Combining both legal and First Nations lived experience, Trent drives First Nations initiatives across the firm and provides thought leadership and education around cultural safety and awareness. Working across the social justice sector and corporate Australia, Trent seeks to embed key cultural considerations to create meaningful change for First Nations Peoples. In this work, Trent collaborates with a wide variety of clients to develop and execute First Nations initiatives.

Trent offers cultural awareness education and advice on how to work effectively with clients and also collaborates with People & Culture on programmes of attraction and retention to First Nations employees. As a lawyer, Trent is able to identify and mitigate risks to reputation through building a strong foundation of strategies to support cultural awareness.

Trent is Co-Chair of the Legal Profession Reconciliation Network and is on the Executive Committee of Just Reinvest NSW. In addition to these roles, Trent is also a Director of Metro Arts (QLD), Editorial Board Member for LexisNexis, Advisor to the Starlight Children's Foundation, Advisor to the Board of ActionAid Australia and is a lecturer in law and First Nations Peoples.

As the founder of Young New Yorkers (YNY) she created the first arts-based Alternative-To-Incarceration program in NYC and assisted over 1,400 young people to exit the criminal legal system without an adult criminal record. In this role she partnered with—and created programs for—multiple criminal legal agencies including the Center of Court Innovation, Kings County DA's Office, NYC Department of Probation, and the New York Police Department. Over the decade Rachel led YNY she took it from a one-off project, to building it to be a go-to restorative sentencing option in NYC with a $1 million annual budget.

Rachel has been acknowledged in the media and received awards and fellowships. She holds a Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University.

Digressions in this episode include the role of public art as a dialogue, ego, Rachel's favourite kind of jokes, and many insights into the power of partnership and collaboration with diverse communities to make social justice a reality. We are so grateful for the opportunity to meet with Rachel and to have the opportunity to hear from her practice wisdom and heart.

Digressions in this episode include Liz's impersonation of a line from her favourite movie, Liz's open-mindedness framework, what it was like growing up in New York, and the impact of "micro-aggressions".

With nearly one year post admission experience under her belt, the sky is the limit for Liz, and we think she is a lawyer to keep an eye on! We definitely left this meeting feeling energised, and we know you will too!

Linda Cho is a criminal lawyer, and at the time we record this episode, she elucidates to us about an internship she did in the United States, and also on her (at that time, future plans) plans to relocate. Linda, we miss you already! Judge Dzenita Balic, whom was a Magistrate when we met her on our first podcast with her, shared with us about her continued journey in actively promoting diversity within legal and justice spaces. It's always a pleasure to learn from and share with these two wonderful humans. Digressions include the exploring of adoption of English names to maybe create a sense of belonging/inclusion, the importance of pro bono work in our profession, and the need for diversity strategies to include everyone.

As this conversation has been published two months late, it's interesting to reflect on what's transpired since our conversation back in late November. One big topic of conversation is the reflection on the Culture and Law Moot, which is now back for its second year coming up on 20 March 2025. We would love to see you there! To join us or find out more, please visit: https://www.trybooking.com/CZBQE.

This is a beautifully reflective episode and a reminder that there is always work to be done and we each can contribute to that work. We are so pleased to be able to share this final episode despite our unplanned hiatus. We will return in the second half of 2025 with more episodes for you.

As a solicitor advocate who appears in court almost daily, Shannon considers herself to offer and be something different from who you may consider typically seen advocating in court. She is Asian, queer, and may come across as non-binary but identifies as a female. These qualities she believes can be a blessing and a curse.

She was born and raised in Taiwan before moving to Australia with her mother when she turned 18 to study at the University of Queensland. Coming into law, Shannon has encountered lawyers and mentors who have inspired her and helped shape who she is as a lawyer. She is a client-oriented lawyer and does not shy away from having frank and honest conversation with her clients. She believes this is important to determine the best strategy for her clients.

Shannon was vulnerable and spoke candidly with us about many things. Some highlights for us were hearing about her struggles adjusting to the English language, her early exposure to seeing how people of diverse backgrounds shared space at her grandpa's shop, being misgendered in court, and having the courage to be who you are as a form of empowering others, and being the change you want to see.

Debbie's story may be familiar to some, and we cannot do justice covering off everything in the short time we had the privilege of sharing with her. Debbie was in prison during a brief period of reform, allowing her to access opportunities for education, employment and day release, sharpening her special skill to ‘think around corners’. During her time in prison, Debbie worked hard for a degree in Social Work and took on the huge task of turning her life around. Since then, she has qualified as a Gestalt Therapist and Legal Practitioner, and has completed a Graduate Diploma of Forensic Mental Health.

Debbie established Sisters Inside in 1992, which advocates for the human rights of women in the criminal justice system and responds to gaps in the services available to them. We encourage our listeners to visit the Sisters Inside website if they wish to volunteer or donate. Debbie was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to the community for working with women in prison in 2003, and then awarded the Australian Human Rights Medal in 2004. She was also grantedthe Churchill Fellowship to explore decarceration strategies and programs internationally in 2014.

We really enjoyed this conversation, and so glad to finally publish it!

After graduating from Flinders university with a Bachelor of Laws, Daniel was admitted as a solicitor and a day later began working as a lawyer at Thomson Geer in Adelaide. However, in 2017 after seeing regular media coverage on African youth crime in Melbourne, he felt called to move to Victoria to be a role model for the younger people in his South Sudanese community.

He has largely worked as a criminal lawyer working with Papa Hughes Lawyers, Victoria Legal Aid, Salvos Legal before becoming a Director at Ajak, Wolan and Tut Lawyers which later became Ajak & Associates.

He credits one of his greatest achievements to be the co-founding of the African Australian Legal Network (AALN). The AALN seeks to is creating opportunities for aspiring law students and graduates from his community to get a foot in the door. The AALN was first convened in July 2018, and is now an incorporated association, the AALN is focused on the skills development, recruitment and retention of people of African descent in the Australian legal community.

The group has enjoyed success and support from oragnisations such as Victoria Legal Aid and the Office of the General Counsel, Department of Premier and Cabinet (Victoria), Castan Chambers and the Leo Cussen Centre for Law to name a few.

Daniel was awarded a 2020 Early Career Alumni Award by Flinders University for his significant contribution to the African-Australian community in Australia, including the development of professional networks and advocacy for African-Australian legal students.

In 2021, she founded Rose Tinted Law, a consultancy where she curates ‘alternative’ professional development content and sessions for confused, doubtful, jaded (or just plain curious) early-career legal professionals. Her aim is to inspire confidence and purpose in the next generation of legal leaders.If you’re an early career legal professional asking yourself ‘what next?’ or 'what's my why?' then Rose is someone you can turn to for unlocking your potential.

