Annual Conference

SOUL 2024 Conference

The theme of SOUL 2024, held on 14-15 November 2024 at The University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Connect precinct, was “Making Connections”.

This was the biggest SOUL Conference yet with 21 sessions including plenaries and many concurrent sessions split into 3 streams – “Research, Commercialisation and Innovation”, “Staff & Students” and “Projects and Governance”.

With over 250 attendees including 164 SOUL members representing 24 universities, connections were made, friendships strengthened, and many experiences shared by those who represent the myriad of specialist areas of legal practice relevant to the university sector.

We thank the Local Organising Committee, which consisted of representatives from Latrobe University, Monash University, RMIT and The University of Melbourne, and the SOUL 2024 sponsors for a wonderful event.

We look forward to seeing you in WA for SOUL 2025!

The SOUL Board and 2024 Conference Local Organising Committee

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

More information can be found on the conference site here.

Program Overview

PROGRAM AND PRESENTATIONS

Thursday 14 November 2024

Keynote Address

Laureate Professor Emeritus Peter Doherty AC FRS FMedSci

Plenary 1

Over the horizon: the reform agenda and its impact on the operations of Australian universities

Kylie Diwell, Harriet Eager and Tom Fletcher (Partners, MinterEllison) - presentation [pdf 596KB]
Paula Kelly (Partner, ME Consulting)

CPD Category: Substantive Law

Registered WA CPD Provider

Concurrent Session 1

RESEARCH, COMMERCIALISATION & INNOVATION - Intellectual Property Update: Key Developments and considerations for universities

Bronwyn Furse (Partner, Thomson Geer) - presentation [pdf 1.6MB]

CPD Category: Substantive Law

Registered WA CPD provider

STAFF & STUDENTS - Panel Discussion: Insights and guidance for psychosocial risk management and compliance in university workplaces

Michael Cole (Director, Source) - presentation [pdf 776KB]
Michael Tooma (Partner, Head of ESG and Co-Head of Workplace and Safety, Hamilton Locke)
Dr Rebecca Michalak (Managing Director, PsychSafe)

CPD Category: Substantive Law

PROJECTS & GOVERNANCE - Cyber security incidents – are you prepared?

Sophie Bradshaw (Partner, Hamilton Locke) and Ed Hopkins (FTI Consulting) - presentation [pdf 3.6MB]
Moderator: Tricia Maloney (Partner, Hamilton Locke)

CPD Category: Substantive Law

Registered WA CPD provider

Concurrent Session 2

RESEARCH, COMMERCIALISATION & INNOVATION - Ways of working at universities

Kate Pennicott (Special Counsel, Minter Ellison) - presentation [pdf 1.5MB]

CPD Category: Substantive Law

Registered WA CPD provider

STAFF & STUDENTS - Changing our mindset to survive and thrive: the rapidly changing role of university lawyers

Olivia Perks (General Counsel, University of Sydney)
Laijing Lee (Head of Legal, RMIT)
Karelia Lynch (Principal Legal Counsel, ANU)
Sarah Morgan (Director, University of Melbourne)
Moderator: Aaron Mentha (Director, Aspen Legal)

CPD Category: Practice Management

PROJECTS & GOVERNANCE - Unlocking the value of University Land: A Strategic Approach

Nikki Robinson and Alison Kennedy (Partners, Clayton Utz) - presentation [pdf 4.3MB]

CPD Category: Substantive Law

Registered WA CPD provider

Friday 15 November 2024

Plenary Session 2

Top 10 things University Lawyers need to know for 2025

Christy Miller, Tim Gordon, Kym Fraser and Alison Kennedy (Partners, Clayton Utz) - presentation [pdf 3.2MB]
Moderator: Allison Shannon (Partner, Clayton Utz)

CPD Category: Substantive Law

Registered WA CPD Provider

Plenary Session 3

The role of Legal in Critical Incidents

Julie Freeman (General Counsel, University of Melbourne)
Olivia Perks (General Counsel, University of Sydney)
Shanti Berggren (General Counsel, University of Adelaide)
Linda Robertson (General Counsel, La Trobe University)

CPD Category: Professional Skills

Concurrent Session 3

RESEARCH, COMMERCIALISATION & INNOVATION - Investment Funds and related activities in the Australian university context: the commercial drivers and benefits and challenges to navigate

