Monday, 29 September 2025
Practice Management and Professional Conduct – PC1, PC2, PC15, PC16
Recent Developments in Discrimination Law: The Positive Duty Under S 47c of The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) and the New Costs Regime - What Does It Mean for Employing Architects?
Barrister, Kellie Edwards will present on the positive duty that all architects have if they employ staff, including:
- Its historical context
- Likely interpretation of the provision by the Australian Human Rights Commission if you end up in with a complaint against you and your firm
- The format of inquiries
- The new importance of Australian Human Rights Commission guidelines
Kellie will also cover other changes to the Sex Discrimination Act arising from the last two Respect@Work Amendment Bills passed in 2021 and 2022.
Presented by Kellie Edwards, Barrister, 153 Phillip Barristers; Recommended Employment Law Junior Counsel, Doyle’s Guide 2023
Description
Attend and earn 1 Formal CPD Point in Practice Management and Professional Conduct
Lawyers attending earn 1 CPD unit in Substantive Law
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
* This interactive online recording includes questions and quizzes requiring critical thinking about the topic
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the positive duty under section 47C and its practical implications for employers
- Learn how changes to discrimination law and the new costs regime affect architectural practices
Chair
Charles Fortin, Managing Director, Collard Maxwell Architects
Presenters
Charles Fortin, Managing Director, Collard Maxwell ArchitectsCharles graduated architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology, a Chicago institution known for its Bauhaus philosophy and expertise in high-rise design and construction. He is the Managing Director and owner of Collard Maxwell Architects, a practice which has been in business since 1947. His focus is on the design and delivery of complex projects of all types, including: Mixed-Use Residential, Data Centers, Education, and Lifestyle Retirement projects. As the Nominated Executive Architect for CM+A, Charles has reviewed and improved hundreds of designs for builders and developers. He has also, as a result, developed a keen eye for value management opportunities and for identifying design risks and challenges.
Kellie Edwards, Barrister,153 Phillip Barristers
Kellie’s practice is dominated by work in the employment and discrimination jurisdictions. Her cases include many reported judgments on issues of new law. They also involve very complex claims for very significant damages. She also is briefed in administrative, trade practices, common law, and restraints of trade cases and is a qualified arbitrator and mediator. She has also advised and appeared in coronial inquiries. Prior to going to the Bar, Kellie was an Associate at the then Dibbs Barker Gosling specialising in employment and discrimination law. From 1997 until 2003, she was a member of the NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal (now NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal). From April 2017 until 2023, she was the Chair of the Australian Payments Network Limited’s IAC Sanctions Tribunal.
