With immigration reform being handed down in drip feed, do you have the strategies to navigate these changes effectively? This program features a spectacular line-up of presenters who will unpack the key focus areas that all Migration Lawyer or Agent need to know in 2024 & beyond. Explore visa procedure changes, updates & implications, complex migration law matters, ethical dilemmas that can arise in practice, judicial review cases, and a compliance session led by senior members of the AAT. 243N32 

Presenters

Ms. Karen Lo, Partner, Ajuria Lawyers Pty Ltd
Karen Lo is a partner at Ajuria Lawyers, widely regarded as one of Australia's leading specialist immigration law practices, offering immigration advice and assistance to businesses across all industry sectors, ranging from start-ups to multinationals. She oversees the entertainment division at the firm helping bring in talent to Australia for indie productions to large productions with hundreds in production crew numbers. Karen specialises in employer-sponsored work visas and has advised on and managed corporate immigration programs for clients including lobbying the Government and other stakeholders on their behalf to bring about positive change in immigration law and policy. “Best Lawyers 2024” in Immigration Law; Prior to joining Ajuria Lawyers, Karen worked in the then Department of Immigration and Border Protection, processing complex Partner Visas and worked for the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority investigating migration fraud.


Ms Lillian Ajuria, Principal Solicitor and Migration Agent,
Lillian Ajuria is an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law and has practised almost exclusively in this field for over 18 years. A partner at Ajuria Lawyers the firm has become a leading practice in the field of Immigration Law with a strong focus on the corporate and entertainment sectors. Lillian was formerly the NSW Vice-President of the Migration Institute of Australia and a board member of the Immigration Advice and Rights Centre (IARC). She is also on the Accredited Specialist Examination Board of the Law Society and is a frequent presenter on Immigration Law in Australia and internationally. Lillian has been included on the Best Lawyers List of Australia for 15 consecutive years since 2009 and is in Doyle’s Guide’s list of Leading Immigration Lawyers in NSW as well as the Who is Who Legal. A fluent Spanish speaker, Lillian is the former National President of the 'Official Australian-Spanish Chamber of Commerce and Industry' and was awarded a Civil Merit Medal by the King of Spain in 2017.


Ms. Ndi Ruppert, Principal Solicitor and Founder,
Ndi Ruppert obtained her Bachelor of Business and Law with a Diploma of Legal Practice from the University of Newcastle in 2010 and was admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales as a solicitor in 2011. In 2017, Ndi obtained her Master of Laws from the University of Newcastle, majoring in Human Rights and International Business; her master thesis was published in the African Journal of International and Comparative Law. Ndi is the Principal Solicitor & Founder of the law practice, Ruppert Legal and was formerly a solicitor with Hicksons Lawyers. She also currently uses her immigration expertise to assist refugee clients one day a week through Mosaic Multicultural Connections. Ndi has significant experience with the Australian Migration system, both personally and professionally and was honoured by being listed on the 202, 2022 and 2023 Doyles list of leading New South Wales Immigration Lawyers. She is also the Vice Chair on the Board of the Hunter Community Legal Centre and is part of the executive leadership team of the Centre for African Research, Engagement & Partnerships at the University of Newcastle.


Ms. Kim Hunter, Criminal Defence & Immigration Lawyer, Hunter Flood Lawyers
Ms Kim Hunter is a criminal defence and immigration lawyer as well as an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law from Hunter Flood Lawyers in Sydney. Kim has a law degree, 3 first places in law exams (Criminal law, evidence & succession), second place in Constitutional Law and 2 Butterworths Law prizes. Kim Has always had her own private law practice and since becoming an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law now only practices in criminal defence and immigration law. Kim has formerly lectured in post graduate law at Australian National University and regularly lectures for the Law Society of NSW, Legal Aid and various other professional bodies and organisations including the MIA. Kim has been invited to be on an expert panel for a research projected funded by the Australian Research Council, to be undertaken by leading Professors from Charles Sturt, Flinders and Monash universities in Australia and Oxford University in the UK on the topic of ‘Crimmigration’ – the intersection of criminal and immigration laws in Australia.


Ms Maria Jockel, Legal Principal and Global and National Leader, Migration Services, BDO Australia
Maria Jockel leads BDO’s Global and National specialist law firm which specialises in all aspects of Australian immigration law for corporate and private clients. She is a Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law and is acknowledged as one of Australia’s leading immigration specialists. She brings a unique depth and breadth of immigration law and corporate commercial -related legal experience from her years of practice. This is complimented by Maria’s former advisory and senior executive roles while in government service. Maria is a sought-after speaker and prolific author on all aspects of immigration and citizenship law. Maria is listed in “The International Who’s Who of Corporate Immigration Lawyers (2010-2023), “Best Lawyers” (2008-2023) and Doyles. Maria's immigration law practice includes employer nomination temporary/permanent residency applications, business skills migration, complex matters involving health and character issues, Federal Court applications, skilled migration, review applications at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal/Migration Review Division, citizenship, ministerial submissions, international education, the Educational Services of Overseas Students Act and the National Code, labour agreements, regulatory compliance, due diligence and related advices. In her current and former roles, Maria has contributed to shaping immigration law in Australia having advised on government policy and legal matters at State and Federal levels.


