Presenters

Tony Denholder, Partner, Ashurst
Tony Denholder is the co-head of Ashurst's Native Title practice, which is the only practice in Australia ranked Band 1 by Chambers Asia-Pacific each year since 2007. Tony is himself ranked as a Leading Individual by Chambers from 2007 to the latest edition in 2022, which noted that he is: "Acknowledged by market sources as a lawyer who "has been one of the leading lights of native title for a long time", he is characterised as "the country's standout lawyer" in the space by a client who goes on to say: "He's current and very plugged in, very competent at articulating complex issues in a simple way, and his advice on strategy has been spot-on". Tony advises Governments, Traditional Owner groups and the private sector on native title strategy and the negotiation of agreements pursuant to the Native Title Act. This included the negotiation of the first ILUA in Queensland, and the first Right to Negotiate Agreements in each of New South Wales and Queensland. He also gave evidence to the Commonwealth's joint parliamentary inquiry into Juukan Gorge. Tony is currently advising a range of companies on native title or Aboriginal cultural heritage, including AGL, Adani, Aurizon, Yancoal, Glencore, South32, Anglo, APA, Rio Tinto, Jemena, Queensland Government, Northern Territory Government, Department of Defence, Minerals Council of Australia and Santos. In the last 2 years he has also provided native title advice to our 50 new renewable energy projects across Australia. Tony also acts for Traditional Owner groups, including the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation on the historic hand back by the Commonwealth of the town of Jabiru in the Northern Territory to the Mirarr People.

Dominic McGann, Partner, McCullough Robertson
Dominic McGann is a general commercial lawyer, and is a recognised natural resources expert with over 40 years’ experience.  As an element of his practice, Dominic is an acknowledged authority on native title and cultural heritage matters. Prior to joining McCullough Robertson, he held prominent positions with the Queensland Government and is one of only a few lawyers with a combination of significant senior government experience as well as private practice experience.  In his current practice in the resources, native title and cultural heritage areas, it draws on his mining, infrastructure, government and commercial legal skills (including land tenure issues, native title, cultural heritage, safety, environmental compliance, infrastructure delivery and contract performance). He has experience in the following sectors: public sector, mining, water, statutory authorities, Indigenous communities, transport, energy, and agribusiness. Dominic has acted for a range of Traditional Owners, public and private entities, State Government and Local Government agencies, as well as various entities in the carbon, agricultural and pastoral sectors.