All 10 CPD units. The best government law speakers. One essential day.

Keep pace with the legal, regulatory and professional issues shaping government practice.

Built for government lawyers, this flagship conference brings together leading barristers, senior government practitioners and recognised experts from around Australia. Across a full day you will explore investigations and decision-making, procurement, digital government, privacy and AI, along with ethics, professional skills and practice management. Leave with timely legal updates, practical guidance and strategic insights to navigate public sector practice with confidence.

Presenters

Eleanor Dickens, Partner, Clayton Utz
Eleanor Dickens practices in public, administrative and regulatory law with extensive expertise in Information Law (Privacy, Freedom of Information, and Public Records), judicial review and statutory decision-making processes, integrity, corruption and accountability and legal policy. Eleanor also has significant experience in other core government related areas of practice including procurement governance, restructuring and privatisation. Eleanor brings a range of public sector experience to the Government Services Group, having previously worked for both the Northern Territory and Queensland Governments for statutory bodies and Government Departments including the Northern Territory Treasury, Department of the Premier and Cabinet (Queensland) and the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel. Eleanor is also a contributing editor with Mr Bill Lane to the Queensland Administrative Report.

Stephanie Morrow, Special Counsel, Russell Kennedy
Stephanie Morrow works with Australian regulators to conduct compliance and enforcement work. She has returned to private practice as Special Counsel at Russell Kennedy after 15 years working within the Office of Public Prosecutions, Consumer Affairs Victoria, Environment Protection Authority (Victoria) and Essential Services Commission (Victoria). She assists a broad range of regulatory clients to develop strategy, draft regulatory instruments, guide investigations, conduct litigation and advocate for legislative change.

Elissa Speight, Partner, Thomsons
Elissa Speight advises both Commonwealth agencies and private sector clients on a wide range of employment and workplace relations issues. She specialises in individual employee disputes, including unfair dismissal applications, general protections disputes and discrimination complaints and proceedings. In this capacity she regularly acts for the Commonwealth in litigious matters before both Fair Work Australia and the Federal Court of Australia. Elissa also assists clients in the drafting, negotiation and administration of workplace arrangements under the Public Service Act 1999 (Cth) and industrial instruments under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). She advises on a range of issues including misconduct and underperformance, termination of employment including redundancy and restructures, disputes arising under enterprise agreements, and workplace health and safety obligations.

Michael Sullivan, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
Michael Sullivan is a disputes lawyer based in Sydney. Michael acts for both public and private sector clients in relation to commercial disputes. Michael has experience in litigation, inquires and alternative forms of dispute resolution. Michael's particular focus is on providing litigation and advisory support to our government clients. Michael has been focusing on the government sector for over 12 years, which gives him a critical understanding of the environment in which our government clients operate. He has assisted his clients with prosecutions, investigations, statutory inquiries and enforcement. Michael has also had significant experience in acting for private sector clients in relation to commercial disputes. His particular focus has been fraud related matters and complex contractual disputes. He brings a wealth of litigation experience to all his clients, including general conduct of litigation: preparing proceedings, obtaining witness statements, liaising with counsel and the management of discovery and production obligations in answer to subpoenas.


James Smart, Partner, Maddocks
James is the practice team leader of the Maddocks Government & Not-for-Profit team in Victoria. He has over 30 years of experience providing a broad range of contract, commercial and administrative law advice to government departments and statutory authorities. James regularly provides practical and strategic advice about tendering and procurement issues, managing contractual performance and the resolution of contractual disputes. He also advises his clients on the exercise of their functions and powers and on compliance with legislation James has specific expertise in the issues associated with the establishment of new government entities and the outsourcing of key government functions. He also understands the legislative framework applying to public bodies in Victoria. James regularly presents papers at industry conferences on topics including procurement, managing contractual performance and statutory interpretation. He also co-authored the Chambers Government ‘Outsourcing’ publication.


Rory Alexander, Managing Director, Aldermane
Rory is Aldermane's founder and managing partner. He is a specialist procurement and major projects lawyer, with a focus on Defence and Government procurement and the acquisition and sustainment of complex military capabilities. He works in Canberra and Sydney and provides advice to Commonwealth departments on all aspects of the procurement process. Rory works for both public sector and private clients. During his career, Rory has received the following awards and recognition for his work with Government clients: Finalist - 30under30, Government (2019), Rising Star - Australasian Lawyer Magazine (2020), Finalist - Defence Consultant of the Year, Defence Industry Awards (2023), Finalist - Government Partner of the Year, Partner of the Year Awards (2023 and 2024), Winner - Innovator of the Year, Australian Law Awards (2023) and Winner - Projects, Energy and Resources Partner of the Year, Partner of the Year Awards (2024). Rory holds a Bachelor of Business (Finance) and a Bachelor of Laws. He is admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW and the High Court of Australia, and is a practising member of the Law Society of the ACT and also holds an interstate practising certificate in NSW.

Lisa De Ferrari SC, List A Barristers
Lisa practises in public law, commercial law and common law (major torts list, class actions and defamation). In the last 12 months (since taking silk), Lisa's practice in public law has included: advising various Department and other clients on issues which have included statutory construction and judicial review applications (including the risk of such applications being brough); being briefed to appear in a number of urgent cases in the Supreme Court, in the nature of judicial review from inferior courts; appearing in the Court of Appeal for the Director of Public Prosecutions, in an appeal where the constitutional validity of various provisions of the Confiscation Act 1997 was being challenged; appearing in the High Court in an appeal on questions of materiality of error where the allegation is breach of procedural fairness and when certiorari might be refused on discretionary grounds; settling various applications for special leave to appeal, and various responses to such applications; appearing in the Federal Court on a number of interlocutory applications seeking orders to provide urgent medical care to refugees being held in the Republic of Nauru.


