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8:15am

Registration
Coffee and tea on arrival

8:45am

Mihi whakatau 

9:05am

MC welcome 
New Zealand President welcome 
Australian President welcome 
Sponsor introductions

9:40am

Keynote 1 – Hon Judith Collins KC, Attorney-General of New Zealand

Virtual and pre recorded

9:45am

Role of judges in representative democracies

In an era marked by a global pandemic, cultural and geopolitical conflicts, and a threat of catastrophe for biodiversity and human societies, the judiciary's role in contemporary Australian and New Zealand society has never been more important. This panel will delve into the multifaceted roles judges perform—from interpreting and applying the law, to acting as a bastion against governmental overreach, to defending fundamental ideals and values, to being agents of societal change.

We'll explore how judges contribute to the development of the law and social progress, uphold the separation of powers, and ensure the stability and predictability necessary for civic peace and prosperity.

Chair: Bernadette Roka Arapere (Ngāti Raukawa te au ki te Tonga, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto) – Kōkiri Chambers, NZ

Hon Justice Stephen Kόs - Te Kōti Mana Nui o Aotearoa |Supreme Court of New Zealand
Hon Patrick Keane AC KC - former Judge of the High Court of Australia
Una Jagose KC - Solicitor-General of New Zealand
Professor Andrew Geddis - University of Otago

10:45am

Morning Tea

11:15am

Institutional child sex abuse claims – getting the right policy settings

Australia's Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse concluded in 2017. The Royal Commission's final report made wide-ranging recommendations concerning prevention strategies, changes to laws and policies, and ways to provide justice to survivors of child abuse.

The Australian government and various state and territory governments have taken steps to implement these recommendations and the courts have now delivered a number of important judgments in the area. Against that background, we ask have the settings in the Australian policy responses been the right ones? What lessons are available to New Zealand, whose own Royal Commission on this subject matter is due to report later this year?

Chair: Wendy Aldred KC- Stout Street Chambers, NZ

Roisin Annesley KC - Lennon’s List Barristers, Victoria, AUS
Dr James Plunkett - Lennon’s List Barristers, Victoria, AUS
Fiona Ryan SC - Green's List, Owen Dixon Chambers, AUS

12:15pm

Navigating the new frontier: legal ethics in the digital age

As AI integrates into legal research, case prediction, and even client interactions, what do barristers need to know to serve their clients’ interests? What are the ethical considerations that barristers need to confront? In an age where data breaches and cyber threats loom large, how can barristers safeguard client confidentiality and ensure the integrity of sensitive information they hold? This presentation will explore these pressing questions, offering insights into the ethical challenges and professional opportunities presented by digital advancements.

Chair: Savanna Gaskell – Barristers New Zealand, NZ  
 
Michael Green SC – Level 22 Chambers, Sydney, AUS

1:15pm

Lunch - including wine tasting

2:00pm

Keynote 2:  LGBTIQA+ inclusion, language, and diversity

We’re honoured to announce that Dr Matt Collins KC will deliver a keynote address on the transformative power of visibility for LGBTIQA+ barristers, the imperative of embedding diversity into the fabric of our profession, and the relationship between inclusion and merit.

Dr Collins was the President of the Australian Bar Association in 2021-22. He was Vice-President of the ABA from 2019–21 and, before that, President of the Victorian Bar from 2017-19. He is a Senior Fellow at the Melbourne Law School, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, and a member of the Board and Council of the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration.

In 2019, Dr Collins was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the law, to legal standards, and to education. In 2020, he was named one of Australia’s 50 Outstanding LGBTI+ Leaders by Deloitte Australia.

This is an unmissable opportunity for anyone interested in embracing the richness of diversity and fostering an inclusive legal community across Australia and New Zealand. Come to listen, learn, and be inspired to action by one of the most influential voices in our field.

Chair:  Esther Watt – Stout Street Chambers, NZ

3:00pm

Judicial responses to misconduct by prosecutors and the police

Australia and New Zealand have both had their share of high-profile criminal disclosure failures by the prosecution and wrongful investigative conduct by the police. In this panel session, experts from the bench and either side of the criminal bar will explore the intricate, sometimes difficult balance involved in upholding the integrity of the legal system, ensuring fair trials, and convicting and punishing the guilty of serious crimes.

Chair: Hon Justice Andru Isac - Te Kōti Matua o Aotearoa | High Court of New Zealand 

Madeleine Laracy - Deputy Solicitor-General (Criminal), NZ
Ruth Shann SC - Parnell's Barristers, AUS
Kirsten Edwards SC - Forbes Chambers, AUS
Elizabeth Hall - Pipitea Chambers, NZ

4:00pm

Afternoon tea

4:30pm

Keynote 3:  Mental health at the bench and bar

We are delighted to have Justice O'Meara deliver a keynote address at our conference, continuing the conversation on mental health at the bench and bar. The Judge’s powerful and brutally honest address to the Victorian Bar Readers' Dinner resonated deeply with lawyers on both sides of the Tasman, laying claim to the most forwarded speech by the legal profession in this part of the world in 2023.

By courageously acknowledging his personal experience, Justice O'Meara's speech gave everyone else in the profession "permission" to prioritise their wellbeing and seek support. Join us for an inspiring session that advocates for mental health awareness and resilience in the legal community. 

Chair:  Genevieve Haszard - Kate Sheppard Chambers, NZ

5:30pm

Casual drinks and canapés - Reds Bar within the Rydges Hotel

Wind up the first day of the conference by joining us for casual drinks and canapes.

8:45am

Climate change litigation

Is bringing legal proceedings in the courts an effective strategy in the fight against climate change, or is it merely a vanity project? Can the courts play a significant role in addressing the climate emergency, or are Parliament, the Executive and international bodies better equipped to tackle this enormous global challenge? 

A panel of experts will delve into these complex questions, exploring the impact and potential limitations of climate change litigation. Discover different perspectives on the role of the judiciary versus other institutions in combating climate change, and gain insights into the intersection of law, policy, and environmental advocacy. This will be an engaging discussion on one of the most critical issues of our time.

Chair: Martin Williams - Shakespeare Chambers, NZ

Hon Tony Randerson CNZM KC - former judge of the Court of Appeal | Te Kōti Pīra o Aotearoa 
Emrys Nekvapil SC - Victorian Bar, AUS
Jenny Cooper KC - Shortland Chambers, NZ
Alofipo So'o alo Fleur Ramsay - Blue Ocean Law, AUS

9:45am

Civil remedies

We usually go about our day not pondering too deeply about the paradigm of civil justice. But large, present-day challenges for the legal system should make us step back and examine the dimensions and boundaries of civil justice and what it is able to provide us by way of remedies. Can we rearrange or rethink our usual conceptions of civil justice and its frameworks to deliver better outcomes for our society and the people in it?

Chair: Lauren Lindsay - Bankside Chambers, NZ

Hon Justice Goddard - Te Kōti Pīra o Aotearoa | Court of Appeal of New Zealand, NZ
Hon Justice Bromberg - Federal Court of Australia and President of the Australian Law Reform Commission