Bullying and psychosocial hazard claims are surging. The Fair Work Commission has hit a record number of applications, and serious mental health claims have climbed 161% in a decade, with harassment and bullying the leading cause. Join leading legal voices and leave ready to advise with confidence on employer positive duties, psychosocial hazards and preventing workplace harm. Gain insight and practical strategies for bullying claims and stop bullying requirements. Examine recent developments in discrimination law and the handling of discrimination complaints and cases.

Presenters

Paul Moorhouse, Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
199N10 Paul Moorhouse is a barrister in Frederick Jordan Chambers in Sydney who holds degrees in Science and Law from the University of NSW, and a Masters of Law from the University of Southampton. Paul has been at the private bar since 2003, after a period as a solicitor with a top tier firm. He specialises in employment, industrial and discrimination law. He also maintains a general civil law practice. Paul regularly acts for employers and employees in interlocutory matters, hearings and appeals. The disputes upon which he regularly advises and appears include unfair dismissals, general protection claims, award/agreement breaches, breaches of confidentiality, restraints of trade, and claims for sexual harassment and discrimination.

Linda Mackinlay, Partner, Bartier Perry
Linda MacKinlay has 15 years’ experience as a workplace relations lawyer. This experience includes roles both in private practice and as an in-house counsel. Linda is a trusted adviser to corporate and government clients in all workplace matters including in the areas of industrial relations and human resource management, anti-discrimination, terminations and workplace litigation. Through her experience gained as an in-house counsel, Linda has a strong commercial mindset and understands the important key drivers, strategy and objectives that guide her client’s business and works to leverage this knowledge to achieve the best results for her clients.


Kellie Edwards, Barrister, Arbitrator and Mediator, 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.


Michael Byrnes, Partner, Swaab
Michael Byrnes is a partner of Swaab. He is a workplace relations lawyer with over 20 years' experience in assisting clients navigate employment and work health and safety issues. Michael runs specially tailored training programs and seminars for clients (including at board level). He also drafts and reviews workplace policies and undertakes complex and sensitive workplace investigations. As well as regularly presenting at conferences, Michael is often called upon for expert opinion in the media. He has appeared on numerous radio segments and regularly quoted in publications including The Australian Financial Review, The Age, Lawyers Weekly, Workplace Express, OHS Alert, SmartCompany, HRM Online and InTheBlack on workplace relations and WHS law issues. Michael is also a co-author of the LexisNexis publication "Annotated Fair Work Act & Related Legislation".

Troy Spence, Barrister-at-Law, Inns of Court
Troy Spence has a diverse practice, with a focus on employment & industrial relations, work health & safety, discrimination, Human Rights and workers’ compensation. In 2026 Troy was ranked as Preeminent junior counsel in Doyles Guide Leading Employment Law Barristers – Queensland, 2026 and also Preeminent junior counsel in Doyles Guide Leading Workplace Health & Safety Law Barristers – Queensland, 2026. In 2026, Troy was also ranked as Recommended junior counsel in Doyles Guide Leading Employment Law Junior Counsel – Australia, 2026. Prior to being called to the bar in 2018, Troy worked for almost two decades in public sector and private sector industrial relations, appearing regularly in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission and the Fair Work Commission. Troy regularly appears in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, the Fair Work Commission, the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Div. 2) and the Federal Court of Australia. Troy has also appeared before the Queensland Court of Appeal, the Full Federal Court and the High Court of Australia.