As a lawyer, Rose has worked in litigation and dispute resolution across multiple jurisdictions and has held multiple roles in legal education, where she created leadership and professional development programs for early career legal professionals. Her work has been recognised as innovative and trailblazing by the legal profession. The program, “Physically different: Professionally close - How to stay connected in a virtual working world” led the Law Institute of Victoria Young Lawyers to be awarded Young Lawyer Organisation of the Year by the Law Council of Australia in 2020. In 2021, she was shortlisted as a Thought Leader of the Year finalist at The Australian Women in Law Awards in 2021.

Digressions in this episode include a random connection to Sarah Davidson of 'Spoonful of Sarah' fame and Rose gets really real about her mental health journey so if you're on your own healing journey at the moment and have limited bandwidth to hear about that, then please consider this our trigger warning for you or gentle note to take care. As a result of her experiences, Rose is empathetic and compassionate disruptor.

Roman was born in Davao City, Philippines, but migrated with his family at six years of age to Palmerston, a satellite town of Darwin. Roman achieved a Bachelor of Laws (Hons.) and Bachelor of Arts (Maj. Psych) from the Charles Darwin University and was awarded prizes in Human Rights Law; Criminal Law; and Corporations Law for achieving the highest marks.

In this episode, Roman shares with us his varied journey through law, commencing as a judge’s associate in the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, and his subsequent journey through private practice, to non-government organisations in South America, and then eventually as a Crown Prosecutor at the Northern Territory Director of Public Prosecutions.

Since moving to Queensland, he has worked for the Crime and Corruption Commission, Brisbane City Council, and then the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. He was called to the Queensland Bar in 2022 and joined the Queensland Private Bar in 2023. Roman is a current committee member of the Queensland Branch for the Asian Australian Lawyer’s Association.

Digressions include his parents’ promise to him when he left for South America, his former life as a dancer, and his impression of Raygun.

He was appointed as CEO in March 2024 but he was previously the General Manager – Advocacy, Guidance and Governance for the QLS. Originally joining the QLS in 2005, he departed to take up a national policy leadership role with the Law Council of Australia in 2014, before returning to raise his family in Brisbane. Matt’s extensive industry experience places him in the unique position of having a strong understanding and insight into the issues affecting the modern profession. An advocate for ensuring practitioners have affordable and accessible resources to build and maintain their practice, Matt is proud to be in such a position of trust to guide and enable the profession.

If you have not met Matt before and curious about how the QLS integrates diversity, equity and inclusion into its work, then this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Matt shared some stats, he shared his own experiences and particularly in policy, and importantly, he brought a good sense of humour to this conversation. Digressions include the real devil’s devilling in Scotland, the special person who moved his admission, whether he bleeds Maroon and his fashion recommendation.

Sheetal has a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and political science from the University of the Fraser Valley (Canada), and a Juris Doctor, Master of Laws and Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from Bond University (Australia). Sheetal incorporates her political and social science training in her advocacy forequity & accessibility within the legal profession and the community it serves.Sheetal is the Principal and Founder of Shakti Legal Solutions; an innovative, award winning low-bono law firm designed specifically to improve access to legal assistance for everyday people through a unique, ‘pay what you can’ model.

Outside of her legal practice, Sheetal runs a diversity and inclusion consultancy, is the Senior Project Manager for the RISE Project at the Diversity Council of Australia, an adjunct lecturer with the College of Law, and volunteers her time to various not-for-profit organisations and boards including the Centre of Legal Innovation’s Emerging Leaders Advisory Board and the Queensland Law Society where she is the first culturally and racially marginalised (CARM) woman elected to serve on its board in its 150-year history.

Digressions include her Indian heritage migration story to Fiji, having a life mission statement and Olly wants to steal a quokka. This episode is a goldie!

Danielle’s firm challenges the traditional law firm model in order to provide a transparent and authentic legal service to clients. Danielle believes that people involved in litigation should be at the centre of solutions and it’s about the journey for them during the litigation process rather than only the outcome. It is for that reason that Danielle’s firm has superior efficiency in e-litigation and offers clients a web-enabled client portal to allow them to directly connect with their litigation file 24/7.

Danielle’s trailblazing leadership initiatives were recognised at the 2023 Australian Law Awards where she was named “Managing Partner of the Year”.  At the same awards in 2022, Elit Lawyers was awarded “Boutique Law Firm of the Year”.

As of the time of this podcast, Danielle is a finalist in the Women in Law Awards under the category “Executive of the Year” - congratulations, Danielle!

Our conversation touches on many things, including a sweet anecdote about her family's pilgrimage to her grandmother's home in Sicily, how award ceremonies can promote diversity, the Law Institute of Victoria's Charter for the Advancement of Women, and her take on growing up in the law.

Leaving a successful career in finance in order to pursue law, he was admitted to the NSW Bar at the age of 25 before establishing the firm of Executive Law Group where as the managing partner he oversees some of Australia’s most complex criminal, family and commercial matters. He has been retained both domestically and internationally by individuals and organisations when everything is on the line.

His work in advocacy, evidence, criminal law and human rights as well as his subject matter expertise have seen him featured frequently on television and in media and have helped him grow his social media following to over 363,000 followers on TikTok and a highly regarded expert who is often quoted in professional publications. He was invited to speak on the Tedx main stage in 2018 and has since

When not in practice, Jahan is a sought after speaker and workshop facilitator who brings his practical skills from the courtroom to help people take their skills to the next level. He frequently speaks to groups of entrepreneurs, high performers, students and the community about storytelling, community building, mental health and the power of communication.

Jahan’s keynote work focuses primarily on the skills and expertise developed while working in the law and how to tailor your communication for the audience. His work was recognised by TedX Sydney who invited him to speak on the main stage and his talk has been viewed over 386k times.

Digressions in this episode include a discussion about Jahan's coming to terms with his neurodivergence, his journey into social media and some really great life advice.

You can see all of Jahan’s work and learn more about him at www.jahankalantar.com.

Jasmina has been the Director-General of Queensland’ s Department of Justice and Attorney-General since May 2023. This role follows her experience as Associate Director-General, Strategy, Policy and Reform in Queensland Health, in which she led the development of visionary system-wide policy, including HealthQ32, and prior leadership of critical functions contributing to Queensland’ s successful COVID-19 response, for which she was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2022.

Jasmina received the Griffith University and Griffith Business School Alumnus of the Year awards in 2023. Her experiences in the higher education sector with the University of Queensland and University of Melbourne have also contributed to her innovative approaches to public sector reform, strategy and organisational design to facilitate transformation.

She is a current member of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government Board, the Queensland Government’ s Public Sector Governance Council, the Institute of Public Administration Australia Queensland Division Council, and the Children’ s Hospital Foundation Legacy Advisory Committee.

She holds a BA (Hons) from the University of Queensland and Graduate Certificate in Policy Analysis and Master of Public Administration (Public Policy) from Griffith University.

This is a goosebump inducing episode with a wholehearted and surprisingly down to earth human being. Her feature in QWeekend is a beautiful and sobering read. However, it is her humour and vision that captured our attention in this episode.

