Immigration is a hot topic so stay current and updated on both skills and knowledge. Unpack recent cases and review decisions. Be guided by former a member of the MRT and RRT on Appeals to the AAT. Ensure that you can navigate Family Stream Visas and the family law issues that intersect with migration concerns. A half day not to be missed. 

Presenters

Ms. Sophie Manera, Partner, Tang Law
Sophie is a partner and the head of migration at Tang Law. She practices exclusively in immigration law, and specialises in complex migration matters, including representing clients with character and health concerns, business migration, representing clients at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and courts, and making requests for Ministerial Intervention. Her passion is making arguments based on compelling or compassionate circumstances. Sophie is a regular presenter for various industry organisations, including Legalwise Seminars, the Migration Institute of Australia, the Law Society of Western Australia, and Legal Training Australia. She has taught at Murdoch University and the Australian Catholic University in the Graduate Diploma of Australian Migration Law and Practice. In 2018 she was awarded the Kevin Lane Service Award by the Migration Institute of Australia for her contributions to the profession. In 2019 she was awarded the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Award for Mentor of the Year. In 2022 she was awarded the Henry Giblett award for contributions to education. She is an advocate for junior immigration lawyers and strongly believes in the importance of mentoring. Sophie is an Associate Fellow of the Migration Institute of Australia and was recently recognized in Doyle’s Guide as a leading immigration lawyer in Western Australia.


Wajiha Ahmed, Partner and Mediator, Buttar, Caldwell & Co. Solicitors
Born in Lahore, Pakistan, Wajiha came to Australia with her family at age five. As a third generation lawyer, Wajiha is committed to the plight of social justice and rights of women in Australia and ensuring access to justice. She joined Buttar, Caldwell & Co. Solicitors in March 2001. She is a NMAS mediator and sits on a number of panels. Her main practice areas are civil litigation, family law, employment and immigration. In 2006, Wajiha was appointed as a part time Commissioner with the Community Relations Commission of NSW for six years. She served on the NSW Police Multicultural Advisory Council for a number of years. Since 2012 she has been a member of the Human Rights committee of the Law Society of NSW. She has served as an Officer for the Human Rights Committee of the International Bar Association since 2018. Wajiha has taught “Business, Law and Ethics” and “Contemporary Business Law” at University of Technology, Sydney from 2005 until 2019 and other private Colleges in Sydney. Wajiha has written opinion pieces in the Daily Telegraph, Sydney Morning Herald and the Guardian with respect to her views on various human rights issues over the years.


Mr. Maurice Edwards, Special Counsel, Rafton Family Lawyers
Maurice is an Accredited Family Law Specialist, Registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP), Nationally Accredited Mediator and an Accredited Arbitrator. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. Maurice has developed an expertise in International Family Law parenting matters and has represented clients in cases under the Hague Child Abduction Convention in the Family Court of Australia, the Full Court of the Family Court and the High Court of Australia. He has trained in Japan specifically in the mediation of disputes relating to the Child Abduction Convention. For the last 20 years he has notarized the Intercountry adoption documents for the NSW Department of Communities and Justice. Maurice is named in the Doyles Guide of Leading Family Law Mediators – NSW 2023. Maurice has over 40 years experience in family law and is Special Counsel at Rafton Family Lawyers.


Simon Jeans, Principal, Jeans Lawyers
Simon Jeans has been practising law since 1989. He is an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law and listed by Best Lawyers for Australia in Immigration Law. He has worked as an advocate for refugees and migrants with the Jesuit Refugee Service, RACS, Legal Aid (NSW), UNHCR and in his law firm. He was appointed as a member of the Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal from 2010-2015. He was engaged by the College of Law in 2019-2020 as an assessor and external moderator for the Capstone Migration Agents Assessment.


Ms. Angela De Silva, Special Counsel, Agape Henry Crux
Angela De Silva is a Solicitor and Accredited Immigration Law Specialist working at Agape Henry Crux Lawyers as their Special Counsel. Angela has 10 years of immigration experience consulting to major Australian and international organisations and also has experience with Australia's humanitarian visa program by representing clients for protection visa matters. Angela is a Solicitor admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland and has previously worked in criminal law at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Queensland. She is a member of the New South Wales Law Society and a member of the Migration Institute of Australia.


Ms. Theresa Baw, Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
Theresa Baw is a barrister who was admitted to legal practice in 2001 and was called to the New South Wales Bar in 2006. Theresa's areas of practice are public and administrative law, and commercial and contract law, with extensive expertise in migration law. She has appeared before the High Court in migration law matters, including unled in a special leave application. Theresa has wide-ranging experience in all levels of migration and citizenship matters, from appearing in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal to appearing unled before the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia. She is also admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Nauru and has successfully appeared in that jurisdiction in migration cases. Prior to being called to the Bar, Theresa practised as a solicitor including at top-tier law Minter Ellison. She has authored numerous articles including in Key Issues in Judicial Review (Federation Press). She holds a Master of Commerce from Macquarie University, and a Bachelor of Laws (first class honours) and a Bachelor of Economics, from the University of Sydney.