Reform is reshaping both Workers Compensation and Motor Accident claims. Walk away with what you need to respond with confidence. Hear directly from the Personal Injury Commission across both jurisdictions, unpack the reforms affecting claims, procedure and understand the implications for dispute strategy. Gain a sharp, practical analysis of the key cases now influencing outcomes. With leading Commission voices and outstanding practitioners across workers compensation and motor accident litigation you will gain the updates, insights and practical takeaways needed to advise clients and manage claims given the developments of workers comp and motor vehicle injury landscape.

Presenters

Craig Tanner, Barrister
Craig Tanner commenced practice at the NSW Bar in 2012. In July of that year he was awarded the Chris Gee QC Memorial Prize for Advocacy and Evidence, for achievement in the Bar Practice Course and in the Bar Examinations. He was an Arbitrator at the Workers Compensation Commission from the time of its inception 2002 until mid 2013, and conducted arbitrations and sat as a member of Medical Appeal Panels. Between 2002 and 2008 he practised as a solicitor in the Employment and Industrial Law section of Maurice Blackburn. From 1987 to 2001, he was a labour lawyer in South Africa, acting for trade unions and employees, and appearing for them in courts and tribunals. He also acted as an arbitrator and mediator appointed by the parties, and sat as a Commissioner in the statutory industrial commission that was established in 1996. He graduated from the University of Natal with a BA, LLB and LLM (awarded cum laude).

Glenn Capel, Division Head, Workers Compensation Division, Personal Injury Commission
Glenn Capel was a partner of Hicksons for 12 years, and in a career that spans over 40 years, he has acted for numerous private insurers, scheme agents and employers. He was appointed as an Arbitrator in the Workers Compensation Commission in 2010 and as a Senior Arbitrator in 2017. He became a Senior Member of the Personal Injury Commission on 1 March 2021, and he was appointed Division Head on 4 March 2022. Glenn has experience in liability, dispute resolution, workers compensation litigation and employment issues. He regularly appeared as a solicitor in the Workers Compensation Commission and its predecessors, the District and Supreme Courts, and the Court of Appeal. He has sat on Medical Appeal Panels in the Commission and has national accreditation as a Mediator under the NMAS Accreditation system.

Mick Franco, Partner, Bartier Perry
As a Director and leader of the Insurance Division of Bartier Perry, Mick Franco advises employers and insurers on the most effective ways to manage and resolve employee claims including statutory benefits, work injury damages and recoveries. He also advises on employment issues arising from workplace injury including return to work and dismissal, WHS and Coronial inquests. He has a long history of representing self-insurers, specialised insurers and employers in the TMF, with a strong focus on the local and state government sectors. He has been a long-term honorary solicitor for the NSW Workers Compensation Self-Insurers Association Inc. Mick is widely recognised by the industry as an expert in workers compensation. He has contributed extensively to the debate on workers compensation in NSW and written extensively on the NSW system and schemes in other jurisdictions. He has been a member of numerous industry groups and appeared at parliamentary inquiries relating to workers compensation, representing the interests of employers and insurers. He was recognised as a leading Workers Compensation Lawyer from 2016 to 2019 and preeminent since 2020 by Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession.

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).

Marie Johns, Division Head, Motor Accidents Division, 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 Lawyers
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.


Dr Jane Lonie, Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist, Dr Jane Lonie
Dr. Jane Lonie is a Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist with over twenty five years of experience in the assessment and management of cognitive dysfunction in adults and older adults. She is author of over twenty peer reviewed articles in the areas of dementia and capacity and is a co-author of the most recent edition of LexisNexis - Estate Planning: A Practical Guide 2025 (Chapter 8 Responding to Changes in Cognition). Dr Lonie maintains a special interest in provision of medico-legal opinion in matters relating to legal capacity. She regularly provides assessment and reports in matters of questionable testamentary capacity, guardianship disputes, financial management orders, capacity to instruct, give evidence or appoint powers of attorney. During her twenty five years of experience in specialist Neuropsychological practice, Dr. Lonie has provided assessments and reports for in excess of 3,500 patients. Dr. Lonie has substantial experience in assessment, report writing and court appearance for the purposes of provision of expert opinion relating to areas of expertise: Assessment of Cognitive function (Adults and Older Adults); Assessment of testamentary capacity (contemporaneous and retrospective) ; Guardianship disputes/ application reports; Financial management Capacity; Assessment of capacity to grant/revoke Powers of Attorney; Return to work assessment ; Total and Permanent Disability insurance claims; Neuropsychological function in criminal matters; Capacity to give evidence and under the Workers Compensation and Motor Accident Authority Schemes. Dr Lonie is one of a handful of appointed SIRA & Council-directed health assessors and assessors of neuropsychological impairment.

Maddi Chaplin, Senior Associate, Bartier Perry
Maddi is a Senior Associate in the Insurance Litigation team at Bartier Perry. Her experience is shaped by her prior employment at EML, where she held case management and technical specialist roles overseeing compliance and strategic management. At Bartier Perry, Maddi has grown a varied practice in workers compensation and assists a wide range of insurers, specialised insurers, and self-insurers in strategic management of complex and litigated claims. Maddi is focused on delivering technical and practical advice which enables clients to make informed, commercially-minded decisions. Her approach emphasises clarity and collaboration. Whether assisting with early claim strategy, navigating complex medical evidence, or preparing matters for hearing, Maddi aims to achieve resolutions that support her clients’ operational and strategic goals.