Ken Jefferd (Managing Director of UM Commercialisation Pty Ltd) - presentation [pdf 666KB]
Hun Gan (CEO, Genesis Fund Manager)
Fiona Smedley (Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills)
Calum McConville (Investment Manager, Tin Alley Ventures)

CPD Category: Substantive Law

STAFF & STUDENTS - Upholding the Voltaire Dictum: Managing the Delicate Balance between Free Speech and a Safe Campus Environment

Kylie Gould (General Counsel University of Technology, Sydney) - presentation [pdf 531KB]
Helen Fleming (Director/Principal, HF Associates)
Professor Katy Barnett (Melbourne Law School)

CPD Category: Substantive Law

PROJECTS & GOVERNANCE - Managing Complex Complaints

Sarah Fregon, Shannon Chapman, Simon Davidson and Will Spargo (Partners, Lander & Rogers) - presentation [pdf 2.1MB]

CPD Category: Substantive Law

Registered WA CPD Provider

Concurrent Session 4

RESEARCH, COMMERCIALISATION & INNOVATION - Artificial Intelligence Panel Discussion

Deborah Hook (Director, Legal Operations, University of Sydney)
Sam Burrett (AI Lead – Client Solutions, Legal Optimisation Consulting at Minter Ellison) - presentation [ppt 29.8MB]
Moderator: Louis Italiano, Senior Lawyer, University of Melbourne

CPD Category: Practice Management

Registered WA CPD Provider

STAFF & STUDENTS - Student placements: complying with relevant regimes

Michael Nicolazzo (Partner, Maddocks) and Kirsten Sullivan (Senior Advisor, Maddocks) - presentation [pdf 993KB]

CPD Category: Substantive Law

PROJECTS & GOVERNANCE - Navigating Large Scale Procurements within the University Sector: Strategies, Risks, and Success

Annabel Griffin (Partner, King & Wood Mallesons) and Rebecca Slater (Special Counsel, King & Wood Mallesons) - presentation [pdf 3.9MB]

CPD Category: Substantive Law

Registered WA CPD Provider

Concurrent Session 5

RESEARCH, COMMERCIALISATION & INNOVATION - Clinical Trials Fundamentals

Rose Lenaghan (Director of the Office of Research Ethics and Integrity, University of Melbourne)
Katrina Chambers (Partner, Thomson Geer) - presentation [pdf 2.1MB]
Kristy Fickinger (Associate Director, Research Governance & Compliance, University of Melbourne)

CPD Category: Substantive Law

Registered WA CPD Provider

STAFF & STUDENTS - A Little Privacy Please

Jennifer Parkes (Partner, Hicksons) - presentation [pdf 819KB]

CPD Category: Substantive Law

Registered WA CPD Provider

PROJECTS & GOVERNANCE - Navigating major construction projects

Trevor Thomas (Partner, Corrs) and Chris Bell (Special Counsel, Corrs) - presentation [pdf 1.7MB]

CPD Category: Substantive Law

Registered WA CPD Provider

Plenary Session 4

Mindfulness for wellbeing and peak performance

Craig Hassed (Monash University, Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies)

CPD Category: Professional Skills

* CPD category and points value are indicative. Attendees are responsible for allocating and recording CPD activities according to their applicable individual Law Society requirements.

Program and Presentations

LOCATION AND SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION OFFER

This year's Conference will be held at:

Kambri Cultural Centre
The Australian National University (ANU)
525 Kambri Street

Acton ACT 2015

http://kambri.com.au/

The centrally located Novotel Canberra is a short walk from the Kambri Function Centre:

Novotel Canberra
65 Northbourne Avenue
Canberra ACT 2600

https://www.novotelcanberra.com.au/

SOUL has secured a preferential room rate at the Novotel Canberra for a limited number of rooms. This accommodation may be booked as part of the conference registration process and more details are available here. The earlier you register, the better the chance of a reserving a room at this rate.

Location/Accommodation

REGISTRATION FEES

Prices include GST

Early Bird - available until COB 14 October, 2024

Member: $907.50

Non Member: $1127.50

Standard Registration - from 15 October, 2024

Member: $1,017.50

Non Member: $1,237.50

The registration fee includes:

Two days of the SOUL 2024 Conference including all refreshments and lunch
SOUL 2024 Conference Dinner being held at Ian Potter Queens Hall, State Library of Victoria
SOUL 2024 closing Cocktail Reception at somin-djerring, Melbourne Connect

Registration Fees