She is a founding member of the QLS Diverse Abilities Network, which is a network that champions equal opportunity and inclusion for people with disabilities within the legal profession and wider community. She discusses an Accessibility Guide for workplaces developed by this network.

Theresa has been a panellist speaker at events advocating for inclusivity of diverse abilities within the legal profession, including International Day for People with Disability and Global Accessibility Awareness Day. She has been invited to give presentations for LegalWise Seminars and to University students on the topic of diversity. In 2020 she contributed to the QLS submission to the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disabilities Insurance Scheme about her experiences with applying for NDIS funding and the lack of reasonable accommodations available to people with hearing impairments.

Theresa is a manager and mentor to law students, and she is proud to encourage future lawyers to be understanding and open-minded about working with people with disabilities. In this episode, we canvass what allyship looks like to her, remember that disability is an important form of diversity, and a Proctor article, “Motherhood, disability and career” that she co-authored. Digressions include her adoration of author and disability advocate, Helen Keller, a funny but impressive MacGyver-esque moment and her delight making frozen delights.

At the time we met with Farzana in June 2023, she was the President of the ACT Law Society, and very recently became the Immediate Past President. She is the first community lawyer to have held these positions. Farzana is also a member of the Law Council of Australia's Access to Justice Committee and the ACT Law Society's Access to Justice and Inclusion Committee. In 2019, Farzana was named ACT Young Lawyer of the Year, in recognition of her professional and community engagement to support people facing barriers.

During our meeting, Farzana tells us about the 'Just Hearing' performance, put on by Rebus Theatre, Canberra Community Law and Canberra Legal Aid. Fortunately, there is an upcoming public performance on 20 October 2023 and you can purchase tickets here.

We also discuss the social scripts by Canberra Community Law and Autism Spectrum Australia, a resource of social scripts and templates for justice organisations.

Farzana also introduces us to the Canberra Lawyers for Diversity Network, which if you're based in Canberra, we encourage you to join.

Please enjoy our very informatve conversation!

Roy is a graduate of the University of Queensland and partner of Solomons Legal. In this role, he is responsible for leading the strategic direction of Solomons Legal and has an extensive transaction experience across a wide range of assets, projects and client groups, both local and overseas.

Victor is a graduate of the University of Adelaide and is also a partner of Solomons Legal. Victor brings almost two decades of experience to his practice that extends to commercial banking transactions, property development, construction, renewable energy assets and pharmaceuticals.

They share some of their early life experiences, reflect on important male role models in their lives, and what their shared values are that brought them together to start a business together. This is a firecracker of an episode if we can say so ourselves, and we just did.

Scott McDougall commenced as Commissioner of the Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland on 8 October 2018.  Immediately prior to his appointment he was the Director and Principal Solicitor at Caxton Legal Centre in Brisbane where he contributed to the successful campaign to introduce a Human Rights Act in Queensland.   Since 1 January 2020, as Queensland’s inaugural Human Rights Commissioner, Scott has overseen the implementation of a dedicated human rights complaints function with the objective of building a strong human rights culture within Queensland’s public sector. He holds a Bachelor of Laws from the Queensland University of Technology.

Digressions include working with Andrew Boe (and missing a trip to Greece), learning about resilience and compassion and modelling that for our children, and some highlights from his time at Caxton Legal Centre.

He also references the book Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, which we have added to our reading list. Tilé also mentions the Diversity training found on the QHRC website, which we have linked for anyone interested.

We really enjoyed our conversation with Scott and we hope to read the book he wishes to write about his dad one day!

• Eve (she/her) is in her fourth year of a Science and Laws (Hons) dual degree, majoring in Biomedical Sciences. She is the 2024 University of Queensland Law Society President and she always makes time for painting and playing music. She spent her childhood in various countries around Asia and identifies as a Third Culture Kid.

• Patrick (he/his) is a first year student at UQ studying Arts/Laws, majoring in Political Science and International Relations. He has autism, which he says can make social experiences challenging, but he hopes his experiences make him an empathetic and caring person. His main goal in life is to make the world a better place, especially for those who suffer from inequalities and injustice. His interests are in politics, music, chess, and he follows the Brisbane Lions in the AFL.

• Annie (she/her) is a fourth year Bachelor of Laws (Honours) student at the University of Queensland. She has participated in multiple extra-curricular activities at UQ. Annie works in the Youth Crime Team at Legal Aid Queensland. She hopes to use her privilege and law degree to assist – and amplify the needs of criminalised people in Queensland. Annie has Malaysian-Chinese heritage from her dad’s side.

• Sam (he/his) is a proud Wiradjuri man with connections through his father and has lived across Australia in his formative years in places like Broome and Cairns. He attended Gosford High, is studying law at the University of Queensland, and has also contributed to pro bono work through UQ’s Youth Justice Team. In 2023, he participated in the Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Program, and was voted in as the Youth Premier by his 2023 cohort.

We left this conversation feeling admiration and inspired by each person as we know our listeners will too.

This episode is intended to cap off a really interesting season. We wanted to reflect on some of what we had learned with someone who specialises and spends their time trying to understand human behaviour.

Shane is an Australian Pasifika Psychologist based in Meanijn (Brisbane) who has experience working across high performance and grassroots sport, forensic, clinical, and community mental health settings. Shane is the Principal Psychologist at Maximize Performance Psychology providing a culturally sensitive service collaborating Western and Pasifika evidenced based practice.

In addition to one-on-one counselling, Shane delivers group workshops on leadership, mental skills, resilience, and wellbeing for teams, schools, sporting and corporate organisations across Australia. He provides support to athletes through the AFL Player’s Mental Health Network, League Ahead (NRL/NRLW mental health network - club aligned psychologist for Redcliffe Dolphins and Gold Coast Titans), Rugby Union Players’ Association, Pacific Rugby Players Welfare, and the Mental Health Referral Network for the AIS. Shane takes some of our big picture questions and provides some simple but affirming strategies that made mental health not feel so overwhelming.

Listen with care | Support Links

• Lifeline: 13 11 14 (phone) or text 0477 13 11 14. 24/7 phone and text support for anyone in Australia.
• 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732. 24/7 support for sexual assault, domestic and family violence
• 13YARN: 13 92 76. 24/7 crisis support service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Meena Singh is a Yorta Yorta and Indian woman, born, raised and living on the land of the Kulin Nations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Law degree. Meena started her legal career with Victoria Legal Aid, where she practised in human rights and criminal law, and was also their inaugural Associate Director, Aboriginal Services. She has led legal services and programs at the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and the Human Rights Law Centre, as well as consulting in training and organisational development across many organisations. Meena commenced as the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People in Victoria in April 2022. In her work, she is passionate about elevating the voices of Aboriginal children and young people to ensure their experiences are centred in service design to promote inclusion, connection and ultimately achieve social justice and equitable outcomes.

