2025 AGLS Conference
The conference will be held on Thursday 18 September 2025 as a hybrid event. In-person tickets have sold out. You can attend virtually through an online portal.
Register now!
Online tickets cost $110. There is no limit for virtual registrations.
Connecting practice to people
The 2025 AGLS Conference theme, ‘Connecting Practice to People’, will explore how legal professionals can practice in ways that prioritise empathy, client experience, and broader social impact. With a focus on maintaining a human-centred approach, the program will consider the impacts of technology and regulatory challenges, while prioritising ethics, accessibility and the well-being of the Australian public.
Conference program
- Theo Kapodistrias, experienced lawyer, author and TEDx speaker will lead the day as Master of Ceremonies.
- Attorney-General the Hon Michelle Rowland MP will deliver the opening keynote address.
- Brendan Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, AUSTRAC, will share his views on the role of government lawyers in a broader ecosystem that is accountable to the community upholding the law and managing legal risk, and invite the audience to critically reflect on how their practice can become more connected to people.
- Iain Anderson, Commonwealth Ombudsman, will discuss navigating automated decision making (ADM) in government, including an overview of the existing use of ADM across the Commonwealth, the issues arising in relation to ADM, and potential reforms in this space.
- Natalie Wade, Associate Commissioner, NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, will speak on human-centred lawyering, providing practical advice about how to treat legal problems with empathy, and exploring how to deliver legal services in government in a way that keeps people and the community at the centre of our work.
- Bronwyn Worswick, Chief Counsel, Department of Social Services and Rachael Clarke, General Manager, Legal Compliance and Remediation, Services Australia, will present on government litigation and what can happen outside of the litigation, discussing the cycle through a government lens, and speaking to real examples of cases arising within the social services portfolio.
- A panel of speakers will discuss First Nations legal issues and experiences, reflecting on a range of legal topics impacting First Nations people and communities. The speakers for this panel are still being finalised.
- Tim Ffrench, Chair of the AGLS Board will provide the closing address.