Navigate the legal and governance risks reshaping Australia’s charity and not-for-profit sector. NFP & Charities Law 2027 delivers practical guidance on regulatory enforcement, board liability, responsible AI governance, tax compliance, Payday Super, director exposure and not-for-profit mergers. Designed for lawyers, in-house counsel, directors, executives and governance professionals, this program will help you strengthen oversight, address compliance blind spots and make better-informed organisational decisions.

Presenters

Dr Mark Fowler, Principal, Fowler Charity Law
Dr Mark Fowler is the Principal of Fowler Charity Law and a recognised specialist in charity and not-for-profit law. He advises charities, deductible gift recipients, income tax exempt entities and other not-for-profit organisations across a broad range of sectors, including education, international aid, housing, disability services, fundraising, arts and culture, and religious organisations. Prior to establishing Fowler Charity Law in 2019, Mark was a Partner in leading national charity and not-for-profit law firms in Sydney and Brisbane. Mark is a member of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Charity Forum and serves on the Appeals Panel of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID). He has also served on the Queensland Law Society's Human Rights Working Group. An accomplished academic, Mark is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Notre Dame Australia and the University of New England, and an External Fellow at the University of Queensland's Centre for Public, International and Comparative Law. He was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in Law by the University of Queensland in 2023.


Rebecca Lambert-Smith, Practice Leader, Moores
Rebecca is a Practice Leader in the Corporate Advisory team and heads up the For Purpose team at Moores. Rebecca provides expert advice to charities, not-for-profits and social ventures on a wide range of legal and governance matters. As a trusted advisor to For Purpose clients experiencing creation, crisis and change, Rebecca enjoys helping clients navigate the challenges of the current regulatory environment. This includes helping new organisations get established, providing complex structuring advice, improving governance, resolving internal disputes and responding to ACNC investigations. Having served on a number of Boards, Rebecca understands the competing priorities of modern governance. She regularly provides Board training and presents seminars and webinars to the For Purpose sector. Rebecca formerly practiced in commercial litigation.


Vera Visevic, Partner, Mills Oakley
Vera has over 30 years’ experience in acting for numerous charities, religious and not-for-profit organisations. Vera provides a full suite of commercial services to not-for-profit clients, including protecting commercial arrangements through drafting services agreements, privacy policies, internal policies and procedures, and reviewing grant and other government agreements. Vera is a sought-after speaker throughout Australia. In the last year she has presented at the Better Boards Conference, and Legalwise and TENS seminars on not-for-profits. She has also authored a chapter within Charity Global Guide (2018), published by Thomson Reuters, and has authored a paper on lessons not-for-profits should learn from the recent Royal Commissions, published by Pro Bono Australia.  Vera is a member of the Cannon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand.

Catherine Nufer, Special Counsel - Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA), Hamilton Locke
Catherine offers experience in a wide range of complex taxation matters including, income tax, capital gains tax, corporate tax, GST and state taxes (stamp duty, payroll tax and land tax) in all Australian jurisdictions. She advises and implements effective structures for transactions and asset ownership, as well as assists clients with structuring and restructuring in a tax effective manner. She also has experience in tax controversy matters (including audits, objections and appeals), with both the ATO and the various state revenue authorities. Catherine also offers significant experience in not-for-profit and charities law, regulations and governance issues and regularly advises companies, incorporated associations, unincorporated associations, charitable trusts and entities established under Letters Patent. Catherine is a Non-Executive Director and the Treasurer of Flipside Circus Ltd, a Brisbane based circus arts charity and is passionate about the challenges facing not-for-profits and charities in Australia. Catherine is able to provide collaborative, practical and commercial solutions for a wide range of clients, including not-for-profits and charities, high-wealth individuals, privately owned companies and large corporations, across of range of industries.

Bianca Marcocci, Executive Counsel, Head Office Advisory, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Bianca is a corporate lawyer specialising in governance, disclosure and Board issues. Bianca is an Executive Counsel in our Head Office Advisory Team (HOAT). HOAT is Australia’s largest legal team solely dedicated to corporate governance issues and is the trusted adviser to a significant proportion of the country’s largest companies. Bianca provides clients with pragmatic advice on corporate governance issues, including continuous and periodic disclosure, Board and executive succession, corporate culture, directors’ duties, shareholder activism and relevant areas of legal risk. Bianca also has a particular interest in project-based work designed to enhance corporate governance and legal risk management and has conducted deep dive reviews in these areas. Bianca regularly reports to executives and Boards on important matters. Bianca assists clients respond to emerging market trends and has a deep understanding of the listed company environment and best practice.