2023 Women in Law

Our panel of inspiring women will share insight from their personal experiences and discuss issues that still present gender barriers within the legal profession.

Registrations are essential for this in-person-only event with limited tickets available. Please arrive at 5:30pm for drinks, canapés, and networking. The panel discussion will begin at 6pm. 

Women in Law is an annual event organised by the UQ Law School, and generously sponsored and supported by Herbert Smith Freehills.

Master of Ceremonies:

Kathryn Pacey | Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills

Kathryn leads the Herbert Smith Freehills Brisbane Planning, Environment and Communities team. As part of her role, Kathryn works across resources, energy, utilities, transport and social infrastructure. She has advised on both the government and project side for some of the largest infrastructure projects delivered in the last 20 years. 

Panellists:

Sarah Holland (Barrister, Higgins Chambers)

Sarah's practice covers a broad cross-section of civil and commercial litigation. She has appeared as counsel in the High Court of Australia, as well as many other Federal Courts, State Courts and Tribunals. Sarah is also the Editor of the Queensland Law Reporter for the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting Queensland. 

Prior to being called to the Bar she was a solicitor with Mallesons Stephen Jacques in Sydney (now King and Wood Mallesons) in the Project Finance group. She was also the Associate to the Honourable Susan Crennan AC QC in the Federal Court at Melbourne. She has worked internationally in London, Dublin and Paris including in the International Arbitration group at Freshfields, Paris and in the Information Technology and Intellectual Property Group A&L Goodbodys Ireland. She graduated from the University of Queensland with a BA/LLB (Hons) in 2001. In 2006 she was awarded a scholarship to undertake postgraduate study at the University of Dublin, Trinity College. She graduated with a Master of Laws (LLM) (1st class). She is a member of the Queensland Bar Association’s University Relations Committee and the Planning and Environment Committee. She served on the Bar Council between 2008 and 2010. She is also a past member of the IPSANZ Qld managing committee and the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland.

Venetia Brown (Deputy General Manager, Woodfordia)

Venetia is the Deputy General Manager and in-house counsel for Woodfordia Inc, widely known for producing the world-class festival, Woodford Folk Festival. She also teaches law at QUT, having created and coordinated units in legal Design Thinking, and previously has taught at the University of Sydney and JMC.

Having led an eclectic career, Venetia has worked at Caxton Legal Centre (first as a volunteer, and then in the QRVPAS team), as a Senior Prosecutor in at the office of the Work Place Health and Safety Prosecutor, contributed to the Corporate Crime Inquiry during her time at the Australia Law Reform Committee, and has worked in private practice, from Atanaskovic Hartnell to McCullough Robertson (the former being a somewhat infamous Sydney firm – think Mad Men).

Venetia is a UQ graduate, and started her degree in Arts/Law wanting to pursue theatre, but unfortunately a combo of fun mooting competitions and great uni mentors resulted in her undergoing three associateships instead (in the District and Federal Courts), and the rest, as they say, is history. In reflecting on the string that ties all this together, she says she is passionate about making a difference in whatever role she embodies.

Melissa Swain-Tonkin (Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills)

Melissa specialises in public and private M&A, predominantly in mining and resources.

Melissa is an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer who specialises in public and private mergers and acquisitions, predominantly in the energy, resources and infrastructure sectors, as well as related contractual, corporate governance and regulatory matters. Melissa focusses specifically on advising financial investors (including private equity funds and Japanese trading houses) on their Australian investments and she has experience across a range of acquisition and divestment structures, corporate restructures, capital raisings and joint ventures and strategic alliances.

Having previously held the role of General Counsel & Company Secretary of a listed resources company, Melissa has developed a deep understanding of the mining industry in Australia and a practical and commercial approach that clients value. Leveraging her in-house experience and work with Japanese investors and off-takers, Melissa is also a core member of Herbert Smith Freehills’ Japan-Australia practice and the Foreign Direct Investment team.

Melissa holds a Bachelor of Laws with first class Honours and the University Medal from the University of Queensland. Melissa also holds a Bachelor of Science and completed the AsiaLink Leaders Program in 2015.

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