliance risks and complex cases - from PIC 4020 refusals and employer sanctions to Tribunal strategy, ethics and character cancellations. Seats are limited - don’t miss the most anticipated migration law event of the year.

Presenters

Professor Mary Crock, Professor, The University of Sydney
Professor Mary Crock is Professor of Public Law and former co-Director of the Sydney Centre for International at the University of Sydney Law School. She has worked in the area of immigration and refugee law since 1985. An Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law, she maintains a pro bono practice alongside her academic role. She has been recognised in the peer publication Best Lawyers in Australia in immigration law since 2008. In a career spanning over 30 years she has authored 15 books and over 90 articles and book chapters. Her work spans every aspect of migration law from citizenship, labour migration, family and asylum law as well as merits and judicial review. Mary has worked over many years to advocate for respect of international law and human rights. She has worked as consultant to the Australian Human Rights Committee and for various senators. Earlier in her career she took leadership roles with Law Societies in Victoria and New South Wales as well as with the Law Council of Australia. Her academic research has a strong focus on vulnerable migrants and comparative law and policy.

Simon Jeans, Principal Lawyer, Jeans Lawyers
Simon Jeans has been practising law since 1989. He is an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law and listed by Best Lawyers for Australia in Immigration Law. He has worked as an advocate for refugees and migrants with the Jesuit Refugee Service, RACS, Legal Aid (NSW), UNHCR and in his law firm. He was appointed as a member of the Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal from 2010-2015. He was engaged by the College of Law in 2019-2020 as an assessor and external moderator for the Capstone Migration Agents Assessment.


Rebecca Thomson, Partner, BDO
Rebecca holds postgraduate qualifications in law and business management and brings extensive experience in delivering strategic immigration and advisory services. She works with a broad range of clients across the full spectrum of corporate immigration, including complex and sensitive matters. Known for her strong legal advocacy and practical approach, Rebecca advises on visa pathways, compliance, and regulatory obligations—achieving outcomes that support global mobility while managing organisational risk and governance. She partners closely with senior HR professionals, Boards, and executive teams to align talent mobility with broader business objectives. Her expertise covers employer-sponsored temporary and permanent visa programmes, as well as complex issues involving health or character concerns, skilled migration, citizenship, compliance, and ministerial interventions. Rebecca is highly regarded for her ability to bridge the gap between law, policy, and business strategy. She delivers clear, commercially focused advice that helps organisations attract, retain, and manage international talent while meeting their legal and ethical responsibilities

Chris Honnery, Barrister, Tenth Floor St James Hall Chambers
Chris Honnery is a barrister who is experienced representing applicants in administrative law and judicial review proceedings. He passed the England and Wales Bar Transfer Test prior to being called to the NSW Bar and has worked in a number of jurisdictions. Before becoming a barrister, Chris was a solicitor for almost a decade, working at Victoria Legal Aid, the Federal Court of Australia, and representing asylum seekers detained in Nauru. Based in Sydney, Chris also appears interstate and has particular expertise in migration matters and challenging visa-related decisions. Website https://www.chrishonnery.com.au/

Associate Professor Dr Jason Donnelly, Barrister, Latham Chambers
Associate Professor Dr. Jason Donnelly is a leading academic and barrister with a strong focus on immigration and public law in Australia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Laws with Honours (First Class & University Medal), a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Dr. Donnelly completed his studies at the University of New South Wales, Macquarie University, and the University of Western Sydney. He began his academic career as a law lecturer at the age of 23 and was called to the bar at 25. Before joining the bar, Dr. Donnelly had the privilege of working for Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG (former Justice of the High Court of Australia) and Justice Peter McClellan AM KC (former Chief Judge at Common Law, Supreme Court of NSW). As a barrister, Dr. Donnelly has been involved in over 287 published cases across Australia, with significant experience in the High Court, the Federal Court, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and the Administrative Review Tribunal. His practice has seen success in 76 Tribunal trials and 66 judicial review applications. He has also acted in 26 matters before the High Court. In addition to his legal practice, Dr. Donnelly has contributed to numerous legal journals and co-authored several legal publications. He has participated in various Commonwealth statutory inquiries and presented papers at conferences across Australia. Dr. Donnelly has had the opportunity to represent a diverse range of clients, including internationally recognised musicians (i.e. Skepta, Chris Brown, Trey Songz, J Hus, Layzie Bone and Jason Bradley DeFord (Jelly Roll)), politicians, law enforcement officers, sports professionals (i.e. Allen Iverson and Alexander Devyatov), and others from various fields. Currently, Dr. Donnelly serves as an Associate Professor (Level D) in the School of Law at Western Sydney University and practices at Latham Chambers with a national focus.

Judicial Registrar Greg Rohan, Director of Judicial Registrars, Migration Jurisdiction, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
Greg Rohan is a Judicial Registrar (Migration) at Fcfcoa based in Sydney, New South Wales. Previously, Greg was a Solicitor In Charge, Immigration at NSW Government and also held positions at Immigration Advice and Rights Centre, UNHCR, American Express, Tramada Systems, Sanity. Greg received a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Sydney and a Grad. Dip. International Studies from University of Sydney.

