INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2023 (IWD)

As is tradition, Australian Women Lawyers Ltd. (AWL) wishes to congratulate and celebrate the women lawyers who have been appointed to the highest positions in our profession during the past 12 months. In the face of global and local uncertainty and challenges it is more important than ever that those leading our profession reflect the diversity that exists in our communities. AWL welcomes this year’s IWD theme ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality,’ noting that innovation has improved access to justice, and flexible working conditions for many women in the community and legal profession. We applaud all women lawyers on their successes, and encourage ongoing efforts across Australia to promote gender equality. Since International Women’s Day 2022, the following women have been appointed or commenced new appointments as judges and magistrates in courts across the country:

High Court of Australia
The Hon. Justice Jayne Jagot

Federal
The Hon. Justice Elizabeth Raper, Federal Court of Australia
The Hon. Justice Fiona Meagher, Federal Court of Australia
The Hon. Justice Catherine Button, Federal Court of Australia
The Hon. Justice Lisa Hespe, Federal Court of Australia
The Hon Justice Jacoba Brasch, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
The Hon Justice Rebecca Curran, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
The Hon Justice Robin Cohen, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
Her Honour Judge Constantina (Dina) Lioumis, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
Her Honour Judge Louise Goodchild, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
Her Honour Judge Gillian Eldershaw, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
Her Honour Judge Natasha Laing, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
Her Honour Judge Jennifer McArdle, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia

Australian Capital Territory
The Hon. Chief Justice Lucy McCallum, Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory

NSW
The Hon Justice Anna Mitchelmore, Supreme Court of New South Wales Court of Appeal
The Hon Justice Christine Adamson, Supreme Court of New South Wales Court of Appeal
The Hon Justice Dr Elisabeth Peden, Supreme Court of New South Wales
The Hon Justice Sarah McNaughton, Supreme Court of New South Wales
The Hon Justice Dina Yehia, Supreme Court of New South Wales
The Hon Justice Deborah Sweeney, Supreme Court of New South Wales
Her Honour Judge Pauline David, District Court of New South Wales
Her Honour Judge Lara Gallagher, District Court of New South Wales
Her Honour Judge Sarah Hopkins, District Court of New South Wales
Her Honour Judge Georgia Turner, District Court of New South Wales
Her Honour Judge Lara Gallagher, District Court of New South Wales
Her Honour Judge Sarah Hopkins, District Court of New South Wales
Her Honour Justice Dr Sarah Pritchard SC, Land and Environment Court
Magistrate Te’res Sia, Local Court of New South Wales
Magistrate Rana Daher, Local Court of New South Wales
Magistrate Juliana Crofts, Local Court of New South Wales
Magistrate Laurie Robertson, Local Court of New South Wales
Magistrate Gemma Slack-Smith, Local Court of New South Wales
Magistrate Julie Zaki, Local Court of New South Wales
Magistrate Pauline Wright, Local Court of New South Wales

South Australia
The Hon Justice Julie McIntyre, Supreme Court of South Australia
Her Honour Judge Michelle Sutcliffe, District Court of South Australia
Magistrate Joanna Martin, Magistrates’ Court of South Australia
Magistrate Lana Chester, Magistrates’ Court of South Australia
Magistrate Natalie Browne, Magistrates’ Court of South Australia
Magistrate Melanie Burton, Magistrates’ Court of South Australia
Magistrate Katherine Eaton, Magistrates’ Court of South Australia

Queensland
The Hon Chief Justice Helen Bowskill, Supreme Court of Queensland
The Hon Justice Debra Mullins AO Court of Appeal, President, Queensland Court of Appeal
The Hon Justice Jean Dalton, Queensland Court of Appeal
The Hon Justice Melanie Hindman, Supreme Court of Queensland
Her Honour Judge Jodie Wooldridge, District Court of Queensland
Her Honour Judge Janelle Brassington, Chief Magistrate District Court, Magistrates Court
Magistrate Michelle Howard, Magistrates Court of Queensland
Magistrate Carol Lee, Magistrates Court of Queensland
Magistrate Kyna Morice, Magistrates Court of Queensland

Tasmania
Magistrate Katie Edwards, Magistrates’ Court of Tasmania

Victoria
President, The Hon Justice Karin Emerton, Supreme Court of Victoria, President Court of Appeal
The Hon Justice Lesley Taylor, Supreme Court of Victoria, Court of Appeal
The Hon Justice Lisa Hannan, Supreme Court of Victoria/Chief Magistrate
Associate Justice Fiona Steffensen, Supreme Court of Victoria
Her Honour Judge Aine Magee, County Court of Victoria
Her Honour Judge Barbara Myers, County Court of Victoria
Magistrate Megan Casey, Magistrates’ Court of Victoria
Magistrate Kathryn Fawcett, Magistrates’ Court of Victoria
Magistrate Belinda Franjic, Magistrates’ Court of Victoria
Magistrate Natalie Heynes, Magistrates’ Court of Victoria
Magistrate Heather Lambrick, Magistrates’ Court of Victoria
Magistrate Lucia Raponi, Magistrates’ Court of Victoria
Magistrate Helen Spowart, Magistrates’ Court of Victoria

Western Australia
The Hon Justice Amanda Forrester, Supreme Court of Western Australia
Magistrate Megan Wadsworth, Family Court of Western Australia
Magistrate Rebecca Hall, Family Court of Western Australia
Her Honour Judge Linda Black, District Court of Western Australia
Magistrate Heidi Watson, Magistrates Court of Western Australia
Magistrate Natasha Owen-Conway, Magistrates Court of Western Australia
Magistrate Janie Gibbs, Magistrates Court of Western Australia
Magistrate Kelly Thompson, Magistrates Court of Western Australia
Magistrate Melita Metcalf, Magistrates Court of Western Australia

We also congratulate the appointments of women lawyers to tribunals, registries and commissions over the past year.
E & OE