Presenters

John Kinnane, Head of Legal, Workcover Queensland
John is a highly accomplished senior executive and in-house legal practitioner with extensive experience in the management of complex legal matters across a diverse range of practice areas. In the capacity of Head of Legal, John leads WorkCover’s in-house Legal Team and is responsible for the strategic oversight and management of the common law claims portfolio. John’s expertise encompasses strategic leadership, organisational innovation, operational management, stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and the development of high-performing teams. In addition, John possesses substantial technical expertise in workers’ compensation law, supported by extensive experience across both statutory and common law claims environments.

Alex Schonell, Barrister, Jack Shand Chambers
Alex Schonell was called to the Bar in 2022. Previously, he was admitted as a solicitor in Queensland in 2017, working in class actions and acting for plaintiffs in workers compensation, institutional abuse, dust disease, motor vehicle accident, professional negligence and public liability claims. From 2017, Alex specialised in dust diseases litigation, acting for plaintiffs in all Australian jurisdictions. Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Human Rights and Juris Doctor from the University of Sydney. He currently practices in all areas of law, with a particular focus on personal injury, family law, property damage, administrative law and professional negligence cases.


Will Brock, Special Counsel, DWF
Will is an experienced insurance litigation lawyer with a focus on dust disease claims and a recommended dust disease lawyer by Doyles in 2025. Throughout his career Will has focused primarily on dust diseases litigation in the Queensland courts and the Dust Diseases Tribunal of New South Wales. He has had conduct of hundreds of dust claims on behalf of asbestos manufacturers and occupiers of contaminated premises. He is highly experienced in assessing and investigating liability and quantum, engaging experts, negotiating resolutions and preparing for trial. Currently Will focuses on occupational dust exposure cases in the worker’s compensation space on behalf of statutory insurers and self-insured organisations.