The year has seen significant changes and reforms impacting the workplace. Gain practical insights into implied terms in employment contracts and managing employee performance. Focus on the burgeoning concerns of sexual harassment and psychological health risks in the workplace. Build your toolkit as you acquire skills and knowledge on workplace investigations and disciplinary processes. Unpack practical assistance in workplace mediations. A unique blend of practical insights and legal knowledge.

Presenters

Nikki A-Khavari, Barrister, Higgins Chambers
Nikki has worked in the areas of employment, industrial relations and discrimination law in both private and government practice since 2001, and came to the private bar in February 2019, after being called to the bar as a government barrister in December 2017. Nikki has appeared in both State and Federal Courts and Tribunals, in relation to interlocutory applications, as well as unfair dismissal, general protections, workers’ compensation and discrimination matters. Nikki has been involved with a variety of litigation matters during her career in both Federal and State Courts and Tribunals, including the Stolen Wages class action, and has provided diverse and complex legal advice in a range of employment, health & safety, discrimination, industrial, sexual harassment, and workplace bullying matters. Nikki commenced her legal career with Blake Dawson Waldron (Ashurst), servicing a wide variety of commercial clients, followed by working as a Senior Principal Lawyer for Crown Law, providing Nikki with extensive Government experience.


Patrick Lawler, Senior Associate, Ashurst
Patrick Lawler is a senior associate in our employment practice Patrick specialises in industrial relations, employment and health and safety law. Patrick has significant experience acting in employment and industrial disputes and litigation, including regularly representing clients in conciliation conferences, mediations and hearings before different tribunals and courts. His experience includes acting in civil penalty proceedings, large-scale litigation (particularly in the Federal Court), and advising on a broad range of industrial relations and employment issues including termination of employment issues, industrial action, enterprise bargaining disputes and restructures. Patrick acts for large corporate and government clients across a broad range of industries including building and construction, mining, petroleum and gas, aviation, electricity, health and higher education. Patrick provides concise and practical advice having recently worked in-house at a major airline.


Keisha Currie, Senior Associate, Holding Redlich
Keisha is an experienced work health and safety lawyer and is passionate about helping clients take a preventative approach to safety. Keisha has experience advising clients within both the public and private sector and has particular experience within the resources industry having previously worked at a mine in Central Queensland. Keisha previously worked at the Department of Justice and Attorney-General for Crown Law performing public sector employment and safety work. Keisha’s practice involves advising on all facets of safety legislation including duties, incident response, assisting with reviews of safety health management systems, legislative compliance and responding to regulatory enforcement action as well as providing and facilitating incident response training. Keisha’s practice also involves advising on various legal aspects across employment and workplace relations matter. This includes advising and assisting with workplace disputes, Fair Work Commission complaints, workplace investigations, managing discipline and dismissal processes.


Melanie Thorley, Director, MJT Law
After graduating from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Melanie then completed my Masters of Law (LLM) with Queensland University of Technology. In 2014 she opened MJT Law that is thriving today.


Alanna Fitzpatrick, Partner, K&L Gates
Alanna is an experienced workplace health and safety lawyer. She is a responsive, pragmatic and empathetic lawyer who assists her clients to navigate the serious safety incidents and accidents. She assists clients respond to and engage with regulators undertaking investigations following safety incidents in a manner that is designed to ensure that the risk of reputational damage and personal/corporate prosecution is minimised. Alanna is also an experienced front end safety lawyer, providing compliance advice to a range of organisations to understand and discharge their obligations under safety legislation and for officers, developing a suite of material to enable those officers to discharge their duty to exercise due diligence. Alanna delivers engaging and informative presentations on safety related topics include crisis management, due diligence and managing the risk of psychosocial harm. She is experienced in dealing with a wide range of employment matters including executive employment issues, performance management, grievances, disciplinary matters, discrimination and termination of employment. Alanna has a particular focus on assisting employers to manage ill and injured employees and restraint of trade matters. Alanna is a commercially focussed and pragmatic litigator. She has assisted clients to litigate individual and collective disputes in the Fair Work Commission as well as disputes and regulatory prosecutions in the Federal Court and Supreme Court of Queensland. Alanna has advised her clients on all types of workplace investigations and undertakes workplace investigations, particularly those relating to bullying allegations and sexual harassment. Alanna has advised companies in various industries including agriculture, aviation, construction, energy and resources, medical and pharmaceutical, retail, higher education, government departments and government owned corporations.


Mitch Rawlings, Barrister, Griffith Chambers
Mitch commenced his career as a legal officer in the Royal Australian Navy, advocating in disciplinary and administrative tribunals. After returning from his full-time service, Mitch commenced practicing with the in-house legal team of an ASX listed company, as a human resources legal advisor. Since joining the Bar, Mitch has acted for a wide range of clients including statutory authority, the State and Commonwealth Government, proprietary companies and individuals. Mitch practices in employment law, industrial law, and discrimination. He teaches at the Queensland University of Technology in evidence and administrative law.


Denielle Pohlner, Lawyer/Legal Operating Officer, Anderson Gray Employment Lawyers
Denielle enjoys working at Anderson Gray Lawyers as it provides her with an opportunity to support both employers and employees at all stages throughout the employment relationship. Denielle works across the spectrum of workplace law but has a special interest in sexual harassment and discrimination matters. Her passion is providing all employees and employers the opportunity to understand their obligations and protections and by drawing on over 17 years’ experience within the Business, Finance and Professional Services Sectors she brings to her client relationships, not only legal advice, but an ability to provide coaching and support in what can be highly emotional and stressful experiences.


Brad Petley, Principal, Acumen Lawyers
A practising solicitor since 2000 and the legal practice director of Acumen Lawyers since 2009, Brad has practised in employment, and industrial relations law for the entirety of his legal career. Brad’s expertise in employment and industrial relations is recognised by his QLS accredited specialisation in Workplace Relations Law and by Doyles Guide in the category of Recommended Employment Lawyer - (Employee & Union Representation) - Queensland for the years 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022. Before coming to the law, Brad was a decorated Queensland police officer and had risen to rank of detective sergeant. Brad’s unique blend of investigative and legal skills has made him an authority on conducting effective workplace investigations. Brad has a particular interest in the area of workplace discipline. An accomplished presenter, Brad regularly presents at conferences locally and nationally about topical workplace issues. Brad is a contributing author of the By Lawyers publication Employment Law Guide and is also a member of the Queensland Law Society's Industrial Law Committee.


Kerry Gibb, Director, Kerry Gibb Workplace Law
Kerry is a Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialist and NMAS Accredited Mediator. Kerry recently started her own firm after more than 10 years as a Partner at a top tier, and worked as an HR Manager before that. Kerry also holds several directorships, and with her varied experience understands that legal solutions aren’t always practical solutions.