Meena is married, with two dogs, Reg and Betsy, is soon to walk her fifth Camino de Santiago and being an old calisthenics girl, loves sequins. We really enjoyed this episode, and you can tell because of all the laughs. We touch on so many things from US politics, to whether you need to have children to be the Commissioner for Children, to the art of career pivots which Meena has been able to do skillfully throughout her many roles. Whilst she has had a very accomplished career, her answer to our question of whether she feels she belongs in the profession is a call for more of us to actively show allyship and solidarity beyond words. We are so grateful to Meena for hosting us and for her candidness in sharing her personal and professional experiences.

Karen brings deep personal insight to her work. A book-lover who lost her sight and an ice-cream devotee living with insulin-dependent diabetes, she has navigated profound life changes—continuing to live, work, parent, and travel as a blind woman. Her journey equips her with a rare understanding of adversity and adaptability.

With a 20-year legal career behind her, Karen is an expert communicator who understands the pressures of professional life and knows how to connect with audiences of all kinds. This is a wonderful conversation about finding your life’s vision and purpose against the challenges of physical visual impairment.

Support Links

Lifeline: 13 11 14 (phone) or text 0477 13 11 14. 24/7 phone and text support for anyone in Australia,

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732. 24/7 support for sexual assault, domestic and family violence

13YARN: 13 92 76. 24/7 crisis support service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Her Honour previously served as a Judge of the District Court of Queensland from 10 November 2014, in that capacity also sitting as a Judge of the Children’s Court of Queensland and the Planning and Environment Court. Her Honour holds the degree of Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from the Queensland University of Technology, and was awarded the University Medal in 1995. Her Honour served as the Associate to the Honourable Justice Drummond of the Federal Court of Australia in 1996, and completed articles of clerkship with Minter Ellison in 1997.

Her Honour was admitted as a solicitor in January 1998, and as a barrister in July 1998. She commenced practice at the private Bar in Brisbane in July 1998. Her Honour took silk in November 2013. As a barrister, she practised widely in public, administrative and commercial law areas, with a particular focus on native title law. Her Honour is the Chair of the Judicial Council on Diversity and Inclusion.

Digressions include a desire to have dinner with Colin Firth, Taylor Swift-inspired career/life advice and her Honour's surprising (and refreshing) biggest accomplishment.

AUDIO NOTE: The audio is not at the level we want it to be, and we are still investigating if there’s a way to improve it (if you’re a sound technician who can help, please reach out!) and we will re-publish at a later date if we can fix it. The Chief Justice’s episode was just too good not to publish! We are working on transcripts for all of our episodes if this is of any consolation, we have also invested in new mics and technology moving forward. Thank you for your support!

From co-leading the 2025 Bandarran Marra'Gu Gathering Strength Summit, to helping to shape Victoria’s first anti-racism strategy and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights, Ronja brings experience in policy reform, negotiation, and impact-driven leadership.

But Ronja’s influence also lives well beyond government work. She’s the voice behind the Brisbados, the creator of @moneyandmouth, an Instagram project exploring food, culture and the politics of cultural appropriation, and she hosts the “Food For Thought” segment on Saltwater Radio — amplifying conversations about identity, culture and community from the NT.

Ronja opens up about navigating the personal and political challenges arising from Australia’s recent anti-immigration protests and rhetoric. With honesty, humour and clarity, she shares how these moments intersect with belonging, activism, and community.

Digressions are mostly about Beyonce. But the substantive discussion is a thoughtful, timely conversation that blends lived experience, policy insight, and a whole lot of heart.

Growing up, Kunal tells us that he was always told that people with disabilities needed to be “inspirational” and “amazing”, something that he still does not necessarily agree with. He tells us that as a child, he just wanted to be “normal”, with a respectable 9 to 5 and a family of his own. While this dream of his is still largely the same as he grows older, he has also realised that he wants to be an example to others with a disability, that a “normal” life is still achievable despite the adversities that we may face.

Beyond my academic endeavours, he trains in swimming and in the gym daily, in order to minimise the effects of his Cerebral Palsy as he ages. Digressions in this episode include reference to the Diverse Abilities Network, being made to play dodgeball in primary school and Scottish Fold cats.

Mel works as the Head of Legal for the Asia-Pacific region of a global technology company called Pax8. She has worked in house for thirteen years across multiple industries such as aviation, infrastructure, cloud computing and now, software distribution.

Mel has previously been awarded the 2023 In House Lawyer of the Year at the Queensland Law Society Excellence in Law Awards, Lawyers Weekly Corporate Counsel 30 Under 30 Award and the Global Modern Counsel 35 Under 35 Award.

She has served as a Member of the Queensland Law Society's In-House Committee and as the In-House Advisor to the Women Lawyers Association Queensland. She is also a founding Board Member of the Centre for Legal Innovation’s Emerging Leaders Advisory Board.

Mel launched her passion project, "Counsel", a self-made podcast about in-house lawyer life, during the first COVID-19 Lockdown. The podcast is now in its fourth season, reaches an audience in over 27 countries and has been downloaded more than 100,000 times.

She is a passionate advocate for all things in house and also shares career insights for law students and graduates on Instagram and TikTok under the moniker @theinhouselawyer. Go follow her immediately if you don’t already.

We were so grateful the stars finally aligned for this conversation. Our discussion covers off on so much including what in-house counsel practice looks like, how in-house counsel can leverage their work for social justice, her own mental health journey, and how she’s used her platforms to create inclusive places. She generously gives us a lot of practical insights on her journey that any lawyer or professional could take on board.

With a career dedicated solely to criminal and quasi-criminal law, Jonathan is a highly experienced advocate committed to providing his clients with expert legal guidance and representation. Having worked across a wide spectrum of criminal cases—from traffic offences to complex homicide and mental impairment matters—Jonathan is well-equipped to handle all aspects of criminal law with professionalism and care.

What sets Jonathan apart is his attention to detail and his commitment to communication. He works closely with each client to ensure they fully understand the court process and the progress of their case. Every matter is approached with thorough analysis and a personalised strategy, ensuring that each client’s unique situation is handled with care and precision. He understands the stress that comes with being charged and strives to make the legal process as smooth and stress-free as possible for everyone he represents.

In this episode, Jonathan generously unpacks his mental health journey with us and gives us some insight into how he has built and cultivated a growth mindset. He embodies the importance of self-awareness, having the hard conversations early and being kind because there is no overnight solution.

As a prosecutor he was a member of the Interpol Experts Group for Online Child Sexual Offences and a lecturer at the Management of Serious and Organised Crime Program. His Honour has presented papers at numerous international and domestic conferences, including as a keynote speaker to Council of the European Union where he presented on Australia’s online child exploitation laws. Deputy Chief Magistrate Gett is currently based in the Brisbane Magistrates Court after initially serving in far North Queensland.

In 2014 and 2015 his Honour travelled to Indonesia as part of a judicial assistance program with the Indonesian judiciary. In April 2021, he was appointed an Acting Judge of the Local Court of the Northern Territory. He belongs to a number of judicial committees, including the national Cultural Diversity Justice Network.