Trent Glover SC, 11 St James Hall; Adjunct Prof, James Cook University
Trent is one of Australia’s leading public law barristers. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Law in the College of Business, Law and Governance at James Cook University. Trent has a diverse practice, concentrating primarily on public law litigation, regulatory litigation and advising. He appears regularly in the Federal Court, and State and Territory Supreme Courts at appellate level and first instance around Australia. Much of his practice comprises complex and sensitive litigation that is the focus of media attention and parliamentary scrutiny. Trent has extensive experience in Royal Commissions and commissions of inquiry including as Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements (also known as the Bushfires Royal Commission), and appearing recently for the State of New South Wales in the Disability Royal Commission and the Commonwealth of Australia in the Robodebt Royal Commission. He was recently appointed the first Counsel Assisting the Inspector of the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Trent is currently the Chair of the NSW Bar Association’s Human Rights Committee. He formerly served as a member of the Inquests and Inquiries Committee and on a professional conduct committee.

Dr Ian Freckelton AO KC, Foley’s List
Dr Ian Freckelton AO KC is a distinguished barrister, Professor of Law and Professorial Fellow in Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne, and Honorary Professor of Forensic Medicine at Monash University. He is the Editor of the Journal of Law and Medicine and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, and the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. A Life Member of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) and received the prestigious Prix Philippe Pinel from the International Academy of Law and Mental Health in 2024. Recognized in Best Lawyers in Australia for Public Law, Personal Injury Litigation, and Commercial Law (2021–2024) and listed in Doyle’s Guide as a Leading Administrative and Public Law Barrister (2021–2024), Dr. Freckelton continues to shape legal and forensic scholarship and practice. Dr. Freckelton has been listed by Doyle’s for Criminal Law, Commercial, Admin and Personal Injury Law. He is also the author of Expert Evidence: Law, Practice, Procedure and Advocacy (7th edition, 2024).


Peter Bridgman, Barrister, Level 15 Inns of Court; Member, Mental Health Review Tribunal
Peter Bridgman is a Brisbane based barrister, first called to the bar in 1990. Peter has degrees in Psychology (University of Queensland - first class honours) and Law (QUT - first class honours). He has been a Member of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal and the Mental Health Review Tribunal. In addition to the law, Peter advises the government and the private sector on public policy, regulatory reform and ethics, and integrity. Peter's extensive career in public service, included appointments as Cabinet Secretary; Deputy Director-General Premier's Department; Deputy Director-General Education Department; Head of Arts Queensland; and corporate counsel for a large Department. He is author of the leading textbook on public policy in Australia, The Australian Policy Handbook now in its 7th edition, as well as numerous journal articles, conference papers etc in both law and public policy. Peter wrote the landmark review of Queensland public employment, A Fair and Responsive Public Service for All.

Helen Sims, Partner, Landers & Rogers
Helen is a highly experienced litigator with deep expertise in administrative and public law, regulatory matters, inquiries, freedom of information, privacy law and judicial and merits review. She has advised and represented a broad range of agencies in both Commonwealth and State government, including leading major investigations and inquiries. She has also advised private corporate entities and directors on regulatory compliance issues and enforcement investigations, particularly in relation to corporations law, the AML/CTF scheme and privacy obligations. Helen is recognised in Doyle’s Guide (2026) as a Leading Administrative & Public Lawyer in New South Wales.

Jason Strachan, Principal, Strachan Legal Policy
Jason Strachan is the founder and Managing Principal of Strachan Legal, Policy and Risk with 20 years’ experience in public law and public policy across Commonwealth and State government and leading law firms. His expertise spans administrative and constitutional law, statutory interpretation, regulatory practice and the design and implementation of public policy and legislation. He provides strategic legal and policy advice to senior government decision-makers and has advised on major legislative reforms, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Commonwealth secrecy laws.  Previously Counsel at Ashurst, Jason has acted in nationally significant public law litigation, including Smethurst v AFP in the High Court and strategic judicial review proceedings for the NSW ICAC and NSW Ombudsman. His experience also includes major public inquiries and royal commissions, including acting for Mr James Packer in various inquiries into Crown casino and for the charity arm of the NSW RSL.  Jason also designs and delivers practical training for public sector professionals in public law, policy development, legislative design and regulatory practice.

Jiadi Liang, Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
Jiadi Liang is a litigation and public law lawyer based in Canberra with extensive experience advising and representing the government sector in disputes. She has appeared as a solicitor advocate on behalf of Government and commercial clients in Australian courts and tribunals, including in relation to disputes involving Government decision making. She has significant expertise in managing claims for compensation on behalf of government clients, including claims arising out of allegations of negligence and contraventions of statute. Jiadi regularly advises the Commonwealth in relation to administrative and public law matters, including advising on privacy, information law, regulatory and enforcement matters, and issues of statutory interpretation. Jiadi has worked closely with Government entities throughout her career, including undertaking a number of secondments to departments and agencies. As a result, Jiadi has a deep understanding of the Commonwealth legal framework, and the consultative and transparent approach necessary to achieve outcomes. This deep understanding informs her pragmatic, timely and outcomes focussed approach to advising and representing Commonwealth clients. She understands the importance of ensuring compliance with the Legal Services Directions 2017, and regularly advises on settlement based on legal principle and practice and the best interests of the Commonwealth.