Everyone, male and female are welcomed and encouraged to join us!

Date: Friday 11th October 2024

Time: 6:45am arrival - Speakers start at 7:15am

Location: Cotton Tree Beach Bar, Shop 2, Essence, 13, 15 The Esplanade, Maroochydore QLD 4558

Cost: $20 for members, $30 for non members

Our guest speakers:

Merinda Greenwood - Merinda graduated from James Cook University with First Class Honours and received the Division of Tropical Environments and Societies Distinguished Student prize.

In 2019 Merinda was admitted as a solicitor and has gone on to gain experience in criminal, family and succession law.

Merinda is currently a solicitor at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (Qld) Ltd (ATSILS) in Maroochydore, where she services and advocates for First Nations peoples in the Caboolture region.

Dianna Worrell - Dianna was called to the bar in 2011 and now has chambers in both Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

Dianna's experience includes acting in a wide range of commercial disputes including contract law, insolvency and corporation matters- including director and officer liability.

Alongside being barrister and nationally accredited mediator, Dianna volunteers at Suncoast Community Legal Services, is a surf lifesaver and recently completed a 100km trail race.

Samantha Gray - Samantha completed a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management) and was recently admitted to practice in June 2022.

Samantha has previously worked at a boutique commercial and property firm on the Sunshine Coast as a legal assistant, paralegal and solicitor. She currently works at Crown Law based in Brisbane, where she defends the State of Queensland in employment and discrimination litigation matters. Samantha has also had the opportunity to act for the State in inquiries, including the Common of Inquiry into Forensic DNA Testing in Queensland.

Mala Heffernan - Principal Lawyer and Director at L&H Injury Lawyers and current SCLA President.

Mala completed a Bachelor of Law/Business with first class honours and was a finalist in the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland Regional Women Lawyer of the Year Award.

Working in personal injury law since 2010, Mala is driven to ensure those injured through no fault of their own received the highest standard of legal representation. Mala prides herself on going above and beyond to ensure clients receive maximum rehabilitation and compensation whilst providing support and compassion throughout the process.

Dr Dominique Moritz - Dominique is not only the Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching) for the School of Law and Society at UniSC but also holds UniSC's first PhD in Law. Since 2012 Dominique has been an academic and was a foundational staff member for UniSC's law program that begun in 2014.

Alongside her teaching, Dominique is also a leading researcher into children's decision-making and law, a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has had her research presented at Queensland Parliament and considered by governments nationally. She is also the proud mum to two little humans!