Join a comprehensive update on recent developments in Workers Compensation and Motor Vehicle Accident law. Examine key legislative changes including amendments to labour hire and non-delegable liability, recent PIC and Court of Appeal decisions in Workers Compensation and major reforms to the definition and management of psychological injury claims. Take a deep dive into motor accident law, covering important updates from the Personal Injury Commission, recent cases, regulatory changes and the latest authorities on judicial review of PIC determinations. A must-attend program for practitioners seeking to stay current on legislative reform, case law trends and practical issues shaping compensation for workers and motor vehicle accident claims in in 2026.

Presenters

Amanda Bond, Partner, Gillis Delaney Lawyers
Amanda Bond is a partner of Gillis Delaney Lawyers who specialises in insurance claims. Amanda is an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law and has over 20 years of experience in acting for government entities, insurers, self-insurers and corporations. In the last four years Amanda has been recognised by the Doyles Guide as a leading liability lawyer, pre-eminent and leading worker’s compensation lawyer and recommended lawyer in CTP demonstrating her breadth of experience.

Bradley Stringer, Partner, Moray & Agnew Lawyers
Bradley Stringer, Partner in Moray & Agnew’s Workers Compensation Team, is highly regarded for providing strategic claims management and expert advice to employers, brokers and insurer clients. With over 20 years of practice, Brad specialises in defending complex common law claims for psychological injury alleged to result from an employer’s negligence. Brad’s practical advice focuses on achieving commercial and efficient resolution of these highly contentious disputes. Brad regularly provides education and training to employers, insurers and colleagues. He is an excellent communicator, with an ability to demystify the intricate statutory landscape of the NSW workers compensation scheme. The key driver of Brad’s passion for this work is the development of genuine and long-term relationships with his clients, placing their objectives at the forefront of his strategy.

Kavita Balendra, Barrister, 4 Wentworth Chambers
Kavita Balendra was admitted to the NSW Bar in 2008 and has since appeared in diverse jurisdictions from the High Court of Australia to various Tribunals. Kavita appears in a range of cases spanning personal injury (including motor accident compensation and workers compensation), TPD, professional negligence, intentional torts, institutional abuse, administrative law, appeals, insurance and contracts, consumer law, estates and guardianship matters - representing both plaintiffs and defendants. She regularly appears in regional Courts. Kavita is an active member of the NSW Bar Association, and has been a member of various committees including the Common Law, Education and Diversity Committees, as well as instructing in the bar course and taking part in mentoring juniors. Kavita is an Advocacy lecturer and course facilitator for the Law Society of NSW, Law Excellence Seminars and has published articles on various matters in the Bar News, Bench TV, Court of Conscience Journal and the Precedent Journal. Before coming to the Bar, Kavita was Tipstaff to Justice Barrett, former Justice of the NSW Court of Appeal and then solicitor at a defendant insurance law firm. Kavita has a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Neuroscience, a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Masters of Laws all from the University of Sydney.

Matthew Jones, Barrister, Jack Shand Chambers
Matthew Jones was called to the Bar in 2020. Matthew regularly appears for executors, trustees and beneficiaries in deceased estate matters. He is recognised for his considered and pragmatic approach to legal problem solving. Matthew has a particular interest in Succession Law, and estate litigation in particular where he regularly represents executors, beneficiaries and interested parties in Succession proceedings. Matthew Practices in Succession law (Probate, Family Provision, Estate administration and advice and settling Complex estate planning instruments), General Equity Matters, Commercial litigation (Commercial leases and Contractual disputes), Administrative law (Judicial Review, Tribunal Matters and Statutory decision making), Disciplinary matters and Personal injury (Motor Accidents).

Peter Lichaa, Partner, Bartier Perry
Peter began his legal career working for NSW Police, where he managed a high volume of workers compensation and employment related claims. Since then he has built over a decade’s worth of experience providing strategic insurance litigation advice. Peter’s strong focus on customer service has earned him a reputation for common sense, reliability and professionalism. His depth of experience in workers compensation provides him with the knowledge to work towards the best possible outcome, including in the most complex and sensitive disputes.

Marie Johns, Division Head, Personal Injury Commission
On 26 August 2020 Ms Johns was appointed as the Division Head of the Motor Accident Division of the Personal Injury Commission (PIC), which commenced on 1 March 2021. Ms Johns was previously appointed as the Principal Claims Assessor under the two CTP schemes in NSW (Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999 and the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017) in August 2018. Ms Johns’ career spans more than two decades across regulatory and service delivery, within government and the community. She has held various positions including at CARS and DRS, the Workers Compensation Commission, ILARS – WIRO, as an immigration lawyer with Brett Slater Solicitors, and DLA Piper (formerly Phillips Fox) and with Mid Hunter Community Housing Association. She is a current committee member of the NSW Chapter of Council of Australasian Tribunals (COAT). Admitted as a solicitor in February 2005, she holds a Degree in Law from Macquarie University and a Bachelor of Science (major in psychology) from the University of Newcastle.

Jnana Gumbert, Barrister, Jack Shand Chambers
Jnana Gumbert has an extensive practice in the areas of common law, insurance law, and administrative law (particularly in judicial review of administrative decisions within the NSW CTP scheme). She has over 20 years’ experience conducting personal injury litigation in the areas of motor accidents, medical negligence and civil liability. Jnana was awarded a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Sydney in 2009, focussing on the areas of tort law, healthcare law and administrative law. Jnana has been recognised by her clients and her peers as a preeminent Junior Counsel in New South Wales Insurance & Personal Injury Law (Doyle’s Guide 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023). Prior to being called to the Bar in 2012, Jnana was a litigation solicitor for over 6 years and a Director of Stacks/Goudkamp Lawyers, and was also a Law Society Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law and Assessor for Specialist Accreditation assessments. Jnana held the office of President of the NSW Branch of the Australian Lawyers Alliance from 2009 to 2015. She is a member of the Common Law Committee of the NSW Bar Association. She is a regular presenter at legal seminars and conferences, and has written many articles for publication in legal journals. She has also co-authored the Motor Accidents chapter of the Goudkamp and Morrison Personal Injury Law Manual NSW (Thomson Reuters) and The Law Handbook (Thomson Reuters).

Will Murphy, Partner, Bartier Perry
Will is a partner at Bartier Perry. He practices in industrial accident law: workers compensation, common law claims and Work Health and Safety. In his personal injury practice Will acts exclusively for insurers and self-insurers. Will was one of the first accredited specialists in personal injury law in NSW.

Tim Concannon, Partner, Carroll & O’Dea
Tim joined Carroll & O'Dea Lawyers in 1994 and became a partner in 2001. Tim has been an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law since 2000 and was an Assessor with the Claims Assessment and Resolution Service (CARS) from 2004 to February 2021. Tim was appointed Deputy Chair of the Injury Compensation Committee of the Law Society in 2020 and has been Chair of this Committee since 2021. He has played a leading role in drafting submissions to government agencies relevant to various areas of personal injury law and appeared on behalf of the Law Society at a number of government inquiries into the functioning of the workers compensation and motor accident schemes.