Digressions include honey soy chicken and fried rice, and his favourite books/films, The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, and the English Patient by Anthony Minghella.

Sumeet has over 10 years of experience providing interpreting services for the community, as well as for courts and tribunals across Australia. She is currently pursuing a Master of Translation and Interpreting with RMIT University and has been serving as an examiner for NAATI since 2016.

Lynn Geng is a NAATI Certified Specialist Legal and Health Interpreter in Mandarin and English. She received six years of comprehensive interpreter training during both her master’s and bachelor’s degrees (The University of Queensland). Lynn has been practicing as an interpreter in Australia since 2013. Lynn taught the Diploma of Interpreting at the Sydney Institute of Interpreting and Translating for five years. As one of only seven Mandarin specialist legal interpreters in the country, she collaborates with various language service providers to train court interpreters and mentors them in applying the Recommended National Standards for working with interpreters in courts and tribunals.

Sumeet and Lynn reminded us that the role of the interpreter is a crucial one for the administration of justice and the collective responsibility of all actors in the courtroom (not just the interpreter) in the realisation of the right of people accessing legal systems to be heard and to communicate. We were inspired by the thoughtful way they approach their vocation, especially hearing the spectrum of human experiences, from the beautiful to the confronting for which they have provided interpreting services. There’s a lot of good learning in this episode, and we even get to put our voice acting skills to the test with a couple of role plays exploring when interpreting is done well or not.

Her purpose is simple: to create a positive impact through meaningful interaction — with the goal of changing the life of at least one person in every room she walks into, to speak.

With nearly 15 years of legal and leadership experience, a MBA, and a gift for turning hard lessons into WOW moments, Rachael helps burnt out professional [insert occupation] trade exhaustion for empowerment.

✨ Like glitter, her impact stays long after the moment has passed.

“Wiggle your big toe”, ‘Your Second Life Begins When You Realise You Only Have One’ by Raphaelle Giordano and ‘enclothed cognition’… tune in to hear how Rachel weaves all these and so many more gold nuggets into our conversation. Listen now wherever you listen to podcasts.

Support Links

Lifeline: 13 11 14 (phone) or text 0477 13 11 14. 24/7 phone and text support for anyone in Australia,

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732. 24/7 support for sexual assault, domestic and family violence

13YARN: 13 92 76. 24/7 crisis support service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Simon is an accomplished legal professional and revered community leader. With a Bachelor of Law and Business from UniSQ, graduating in 2017, Simon has cultivated a remarkable reputation. Currently serving as the Legal Counsel at the National Heart Foundation of Australia, he brings his wealth of knowledge and experience from private law firms to one of the largest charities in the nation.

Simon's influence extends beyond his professional role. As a leader in multiple legal organisations, including the Law Council of Australia's Young Lawyers Committee (as Deputy Chair) and the Queensland Law Society's Future Leaders Committee, he actively shapes the future of the legal profession. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Simon was awarded UniSQ's Young Alumnus of the Year in 2022. He remains deeply committed to volunteering and community work, exemplified by his role as the Independent Chair for the Toowoomba Headspace Consortium.

Simon subscribes to the Greek proverb that society flourishes when you plant trees for shade you will never sit in. He stresses the importance of paying it forward for the next generation and impressed on us the importance of protecting one’s time and mental health as key cornerstones of success

Rita previously worked as an advisor to the Opposition Leader of the Senate and a Federal Government Minister and was heavily involved in the National Apology to Australia’s Indigenous peoples. Rita is actively involved in the advocacy space as well and currently serves as the chief advisor and lawyer at the Australian Muslim Advocacy Network, which has had two legal wins, one against the former Senator Fraser Anning and the most recent against the social media platform X. Here, Rita engages with government, media, and civil society to explore issues that impact the Muslim community. You can find out more about her advocacy work with the Australian Muslim Advocacy Network by visiting https://www.aman.net.au/. She has published peer-reviewed papers on the human rights impacts of terrorism definitions and dehumanising materials.

Rita has always found a deep sense of meaning in whatever work she has done whether it is as a lawyer, a masseuse, teacher, political advisor, or other role. She is also a person who has throughout her life has been forced or exposed to observing systems, and has brought the wisdom from her various careers, her faith, and her strong sense of self to fuel her advocacy for social justice. In this episode, she skilfully applies some of her advocacy and human rights language within the ‘inclusion and belonging’ spectrum especially when she shares about her work championing laws against racial profiling and vilification. This is an episode you are going to listen to more than once!

Tosin Aro has been at the forefront of native title, Indigenous land rights, and cultural heritage law—acting for major public and private sector clients as well as First Nations communities across Australia. He is noted for his thought leadership and, in addition to lecturing in First Nations Law at the University of Sydney, has made significant contributions to Parliamentary Inquiries relating to reform of the Federal Native Title Act and the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Acts.

After 20 years at one of the nation's top law firms, Tosin now leads his own practice, Aro & Associates, where he helps clients navigate complex cross-cultural and legal landscapes with compassion and clarity.

Recognised by Chambers Asia-Pacific, Best Lawyers Australia and Doyle's Guide, Tosin brings deep expertise, humility, and purpose to every case.

Yellow shirts, teddy bears and pizza are just some of the digressions that come up during this awesome conversation.

Support Links

Lifeline: 13 11 14 (phone) or text 0477 13 11 14. 24/7 phone and text support for anyone in Australia,

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732. 24/7 support for sexual assault, domestic and family violence

13YARN: 13 92 76. 24/7 crisis support service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Her skill set is unique, with expertise in community campaigning and advocacy, domestic violence, women’s issues, law reform, policy, fundraising, communication, and media. She is a former (or reformed!) politician, founded Australia’s first expert Domestic Violence law firm, has worked as the Principal Lawyer at Women’s Legal Service Queensland, is a former Vice President of Queensland Law Society, and more recently has taken on a range of board and advisory positions.

Kara has been recognised locally and nationally as the Australian Young Lawyer of the Year, one of the 50 Best and Brightest in Queensland, one of the 125 Leading Women in Queensland, and the Emergent Woman Lawyer of the Year by the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland.

Kara, in partnership with her husband Joshua Creamer, a First Nations barrister, established the Joshua Creamer and Kara Cook Excellence in Law Award through Griffith University. The recipient of this award receives a scholarship that aims to increase the number of female Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander barristers practicing at the Queensland Bar by promoting and encouraging excellence in the study of law. The scholarship is awarded to an eligible First Nations female student enrolled in their final year of law at Griffith University. Presently, and if you’ve been following our podcast, you will know there is only one of two female First Nations barristers in Queensland. This scholarship aims to increase this number!

Kara was recently appointed as the CEO of Basic Rights (and Working Women) Queensland (BRQ). BRQ is a state-wide specialist community legal centre, providing Free advice, advocacy and legal services.

