Presenters

Albert Monichino KC, Arbitrator & Mediator, List A Barristers
Albert Monichino KC practices as a barrister, arbitrator and mediator. Appointed senior counsel in 2010 he has over 30 years of experience in commercial dispute resolution. He is a past President of the Australian branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (‘CIArb’), a Chartered Arbitrator, and is accredited as an advanced mediator. He has consistently been listed by Doyle’s Guide between 2017 and 2023 as one of Australia’s leading arbitration barristers. Albert has acted as arbitrator or as counsel under various arbitration rules in wide-ranging commercial disputes throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including construction, engineering and infrastructure disputes. He has lectured and/or tutored in the CIArb Diploma Course in International Commercial Arbitration since its inception in 2016. In 2006 he was the Co-Course Director of the inaugural CIArb Asia-Pacific Diploma Course held in Singapore. Albert is the lead lecturer of the subject “Arbitration of International Commercial Disputes” offered by Monash University in June 2023 in its postgraduate law program. Albert also has a broad commercial litigation practice in the superior courts in Australia, including in the area of building and construction. He recently appeared for Amcor in a 45 day Supreme Court trial involving the remediation for asbestos contamination of the former Amcor paper mill site in Alphington, which Amcor sold to the developer, Glenville (judgment in favour of Amcor: [2023] VSC 637).


Donna Abu-Elias, Director - Principal Legal Counsel, Spectrum Lawyers & Consultants
Donna is a specialist building and construction lawyer with over two decades of experience spanning private practice and senior in-house roles. Prior to founding Spectrum Lawyers, Donna practised at Clayton Utz and served as General Counsel for several of Australia's leading volume residential builders, including Burbank Group, Carlisle Homes and Simonds Group.  In 2013, Donna completed her Diploma in Construction Law and also joined the Housing Industry Association's IR & Legal Committee, on which she has served continuously since. She was appointed Deputy Chair of that Committee in 2020, a position she continues to hold.  Donna founded Spectrum Lawyers & Consultants in 2019, driven by a commitment to providing specialist, industry-focused legal services to building participants. The firm advises and represents owners, builders, owners corporations, building surveyors and other building professionals in the Courts, VCAT and before the Building Appeals Board.  In 2025, Donna expanded her dispute resolution credentials by becoming an AMDRAS accredited mediator.