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Current office bearers

President – Heidi Fairhall

 Heidi Fairhall

Heidi has been actively involved in NSW Young Lawyers for over seven years. Prior to her election as President, she held the position of Vice President in 2011, Executive Councillor from November 2009 to 2011 and the role of Chair of the Employment and Industrial Relations Law Committee from September 2007 to March 2010.

During her time as Chair of the Employment and Industrial Relations Law Committee, Heidi oversaw the Committee's strong involvement in a range of social and policy initiatives, in which she has a strong personal interest, including the Committee's participation in proceedings to make a modern federal award for legal services.

Heidi has previously been the NSW Young Lawyers' representative on the Law Society's Employment Law Committee and Secretary of the Women Lawyers Association of NSW.

Heidi has a particular interest in workplace relations and discrimination law and is a senior associate at Blake Dawson in the Employment Law team. Prior to working at Blake Dawson, Heidi was a legal associate to a presidential member of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

Heidi also has a special interest in pro bono, and strongly believes that it is our professional and moral obligation as lawyers to make the law accessible to everyone in the community, regardless of their situation. As testament to this commitment, Heidi accepted a role as Blake Dawson's national pro-bono co-ordinator for a year, where she was responsible for managing the firm's pro bono program.

Email Heidi.

Vice-President –  Greg Johnson

Greg Johnson joined NSW Young Lawyers in 2005 as a member of the Employment and Industrial Relations Law Committee, In 2007, Greg was a founding member of the Public Law and Government Committee, and became Chair of that Committee in 2009.  

In 2011, Greg was elected as as Executive Councillor of NSW Young Lawyers. During 2011, Greg worked on developing the NSW Young Lawyers Mental Health and Wellbeing website, which was launched in November 2011, and provides valuable information and resources to solicitors, barristers and law students. 

Greg is a solicitor at Harmers Workplace Lawyers, with a practice in employment and discrimination law. Greg previously worked at DLA Phillips Fox in the Dispute Resolution practice area, specialising in administrative law litigation and immigration law. Greg holds degrees in Arts and Law from the University of New South Wales, and is presently undertaking a Masters of Laws at the University of Sydney.

Email Greg.

Treasurer – Adam Ahmed

Adam Ahmed first joined NSW Young Lawyers in 2009 where his active involvement in the Business Law Committee as secretary sparked his interest to be more involved with issues that affect young lawyers. Prior to being elected as Treasurer, Adam was also a member of the Executive Council where he was particularly active on boosting membership participation and engagement. 

Adam started his working career as a trainee tax consultant with Ernst & Young. With a passion for taxation law he then joined Allens Arthur Robinson for four and a half years where he was made Senior Associate. It was during this time he formed the Taxation Law Committee where he currently serves as chair. Adam currently works at KPMG as a Senior Manager. His main area of focus is tax advisory.

Adam is currently also a chartered accountant and is an active member with the Institute of Chartered Accountants where he is involved in the CA program, helping students to achieve their CA. Adam is also an updating author for Thomson Reuters where he currently writes and edits chapters for the Laws of Australia.

Adam graduated from the University of New South Wales with a degree in Commerce/Law. During his time there he served as the secretary and treasurer of the Student Guild and the chair of the Audit Committee of the board of directors of the Union. Adam was an active member in a number of elections to help improve the lives and studies of university students.

Email Adam.

Secretary – Lisa Franzini

Lisa is a lawyer at Blake Dawson practising in employment, industrial, safety and discrimination law.

She holds the position of secretary in addition to her involvement with Employment and Industrial Relations Law Committee as the Co-Deputy Chair. Lisa was elected to Council at the 2010 Annual Assembly (where Lisa was also nominated for the inaugural NSW Young Lawyer of the Year Patron's Award).

Lisa sees her involvement with NSW Young Lawyers as an opportunity to give back to the profession and the community at large by combining her employment law background with her passion for social justice.

Diversity and equal opportunity are also important areas that Lisa is keen to promote for the benefit of the profession and the broader community.

Email Lisa.

Immediate Past President – Daniel Petrushnko

Daniel Petrushnko

Daniel first joined NSW Young Lawyers through the Criminal Law Committee and was elected Chair of thatCommittee in 2006. During his time as Chair he also represented the Criminal Law Committee on the NSW Young Lawyers Continuing Legal Education Committee.

He is also a member of the NSW Young Lawyers Human Rights and Civil Litigation Committees. In 2007 he was elected to the Executive Council taking on the CLE portfolio and subsequently the Social portfolio. 

He was elected Treasurer in 2008, served as the organisation's Vice-president in 2010 and then as its President in 2011.

Graduating from the University of Western Sydney, Daniel worked as a Judge's Associate in the District Court of NSW before entering private practice. He was called to the Bar in 2009 and now practises from the 9th Floor Windeyer Chambers. He is also a Director on the Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation Board and tutors at the University of Technology, Sydney.

Email Daniel.

 

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