Sergio Zanotti Stagliorio, Barrister, Castan Chambers
Sergio practises in Migration and Citizenship Law. Before becoming a barrister, Sergio worked as an immigration solicitor for a number of years and was an RMA prior to this. This past experience places him well to appreciate all facets of migration and citizenship law matters. As an advocate, Sergio has appeared and represented clients on matters before the High Court of Australia, Federal Court of Australia (including Full Court), Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Migration Review Tribunal, Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Immigration Assessment Authority and the Administrative Review Tribunal. Also Sergio: has authored over 1,300 court decision summaries on migration and citizenship law, most of which for his newsletter (https://migrationlawupdates.com.au), and some for LexisNexis (Administrative Law Decisions); has authored over 1,000 articles and updates on migration and citizenship law, some of which for LexisNexis; is a former assessor at UTS (Graduate Diploma of Australian Migration Law and Practice - GDAMLP); is a former unit coordinator and lecturer at UWS (GDAMLP); has been a migration law CPD lecturer since 2019; is often consulted by barristers, solicitors and RMAs on complex matters; holds a bachelor's degree in engineering.

Marial Lewis, Principal Solicitor and Founder, Crossover Law Group
Marial Lewis is one of Australia's top immigration lawyers. She is an accredited specialist in Immigration Law by the Law Society of NSW as well as the winner of the prestigious 2021 and 2022 Lawyers Weekly 30 under 30 and the 2020 John Gibson Award - Young Migration Lawyer of the year by the Law Council of Australia. In 2023 she was recognised as one of the Most Influential Leading Lawyers in Australia and listed as the only woman in the Oceania region in the Women of the Future- 50 rising stars in ESG. In 2022, Marial was listed in the Forbes list under 30 for social impact. Since 2022, she was recognized yearly by her international peers in the Who’s who Legal- Corporate Immigration Future Leaders and in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for 2023 and 2024- Immigration Law. Marial has also been a finalist in various national awards including, innovative of the year (individual), rising star of the year for the Australasian Law Awards and Women in Law, regional/suburban lawyer of the year and 30 under 30 since 2019. Marial is also a lecturer and unit coordinator in the Graduate Diploma of Australian Migration Law and a Teaching Fellow at UNSW for subjects such Administrative law. Marial is an international and national speaker on various matters from migration law to innovation to entrepreneurship. Marial is also a mother of two little ones whom she adores dearly, keeping her always on the go. After many years in private practice including being a partner in a specialist migration law firm, Marial founded Crossover Law Group, a Newlaw migration law firm focusing on servicing private and corporate clients migration law needs by delivering a fast, efficient and transparent excellent service whilst using innovation, technology and new ideas for better delivery. Crossover Law Group has been recognised as innovative law firm of the year finalist as well as Newlaw firm of the year finalist in various awards since its inception. Marial is a passionate lawyer who works with a wide range of clients assisting them with their immigration legal goals. She is also very experienced with complicated migration law matters such as refusals, cancellations, detention, character cases, review matters at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal as well as being a litigator in migration court cases.

Nick Poynder, Barrister, Rosny Chambers
Consistently recognised in the Immigration Category of the Australian Financial Review Best Lawyers in Australia from 2012 to 2017, Nick maintains a solid migration law practice. He also practises in the areas of anti-discrimination law and family law. Nick has appeared as junior counsel in notable decisions in the High Court of Australia and provides high quality advice and representation as sole counsel in other courts and tribunals, including the Federal Circuit Court, Federal Court of Australia, and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (General Division and Migration & Refugee Division). The nature of these matters ranges from legal issues which might arise during the processing or cancellation of visas, to applications for the review of decisions to refuse or cancel a visa. Prior to being called the Bar, Nick practised as a legal adviser to asylum-seekers in Port Hedland (Western Australia), locum practitioner with the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service in Alice Springs (Northern Territory) and later co-ordinator of the Refugee Advice and Casework Service in Sydney. He was also a Senior Legal Officer with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in Sydney. Nick is the current author of the Judicial Review commentary in the LexisNexis Australian Immigration Law Service. Admitted to the Bar in both Victoria and New South Wales (and maintaining a practice in both jurisdictions), Nick holds a Master of Laws from the University of New South Wales, a Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tasmania. He was one of the first migration agents to be registered in Australia.

Theresa Baw, Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Theresa Baw is a barrister who was admitted to legal practice in 2001 and was called to the New South Wales Bar in 2006. Theresa's areas of practice are public and administrative law, and commercial and contract law, with extensive expertise in migration law. She has appeared before the High Court in migration law matters, including unled in a special leave application. Theresa has wide-ranging experience in all levels of migration and citizenship matters, from appearing in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to appearing unled before the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia. She is also admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Nauru and has successfully appeared in that jurisdiction in migration cases. Prior to being called to the Bar, Theresa practised as a solicitor including at top-tier law Minter Ellison. She has authored numerous articles including in Key Issues in Judicial Review (Federation Press). She holds a Master of Commerce from Macquarie University, and a Bachelor of Laws (first class honours) and a Bachelor of Economics, from the University of Sydney.