This conference offers a comprehensive look at the evolving landscape of personal injury law in Western Australia. Delve into recent High Court and WA Court of Appeal decisions shaping liability and compensation, strategies for detecting and managing exaggerated claims, and consider the interaction of Workers Compensation and Work Health and Safety legislation. Hear expert insights on accident analysis and the role of forensic evidence, building resilience and wellbeing in legal practice, and navigating ethical challenges when representing clients with psychiatric injuries. The conference blends substantive law updates with practical guidance to equip lawyers for the complex claims and challenges ahead.

Presenters

Dr Rob Guthrie, Retired Assessor Criminal Injuries Compensation and Adjunct Professor at School of Business Law, Curtin University
Rob Guthrie was admitted to practice in 1982 and worked in private practice for about 10 years and continued to practice whilst an academic at Curtin University for 20 years. He practiced, researched and lectured in employment issues and in particular workers compensation matters. He was appointed an Assessor of Criminal Injuries Compensation in 2010 and retired from that position in 2023. He is currently on the Board of the Aboriginal Family Legal Service and is assisting various Community Legal Centres with CIC claims. He is also a trades assistant in his son's carpentry and landscape business and job for which he has no qualifications.

Neil Morrissey, Barrister, Central Law Chambers
Growing up on a remote pastoral property, Neil broke family tradition by choosing a career in the legal profession. Neil's practice is predominantly in the area of civil litigation with a focus on personal injuries cases. Prior to joining the independent bar he was a solicitor at Bradford & Co. In 2013 Neil completed a Master of Laws at the University of Western Australia with his primary research area being negligence liability. Neil is a LexisNexis Author co-authoring Practical Guidance for the Western Australian Supreme and District Courts. Neil's notable cases include New South Wales v DC [2017] HCA 22 (led) (abuse of minors), Engine Protection Equipment Pty Ltd v Miller [2018] WASCA 55 (workers' compensation), Cullen v Woodside Energy Pty Ltd [2021] WADC 56 (workers' compensation), Gentle v Wright [2021] WADC 63 (landlord and tenant), Jenner v Mundrabilla Roadhouse Pty Ltd [2021] WADC 59 (occupiers' liability), RLA Morgans v Vrebac [2022] WADC 86 (workers' compensation/statutory construction), Delgado v Bevchain Pty Limited [2022] WADC 98 (discovery) and Praetz v Sodexo Australia Pty Ltd [2023] WADC 48 (pleadings). Neil is the current Western Australian State President of the Australian Lawyers Alliance. Outside of work Neil is a qualified aerial mustering pilot and has spent time mustering in the East Kimberley region and in the Northern Territory.

Brian Nugawela, Barrister, Michael Kirby Chambers
Brian is an experienced barrister with a broad practice encompassing tort law (including professional negligence), workers’ compensation and Comcare matters, general civil and commercial litigation, insurance disputes (including income protection and TPD claims), and appeals, including select criminal appeals. He is a member of Michael Kirby Chambers and has appeared at all levels of the judicial hierarchy, from tribunal hearings to appeals before the High Court of Australia. Brian frequently shares his expertise as a presenter at Legalwise Seminars and other professional events.

Simon Millman, Acting Registrar, Supreme Court of Western Australia
Simon Millman practises in industrial, employment and personal injury law. Simon graduated with a degree in political science with honours and a degree in law from the University of Western Australia. Simon spent over a decade as a solicitor at a national firm. His areas of practice primarily included all types of industrial and employment litigation, statutory and common law workers compensation claims, and dust diseases claims for victims of asbestos exposure. Simon was elected to the Parliament of Western Australia in 2017, and is returning to legal practice after two terms as a member of Parliament. He is particularly proud of his work in helping to bring about legislation to harmonise WA's work health and safety laws, expand compensation for victims of asbestos diseases, and allowing victims of child sex abuse to pursue claims for civil remedies.

Dr Milos Nedved, M.Sc.Eng., PhD, Adjunct Associate Professor in Accident Forensics,Safety Expert Witness WA
Safety engineer with postgraduate qualifications of Master of Science in Engineering (awarded in 1967) and Doctorate in Safety Engineering (awarded in 1970). He has been conducting accident investigations and accident analysis for over 50 years, including 5 years as a United Nations expert. Dr. Nedved is an Assistant Director of World Safety Organization National Office for Australia, and a principal consultant in Accident Forensics Consulting Engineers in Perth. On numerous occasions he had worked as a United Nations Expert in occupational safety and health, having attained the highest professional level within the U.N. System, that of Chief Technical Advisor. He has been widely lecturing overseas and running training courses on accident investigation in the U.K., USA, Germany, Czech Republic, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan, China, Singapore, and Malaysia. He also held professorial appointments at two European universities. Currently he is adjunct A/Professor in Accident Forensics at CQ University Australia. Since 1981, in WA, Dr. Milos Nedved has been extensively involved as a safety expert and as an expert witness in accident investigation, in particular in legal work related to personal injury accident investigation and common law compensation claims. As an Expert Witness he has assisted a number of WA legal firms with over 600 cases-occupational, traffic and public liability personal injury accidents, some of which involved extensive Court attendance. His United Nations experience and status had frequently added weight to his evidence submitted to the Court.

Bettina Mangan SC, Francis Burt Chambers
Bettina’s practice covers insurance, contract, general and professional negligence, professional disciplinary matters, occupational health and safety prosecutions and coronial inquiries, workers’ compensation and assessment of damages including in catastrophic personal injury and fatal accidents claims. Bettina provides legal opinions, including for insurers and, in support of applications for leave to compromise claims of persons under disability. She acts as counsel at trial and appeal hearings, as well as pre-trial conferences and mediations. Bettina provides strategic and liability advice on historic child abuse matters. Bettina has appeared as counsel in a variety of jurisdictions including the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Coroner’s Court of Western Australia, District Court of Western Australia, High Court of Australia, State Administrative Tribunal of Western Australia, Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, and Supreme Court of Western Australia. Bettina completed the ACDC Mediators Course and accepts briefs as a mediator. She has acted as an independent arbiter on a private dispute. Bettina regularly presents papers for continuing legal education. Bettina is a member of WA Bar Chambers Limited Board of Directors (Francis Burt Chambers)

Prina Shah, Global Workplace Transformation Consultant
Prina have over 18 years’ experience of in-house management roles in the areas of Organisational / Leadership Development, Human Resources, Culture Change and Change Management for companies within the not for profit, government, utilities, small business and private sectors across London and Australia.

Julia Wedlock, Barrister, Albert Wolff Chambers
Julia graduated from the University of Western Australia in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts, and in 2012 with a Bachelor of Laws. Julia was admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2013 and in the High Court of Australia in 2017. Prior to coming to the Bar in 2025, Julia practiced in family law and personal injury. More recently, Julia specialised in representing survivors of childhood sexual abuse. In her practice as a solicitor, Julia was involved in the leading institutional abuse cases in Western Australia, following the removal of the limitation period for survivors in 2018. Julia is a passionate and engaged member of the Perth legal community. Julia is a member of the Australian Lawyers Alliance (WA State Branch Committee) and is the Membership Officer for Women Lawyers of Western Australia. Julia is also a member of the Law Society of Western Australia and sits on two Law Society Committees: the Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injuries Committee and the Mental Health and Wellbeing Committee.