Lorelei is a Quandamooka, Bundjalung and South Sea Islander woman, born and raised in Townsville, where she is a solicitor with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd. Also a James Cook University alumni, Lorelei was admitted to practice as a Solicitor in 2015 and has practised exclusively in Criminal Law. We were grateful for Lorelei for making time for us in Townsville recently, as she was busy preparing for the North Queensland Law Association or NQLA Conference 2024. She was President of the North Queensland Lawyers Association at the time of this interview and now the immediate past president.

As an award winning lawyer, she was the recipient of the Queensland Law Society Excellence in Law First Nations Solicitor of the Year 2023, Lorelei tells us about her journey into the law beginning two generations earlier. We felt really connected to Lorelei and grateful for her time with us given how busy she was preparing for the NQLA Conference at the time. Our conversation traverses her experience in the law, including a time she was racially vilified by a client, and her work to educate future JCU students on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, i.e. Australian history. If you haven't yet, why don't you hit that subscribe and like button right now!

Avelina has held senior roles in various organisations, including senior legal officer for the Office of the Health Ombudsman Queensland and counsel assisting in the Coroners Court of Queensland. She has been a Federal prosecutor with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and has also worked for the Australian Securities and Investment Commission and as a sessional lecturer at QUT for the Legal Practice Course on the topic of Cross-Cultural Communication.

In 2014 she was selected as an Indigenous Fellow by the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights to undertake a two-month fellowship in Geneva.

Avelina was the President of the Indigenous Lawyers Association of Queensland from 2018-2022. She continues to mentor and support early career and aspiring First Nations lawyers, mirroring and paying forward the mentorship she received in her early career. She shares eloquently with us her ideas on the ways that the legal profession can improve action towards improving diversity and inclusion within the profession.

In 2020, Avelina was appointed as a part-time Legal Member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal and in 2023 she was appointed to the Legal Aid Queensland board.

During our conversation, Avelina references the work of American educator, Jane Elliott, and her book "A collar in my pocket: The blue eyes and brown eyes experiment". She also references the autobiography of Mariah Carey titled "The Meaning of Mariah Carey".

We are excited to see where the future takes Avelina. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

At the time of recording this episode, Arlou was special counsel with the Racial Justice Centre. However, she has recently transitioned to the role of Education Lead at the Racial Justice Centre. She is a lawyer with extensive experience in anti-discrimination, employment and human rights law. She has over 10 years of experience as a lawyer across private practice, government, community legal centres and Legal Aid Commissions across Australia. Arlou has experience advising and acting on behalf of complainants who have experienced sexual harassment, race, disability and other forms of discrimination in various Commissions, Tribunals and Courts. Arlou is also a lecturer in employment law and recently conducted an anti-racism consultancy with the United Nations.

Arlou really takes us deep in this episode and we are so excited for you to hear it. Our conversation traverses steps or strategies if you are experiencing harassment or abuse in the workplace, the challenges of DEI as a framework from an anti-racist perspective, and finding belonging in a fluid and always moving profession by calling-in community. We felt really privileged to hear and learn from her.

Please consider donating to the Racial Justice Centre at the following link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=2RAYVEEU2VUFC&amount=20

Hannah is a proud Meriam Mer (Torres Strait Islander) woman with family ties to the Manbarra people and a practising lawyer. Her passion for the law has guided her through a diverse career spanning policy, law reform, human rights, and advocacy. Across her various roles, Hannah has been dedicated to educating others, bringing an Indigenous perspective to policy and law reform, and strengthening internal cultural awareness. Her work is driven by a commitment to advancing the rights and wellbeing of vulnerable communities.

Hannah shares with us some insight into her own experience after the Voice to Parliament referendum. We feel very lucky that Hannah gave us space for her personal experience of a very public and political circumstance. One of our key takeaways (without giving too much away) was how this experience strengthened her commitment to ensuring legal services are delivered with care and through a trauma-informed lens.

Listen now wherever you listen to podcasts or follow the links in our bio/comments. If you are looking for some support as a result of some of the topics covered this season, please see a few options listed below:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Supports via the Australian Human Rights Commission: https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-social-justice/support-services-voice-referendum

13YARN: 13 92 76. 24/7 crisis support service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Lifeline: 13 11 14 (phone) or text 0477 13 11 14. 24/7 phone and text support for anyone in Australia.

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732. 24/7 support for sexual assault, domestic and family violence.

She is at the time of publishing this episode, the Vice-President of the Queensland Bar Association.

Cate Heyworth-Smith KC has general civil and commercial practice in areas including commercial property, financial services litigation, insolvency, equity and trusts, intellectual property, insurance law, and succession and estates. She is especially interested in the use of equitable remedies in commercial matters and their impact in insolvency.

We loved meeting with Cate back in April of this year! Like many great lawyers, she is an excellent storyteller, and she shares some great stories in this episode. Our discussions traverse the topics of self-care at the bar, the intersection of our role as custodians of conflict with our sense of belonging in the profession, and her beautiful answer to the question if she dreams big for the future. If you have been considering going to the bar and not sure where to start, this episode is a great starting point as Cate takes us through those steps.

Justice Semaj is the youngest female appointed to the New York State Supreme Court. Known for her groundbreaking work in youth justice, Justice Semaj has presided over violent felony cases in the Youth Part, specialised firearm cases, and now serves in the Civil Term, Bronx County.

A fierce advocate for young people, she launched an internship program for high school students, connecting them with judges and offering hands-on mentorship. Her community work includes ongoing involvement with Not on My Watch, Inc., a Bronx-based organisation uplifting young girls.

Beyond the bench, she’s a proud Bronx resident, wife, mother and dog mom to a cavapoo and mini poodle. We are so grateful to Justice Nemaj for making time on her holiday to have a chat with us!

If you are looking for some support as a result of some of the topics covered this season, please see a few options listed below:

Lifeline: 13 11 14 (phone) or text 0477 13 11 14. 24/7 phone and text support for anyone in Australia.

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732. 24/7 support for sexual assault, domestic and family violence.

13YARN: 13 92 76. 24/7 crisis support service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Trina graduated with a Bachelor of Justice Studies (Critical Criminology) in 2003 and a Bachelor of Laws in 2010 from the Queensland University of Technology (“QUT”). While working as a public servant, Trina obtained her Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from QUT in 2011. Trina has extensive legal experience in advocacy and litigation, predominately in human rights and legal matters relating to children and young people in the child protection system and adults with impaired capacity.

Trina’s Christian faith and passion for serving others includes volunteering as a youth leader and Sunday School teacher for the Logan City Congregational Christian Church of Samoa in Australia Inc. Trina is also one of the founding members for the Pasifika Lawyers Association of Queensland Inc (“PLAQ”), which is a multicultural Association of Pacific Island lawyers, law students, legal or justice professionals in Queensland. Trina was previously the PLAQ’s treasurer for several years and was recently appointed as President for PLAQ late last year. A key initiative of PLAQ in 2023, is co-delivering the inaugural international Pasefika Collective Conference in Samoa in July 2023.

