About
The Women Lawyers’ Association of South Australia Inc (WLASA) is the South Australian branch of Australian Women Lawyers (AWL) and was incorporated on 28 July 1998. WLASA was originally formed by the women who comprised the Women Lawyers Committee of the Law Society of South Australia (WLC) and many of WLASA’s current committee members continue that tradition by also holding a position on the WLC.
What we do
WLASA was founded with a number of objectives in mind. Our aim is to promote justice and equality for all women and we are committed to improving the career prospects for women within the legal profession.
Mission
Fostering equality and justice in the legal profession and the general community and championing the recognition of women lawyers and supporting them to achieve their full potential
Objects of the Association
- To achieve justice and equality for all women
- To further the understanding and support of the legal rights of women
- To identify, highlight and eradicate discrimination against women inherent in the legal system and in the community generally
- To advance equality for women in the legal profession
- To create and enhance awareness of women’s contribution to the practice and development of the law
- To make recommendations or submissions on law reform
- To provide a professional and social network for women lawyers
- To do all such other things as may be incidental to the attainment of such objects
- Any other objects as the Association in General Meeting may decide
Activities of the Association
- Consultation with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the State Attorney General on the appointment of senior counsel and the judiciary in South Australia
- Making submissions on proposed law reforms which affect women and impact upon the broader justice arena
- Organising regular social and networking events, to provide women with legal backgrounds and women practising in the profession the opportunity to develop valuable contacts and meet like minded professionals
- Organising continuing professional development seminars, career seminars and information sessions for lawyers and law students
History
The Women Lawyers’ Association of South Australia Inc (WLASA) is the South Australian branch of Australian Women Lawyers (AWL) and was incorporated on 28 July 1998.
WLASA was originally formed by the women who comprised the Women Lawyers Committee of the Law Society of South Australia (WLC) and many of WLASA’s current committee members continue that tradition by also holding a position on the WLC.
To find out more about our history click Here to view The WLASA Archives
Our committee
Under its Constitution, WLASA is required to have a committee of between 6 and 12 members. Committee Members are elected in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
Each year’s Annual Report provides a profile on Office Bearers and Committee Members.
Antonella Rodriguez
President
email hidden; JavaScript is requiredAssociate at Howe Jenkin. Committee member since 2022
Tiah Brooks
Secretary
Committee member since 2023.
Courtney Chow
Treasurer
Committee Member since 2022.
Marissa Mackie
Committee Member
Committee member since 2015. Principal at Norman Waterhouse Lawyers. Member of the Women Lawyers Committee of the Law Society of South Australia.
Shelley O’Connell
Committee Member
Committee member since 2006 (President 2010, Vice President 2011 and since 2014). Practising as a Solicitor at O'Connell Family Law
Adeline Lim
Committee Member
Committee member since 2011. Senior Adeline is Business Development Manager at Australian Executor Trustees. Member of the Women Lawyers Committee and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Law Society of South Australia.
Margaret Cusenza
Committee Member
Committee Member
India Hopkins
Committee Member
Committee member since 2022.
Jessie Murphy-Allen
Committee Member
Committee member since 2022.
Poppy Matters
Committee Member
Committee member since 2023.
Michelle Williams
Committee Member
Past committee members
Past Presidents (since incorporation)
- Candida D’Arcy (1998 – 2001)
- Ruth Beach (2001 – 2003)
- Jane Knowler (2003 – 2006)
- Kerry Clark (2006 – 2010)
- Shelley O’Connell (2010-2011)
- Christina von Muenster (2011-2012)
- Taruna Heuzenroeder (2012-2014)
- Daniella Di Girolamo (2014-2015)
- Leah Marrone (2015-2019)
- Kymberley Lawrence (2019-2021)
Previous Committee Members (since 2006)
- Melissa Balantyne
- Anne Barnett
- Susan Bartie
- Ruth Beach
- Aria Bolkus
- Philippa Branson
- Sharmila Budwal
- Rachel Cain
- Liesl Chapman SC
- Kerry Clark
- Libbee Coulter
- Jo-Anne Deuter
- Daniella Di Girolamo
- Polly Dixon
- Kylie Dunn
- Toni Emanuele
- Taruna Heuzenroeder
- Anne Hewitt
- Lisa Jarrett
- Charlotte Kelly
- Laura Kessner
- Jane Knowler
- Megan Langford
- Victoria Lecky
- Rebecca Lucas
- Jessie MacGillivray
- Karla McCulloch
- Camille McDonald
- Jasmin McMahon
- Shannon McMenamin
- Jo Murphy
- Amy Nikolovski
- Claire O’Connor SC
- Adriana Pasquale
- Rose-Marie Read
- Rebecca Sandford
- Ilona Schultz
- Christie Tsoubarakis
- Marta Vezzosi
Governance
Constitution
The Women Lawyers Association of South Australia Inc (WLASA) is an incorporated association under the Associations Incorporation Act 1985 (SA) and in accordance with this Act has a constitution governing its conduct.
The Constitution of WLASA may be amended by resolution of three-quarters of voting financial Members present at a Special General Meeting called for that purposes of which not less than 7 days written notice has been given.
At the Annual General Meeting held on 19 September 2013 the membership resolved to amend the Constitution. A copy of the current Constitution as amended may be downloaded here: 2013 WLASA Constitution.
Our Annual General Meeting
In accordance with its Constitution WLASA is required to host an Annual General Meeting (AGM) each 12 months held within the first 3 months of each new financial year. Visit our Annual General Meeting Events page for details of our upcoming and past meetings.
Between 7 and 28 days prior to each AGM, the Secretary distributes to all members:
- Notice of the date, time and location of the AGM
- Invitation for Individual (Ordinary) Members to nominate for office bearer or committee member positions
- Membership renewal forms
- Information about the key note speaker
At each AGM the Secretary tables an Annual Report to the Members of the Association. The Annual Report covers events and activities conducted by the Association for the previous financial year. This report is the key communication document from the Association’s committee to the Members and contains a range of information including:
- President’s Report
- Treasurer’s Report
- Governance Statement
- Committee Report
- Feature Article
- Update on Australian Women Lawyers
- Standing Subcommittee Reports
- Other relevant news
You can view our 2024 Annual Report Here
Past annual reports can be viewed in The WLASA Archives
Strategic Plan
WLASA is now regarded as one of South Australia’s peak professional bodies representing women in the law. We have a large and diverse membership of women at varying stages of their legal careers and in various fields of law and legal roles. We also have strong corporate support from our corporate members, including those who have signed our Charter for the Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession.
The 2020 to 2023 period of our last strategic plan was difficult, as the COVID pandemic limited the opportunities for in-person interaction. Nevertheless, we were able to achieve most of the actions we identified, and will continue to work towards achieving our long term goals in the upcoming period.
The WLASA Strategic Plan for 2024 to 2027 reflects the next stage of WLASA’s growth and evolution, from a small group of pioneering women to a professional body which is committed to addressing the needs of our membership, as well as supporting all women in the legal profession and in the community more broadly to achieve genuine equality.
The WLASA is committed to ongoing improvement of the organisation to ensure its sustainability and to strengthen its capacity to have a positive effect and act as a catalyst for change in both the legal and wider communities.
Click the link below to view our 2024 to 2027 WLASA Strategic Plan.
Past Strategic Plans can be viewed in The WLASA Archives