Mr. Ray Turner, Principal, Ray Turner Immigration Lawyers
Ray Turner is an accredited specialist in immigration law and has been a registered migration agent since 1992. He has been recently recognised by the Law Society of New South Wales for 20 years of service, advising and acting clients as one of Australia's top migration law practitioners. Ray was a founding partner of Turner Coulson but now has stepped down as Immigration Lawyer Sydney Principal Solicitor / Director and enjoys a more relaxed approach consulting on a case-by-case basis thereby allowing him to focus his energy and legal skills on the best outcome for his clients. Ray has advocated throughout his career for both Government and private clients in all Courts and tribunals and is regularly appointed by the Federal Courts, due to his level of skill and expertise, to act for unrepresented clients appearing before the Courts. When immigration matters become complex, Ray is the person other migration agents and solicitors to turn to for advice. Ray has significant experience in all areas of Australian migration law and particularly in business/investor visas, general skilled migration, spouse/family visas, refugee applications, character issues, detention/deportation and visa cancellations. Ray has previously worked in the Commonwealth Departments of Primary Industry and Health and the Australian Customs Service. In each of these Departments, Ray represented the various Ministers and other statutory office holders in the Federal Courts and Administrative Appeals Tribunal.


Dr. Jason Donnelly, Barrister, Latham Chambers
Dr. Jason Donnelly is a leading national barrister and academic (a university lecturer) in the area of migration law in Australia. Dr. Donnelly has advised and appeared in various significant cases in both the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and Federal Court of Australia, published in various leading journal articles, provided expert evidence to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration, been cited extensively in a Commonwealth Parliamentary Report and is the founding author and Course Convenor of the Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law at Western Sydney University (WSU). Dr. Jason Donnelly is a preeminent figure in Australian administrative and migration law. His extensive career encompasses advisory roles, legal appearances, and contributions to parliamentary inquiries. He has 204 published judgments covering: * 95 rigorous legal appeals primarily in the Federal Court of Australia; * 88 trials in various statutory Tribunals, with a focus on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal; * 17 High Court of Australia appeals, including special leave applications and original jurisdiction appeals; * 4 trials in New South Wales state jurisdiction. Dr. Donnelly’s expertise extends to esteemed forums such as Commonwealth Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committees, the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department, Commonwealth Joint Standing Committee on Migration, and inquiries led by figures like The Hon. I.D.F. Callinan AC KC. Beyond the courtroom, his diverse clientele includes high-ranking military officers, celebrities like Lanz Priestley, and international entertainers like Chris Brown, Skepta, and Sticky Fingers, among others Dr. Donnelly’s academic achievements include three university degrees, including a Ph.D. in law. Dr. Donnelly graduated with the prestigious university medal. He began as a university lecturer in law at 23 and became a barrister by 25. He now holds a senior university lecturer position at Western Sydney University, where he’s the Course Convenor and Founding Author of the Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law. He’s also an author and editor of prominent legal publications. His professional history includes roles as the Tipstaff to the Honorable Justice Peter McClellan AM QC, Chief Judge at Common Law, Supreme Court of New South Wales, and Legal Researcher to the Honorable Michael Kirby AC CMG, former Justice of the High Court of Australia. In legal academia, he’s authored numerous publications cited by various courts and Commonwealth Statutory Committees. Dr. Donnelly’s extensive body of work showcases his unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise in administrative and migration law.


Mr. Farid Varess, Principal, Varess
Farid Varess was admitted to legal practice in 2002. He has been an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law since 2010, and is included on: the Best Lawyers in Australia list for Immigration Law since 2013, the Best Lawyers in Australia list for Human Rights Law list since 2014, and the Doyle’s Guide’s list of Leading Immigration Lawyers in NSW since it was first published in 2021. A large part of Farid’s work involves representing clients with proceedings in Australia's Federal Circuit and Family Court, Federal Court, and High Court. He also provides advice and assistance to clients with matters before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and Immigration Assessment Authority (IAA), and clients seeking visas and other outcomes, including employers, investors, skilled migrants, family based visa applicants, students, asylum seekers and refugees, those facing visa cancellation, citizenship applicants, and global talent visa applicants.


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.


Mr Chris Honnery, Barrister,
Chris Honnery is a barrister who is experienced representing applicants in administrative law and judicial review proceedings. He passed the England and Wales Bar Transfer Test prior to being called to the NSW Bar, and has worked in a number of jurisdictions. Before becoming a barrister, Chris was a solicitor for almost a decade, working at Victoria Legal Aid, the Federal Court of Australia, and representing asylum seekers detained on Nauru. Based in Sydney, Chris also appears interstate, and has particular expertise in migration matters and challenging visa-related decisions. Website https://www.chrishonnery.com.au/