Trina is also a co-founder of Pasifika Autism Village Support Group (PAVSG) which is currently operating in Queensland (Qld) and New South Wales (NSW) with the goal of expanding across Australia. Trina is blessed with two amazing autistic blessings. Her nine year old nephew, Leviticus, an autistic non verbal amazing little human who inspires her to do better because he can, and his four year old sister, Hadassah, who inspires her to not allow the world to define how loud she can be.

Clarissa Rayward is a family lawyer, business owner, author, and self-confessed lover of chocolate, coffee, and all things colourful. She’s the Director of the Brisbane Family Law Centre, where for over 16 years she’s helped families navigate separation with compassion and creativity.

Author of Splitsville: How to separate, stay out of court and stay friends, Clarissa also founded Happy Lawyer Happy Life—a movement inspiring lawyers to build happier, healthier careers through books, podcasts, and education.

Recognised for her leadership and wellbeing advocacy in law, Clarissa has received multiple awards, including the 2019 Wellness Advocate of the Year and the 2022 Agnes McWhinney Award for excellence, equity, and service to the community.

We are so grateful for her time and vulnerability. This is a stunning conversation full of heart, colour and vibes! An important digression is Clarissa sharing about some new research and podcast she is currently embarking on (exciting!). Tell us your thoughts on the episode!

If you are looking for some support as a result of some of the topics covered this season, please see a few options listed below:

Lifeline: 13 11 14 (phone) or text 0477 13 11 14. 24/7 phone and text support for anyone in Australia.

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732. 24/7 support for sexual assault, domestic and family violence.

13YARN: 13 92 76. 24/7 crisis support service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Joshua Creamer

Joshua is a descendant of the Waanyi and Kalkadoon people from North Western Queensland.

Joshua is a barrister who specialises in human rights class actions and native title. He was previously a member of the Board of Legal Aid Queensland and a past President of the Indigenous Lawyers Association of Queensland.

Joshua is ranked in Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific and Doyle’s Guide for his work in the native title jurisdiction. In 2017, Joshua was the recipient of the National Indigenous Legal Professional of the Year Award.

In September 2023 he was appointed as a Commissioner of the Queensland Law Reform Commission. He has recently been appointed as the Chair of the Truth Telling and Healing Inquiry in Queensland.

Melia Benn

Melia is Mamu and Gunggandji. She is one of only two Aboriginal women barristers practicing at the Queensland Bar. She grew up in Far North Queensland and was called to the Bar in 2018.

Melia has a dual practice in both Endeavour Chambers, Cairns and Aspect Chambers, Brisbane. She has a broad practice in Class Action proceedings including advocating for First Nations People, Coronial Inquests, Discrimination and Human Rights matters.

Melia is a sessional legal member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal. In 2021, Melia was awarded the Australian Lawyers Alliance’s Queensland Civil Justice Award, which recognises individuals or organisations who have displayed an outstanding commitment to the pursuit of justice. In 2023, Melia was awarded the Outstanding Indigenous Alumni Award by James Cook University.

There is an African proverb that says, “When sleeping women wake, mountains move.” That is, when a woman becomes aware of her own power and potential, she will be able to accomplish great things. This perfectly describes our guest, Chi, from Nigeria in West Africa who belongs to the Ibo tribe, one of the three main tribes in Nigeria. She is a woman with inner strength and resilience, with a witty sense of humour whom did not allow the naysayers to have the last say on the trajectory of her career and passions.

Chi is a family lawyer and author with a particular passion for helping people experiencing family violence. She arrived in Australia in 2007 having qualified as barrister and solicitor in Nigeria. Despite the obstacles, she continued to pursue her legal career when she moved to Australia and has carved out a niche as a successful family and domestic violence lawyer. She was admitted to practice as a solicitor in Queensland in 2010 and obtained her Masters of Law in 2012.

She has worked in Community Corrections, with legal roles in Legal Aid Queensland, private practice, and Community Legal Services. She is a two-time Finalist in the Not-for-Profit Lawyer of the Year category - Women in Law Awards and an inductee in the Queensland Government Domestic and Family Violence Honour Roll.

During the podcast, we discuss that she is a published children’s book author. Her debut book is titled ‘Africa Day’ and can be purchased from Little steps publishing. https://www.littlesteps.com.au/books/africa-day. When Chi is not working, she is a mother of two boys and loves spending time with her family. She is an avid reader, singer and says her best memories were formed as a child when she explored classic storybooks and diverse African literature as a pupil. We hope you enjoy our conversation with Chi.

Shaun talks with us about the challenges he experienced in finding work as an international student and migrant worker before serendipitously finding a pathway to a career at Clayton Utz. Shaun was originally born and raised in Malaysia, and moved to Australia to study when he was 18 years old.

Acting for low income and vulnerable people in need where Legal Aid is not available, and for not-for-profits and charities, Shaun's practice spans across in a diverse range of legal areas including employment & discrimination law, victims compensation, elder abuse, civil disputes, not-for-profit advisory and general human rights matters. Prior to transitioning into his current role, Shaun practised at Clayton Utz as a Corporate, M&A and Capital Markets lawyer for nearly 5 years.

At work, Shaun is actively involved with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, sitting on Clayton Utz's LGBTIQ+ Steering Committee and Cultural Diversity Interest Group Committee. Outside of Clayton Utz, Shaun is actively involved in the legal assistance sector in his personal capacity. He was a board member of the LGBTI Legal Service between 2020 and 2024, and has recently been appointed to the management committee of the Refugee and Immigration Legal Service.

If you are looking for some support as a result of some of the topics covered this season, please see a few options listed below:

Lifeline: 13 11 14 (phone) or text 0477 13 11 14. 24/7 phone and text support for anyone in Australia.

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732. 24/7 support for sexual assault, domestic and family violence.

13YARN: 13 92 76. 24/7 crisis support service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Alex Ladd (pronouns he/him) is a human rights lawyer and advocate based in Brisbane. He graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts (extended major in International Relations), and in 2020 he completed his Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the College of Law. Alex has experience in the disability, LGBTQI+ and elder law spaces, and spent almost three years at the recently concluded Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of Persons with Disability. He currently is a lawyer in the Seniors Legal and Support Service at Caxton Legal Centre – a community legal centre with a four-decade history of supporting Queenslanders to improve their access to justice. Alex proudly identifies as a member of the LGBTQI+ community, and has lived with a vision impairment from birth and is blind in his right eye. Alex was recently fortunate to attend as part of Australia’s Civil Society delegation to the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of People with Disability, held at the UN Headquarters in New York City. He is also a one-time Tony Award attendee. Emphasis on that last sentence!

We both truly believe that Alex is destined to do some incredible things in his career and felt inspired by his insights and perspectives as an early career lawyer. His life experiences certainly teaches us a lot of lessons about the art of ‘pushing back’ and the importance of dialogue and communication as an important feature of inclusion. Digressions in this episode include the origin of Alex’s surname, his funny life footnotes like his very brief dream to become a French pastry chef or his expertise as a film critic.

