Associate Professor Sarah Holland-Batt GAICD, Aged Care Commentator, Queensland University of Technology
Associate Professor Sarah Holland- Batt is an award-winning poet, editor and critic within QUT’s Creative Industries Faculty, and an aged care reform advocate. She comments and writes on aged care matters for outlets including Q&A, ABC 7:30, The Guardian, The Australian, The Project, Inside Story, ABC News and Radio National.
Moderator: Paul Beasant, Special Counsel, Estate Group, KCL Lawyers
Paul Beasant practises in wills and estates, guardianship and administration, trusts and asset protection, representing clients in litigation involving contested wills, estate disputes, trust disputes and breaches of fiduciary duties. Paul has a special interest in guardianship and administration, acting in VCAT applications and proceedings recovering assets for elderly clients.
Presenter: Dr Ian Freckelton QC, Victorian Bar
Ian Freckelton is an experienced Queen’s Counsel practising throughout Australia in administrative law, criminal law, and personal injury law. He was called to the Bar in 1988 and took silk in 2007. He has appeared in a number of high profile guardianship and administration cases and is the author of many books, including the 6th edition of Expert Evidence: Law, Practice, Procedure in Advocacy which was published in 2019, as well as the 7 volume looseleaf service on Expert Evidence. Ian sits as a judge of the Supreme Court of Nauru on a fly-in, fly-out basis, and has sat on many administrative tribunals. He is currently a member of the Mental Health Tribunal of Victoria, the Victorian Bar Council and the Coronial Council of Victoria.
Presenter: Claire McNamara, Senior Lawyer, Office of the Public Advocate
Claire McNamara has worked at the Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) since 2005. Initially Claire worked as an Advocate/Guardian but since 2008 has worked as a legal officer. Claire is a member of both the LIV’s elder law committee and health law committee and was a recipient of an LIV award for service in 2013 . Claire has contributed to many of OPA’s resources on future planning and has an interest in ensuring that future planning promotes people’s autonomy and minimises any risk of misuse and abuse. Claire has a background in community law
Presenter: Rebecca Edwards, Principal Lawyer, Seniors Rights Victoria
Rebecca has practiced in private practice in rural and regional areas, for VLA, and for the Kimberley Land Council. Rebecca also spent 10 years teaching the next generation of lawyers as a lecturer at La Trobe University. Returning to the practice of law in 2017, Rebecca was appointed Principal Lawyer at Seniors Rights Victoria.
Presenter: Alasdair Gall, Senior Sergeant, Victoria Police
Alasdair has 26 years of policing experience, including 14 yrs in supervising Family Violence. 7 yrs-Family Violence Liaison Officer, 3 yrs- Family Violence Advisor & Manager of the Family Violence Unit-ED1, 4 yrs -Family Violence Command Alasdair holds the Elders portfolio at Family Violence Command and project lead of the Financial Elder Abuse Trial.
Presenter: Elizabeth Samra, Solicitor, Legal Aid
Liz Samra has been advocating for the rights of older people for over a decade. She manages the Older Persons ACT Legal Service and is a member of the ACT Elder Law and Succession Law Committee and the ACT Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing. Prior to moving to the ACT, Liz was the principal solicitor of Seniors Rights Victoria.