Terry has enjoyed a wide range of life experiences, simultaneously devoting enormous time and energy to the community. Terry has served on numerous boards throughout his career, including time with Welfare Rights Qld (now Basic Rights) and the Stolen Wages committee with DATSIP. Terry was awarded twice at the 2018 Queensland Law Society Awards, and received both the Community Legal Centre Member of the Year and the Equity Advocate Award for his service to the community. Terry currently works as a seniors legal advice service solicitor and serves as duty lawyer in the domestic violence and family Courts.

We could have talked to Terry for hours – and this was reflected in that we continued to chat for another hour or so after we turned off our microphones.

She started her career at the Bar in London in 1984, then moved in-house to a construction industry trade association, subsequently joining a major UK law firm and becoming a solicitor. She worked in London, on construction and infrastructure projects, until 2000, when she relocated to Queensland to join a major Australian law firm. In 2006 she set up her own practice, Yeang Lawyers. She is a legal consultant for Peerpoint by A&O Shearman, through which she periodically takes on secondments to in-house legal teams. For the last 10 years she has also been a sessional academic at QUT, teaching a construction law unit for undergraduate and postgraduate engineering students. She has been disabled since birth, and is an ambulatory wheelchair user (she either uses a wheelchair or walks with a mobility aid). Fiona is a founding member of the Queensland Law Society’s Disability and Accessibility Network.

If you are looking for some support as a result of some of the topics covered this season, please see a few options listed below:

Lifeline: 13 11 14 (phone) or text 0477 13 11 14. 24/7 phone and text support for anyone in Australia.

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732. 24/7 support for sexual assault, domestic and family violence.

13YARN: 13 92 76. 24/7 crisis support service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Brenda wears many flowers in her flower crown – she is in the inaugural president of the Pacific Legal Association of New South Wales, co-lead alongside Trina Faaiuaso (PLAQ President, and former podcast guest!) to co-create the Pasefika Lawyers Collective, Board Director and Company Secretary for the Pacific Professionals Network, co-founder of the Pasefika Autism Village Support Group and official observer for the Aotearoa Pacific Practitioners Group.

We had a very wholehearted conversation with Brenda filled with many laughs and reflections. Some wonderful digressions include about humility as a Samoan value, motherhood, and her connection to the Misadventures of a Pacific Professional webisodes.

Her Honour Magistrate Balic finished Law and Business in 2005 when she commenced with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in the same year as a clerk. She was admitted in 2006 and became counsel for the Crown in 2008. Prior to that, she was a lawyer between 2006 and 2008. Her Honour prosecuted jury trials and sentences. She became the head of a chamber in Ipswich and then Brisbane where she prosecuted mainly Supreme Court trials and sentences and appeals. She was lead appellate counsel for 18 months where her Honour did most of the appellate work on behalf of the ODPP. She was appointed a Queensland Magistrate in January 2022.

Her Honour arrived in Australia in 1996 as a refugee, who had fled war torn Bosnia and Herzegovina. She studied English, like many other refugees and migrants, upon her arrival in Brisbane. She is also a mother to a seven year old boy. She shares frankly about some of these experiences during our discussion and for that, we are grateful. We know that her story will resonate with many of our listeners.

During our conversation, her Honour discusses the Equal Treatment Benchbook located on the Queensland Courts website: https://www.courts.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/94054/s-etbb.pdf.

Vai is a dedicated advocate for justice and empowerment, currently working as the Family and Domestic Violence Lawyer at the Youth Advocacy Centre, where she also handles Youth Justice matters. With more than a decade of experience in the community legal sector, she began her career in New Zealand in 2012 before moving to Queensland in 2018. Holding an LLB and BA from Victoria University of Wellington, she is admitted to practice in both New Zealand and Queensland. Vai is deeply committed to ensuring vulnerable individuals, particularly young people, can access justice and be empowered within an equitable, evolving society.

If you are looking for some support as a result of some of the topics covered this season, please see a few options listed below:

Lifeline: 13 11 14 (phone) or text 0477 13 11 14. 24/7 phone and text support for anyone in Australia.

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732. 24/7 support for sexual assault, domestic and family violence.

13YARN: 13 92 76. 24/7 crisis support service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Sarah is the founder and principal of Central Lawyers Pty Ltd. Central Lawyers’ focus is commercial law for all small to medium businesses based in Sydney. Transforming her personal experience of racism and discrimination in the workplace, Sarah founded the Racial Justice Centre with other like-minded individuals. The Racial Justice Centre is an incorporated community legal service that offers pro-bono and low bono legal help with the aim of reducing systemic injustices. It is the first community legal centre of its kind dedicated to racial justice.

Sarah is passionate about social justice, human rights, equality, and advocating for the marginalised, particularly women from culturally and racially marginalised backgrounds. Sarah discusses anti-racism, and she shares candidly about her lived experiences growing up in Sydney and the ways her critical consciousness was raised throughout her life. A highlight for us is when she flips the script on what 'belonging' means to her that we found really insightful.

About Linda Originally from South Korea, Linda graduated from the University of Queensland with a double degree in Law (Honours) and Arts majoring in Political Science and international relations. She was president of Grace College whilst at university. Linda has worked in many different roles in her career including with the Salvation Army in Papua New Guinea, World Vision, and also as a University of Queensland Advantage Ambassador. In her early career Linda interned at Reconciliation Australia, Caxton Legal Centre and Queensland Advocacy Incorporated. She also studied on exchange at Yonsei in South Korea, and attended summer school at Oxford University. Linda was an Associate to a District Court Judge. She has worked in private practice, then Legal Aid Queensland for a few years before commencing in her current role with Robertson O’Gorman Solicitors. Some of her other work has included being a council member with the ABC Advisory Council and being the present Vice President of the Queensland Chapter of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association.

During the episode, Linda discusses the Office of the Special Commissioner, Equity and Diversity. More information about this can be found here.

In this premiere episode of our second season, we had the absolute privilege of inviting the sensational Sarah-Elke Kraal to help us kick off our new season. In this episode, we reflect on Season 1 with lots of laughs and gratitude, but also look forward with hope and anticipation for this brand new season. When we recorded this episode, we hadn’t quite landed on our season sub-title, but we knew it would be about inclusion and belonging. Sarah is a joy to work with, and she certainly kept us on our toes in this episode. Her energy and effervescence was just the perfect breath of fresh air we needed to set our intentions and open the chapter for this new season.

If you haven’t come across her before (then where have you been?), Sarah-Elke Kraal is a lawyer, writer, and professional development disruptor. She is a prolific podcaster, having created and produced two legally-focused shows so far (“The Brief Case” and “Sh!t They Don’t Teach You at Law School” – both available on Apple and Spotify); and the go-to authority on all things CPD and CLE in Australia. Find her, follow her, admire her and shower her with love on IG @sarahelke, LinkedIn or visit sarahelke.com.