IN-HOUSE LAWYER OF THE YEAR
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This award recognises the in-house lawyer who has shown highest excellence beyond the expectations of their role and demonstrated added value to their organisation.
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STACEY ROSE-ACKROYD
Enero is an Australian-headquartered, ASX listed global creative and technology company delivering industry-leading brand marketing capabilities for a roster of blue-chip clients worldwide. We accelerate the growth of our client’s business through integrated and modern-marketing solutions, with specialist expertise across technology, healthcare, and consumer brands. Some of Enero’s clients include Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon, ALDI Stores, Hyundai, Walmart, the Australian Government, GSK, Sanofi and Pfizer. Operating in 16 cities, 11 countries world-wide, with over 800 employees across 11 businesses and 42 entities. Stacey Rose-Ackroyd joined Enero Group in 2020 and is currently Legal Counsel. Her work there is across three pillars spanning the marketing services landscape including Creative & Content; Integrated Communications & PR; and Digital, Data, Analytics and Technology. Stacey has spent her career in-house and is passionate about young lawyers who have headed straight in house instead of the traditional route of private practice as she has done. Her aim is to bring a new face to the next generation of lawyers but closing in on combatting some of the age old stereotypes of legal professionals and shaking things up. |
NEW TO IN-HOUSE LAWYER OF THE YEAR
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This award recognises the in-house lawyer who has demonstrated the highest aptitude and achievement beyond the expectations of their role during their transition into an in-house legal career.
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ANGELYN SEEN
Angelyn Seen is legal counsel for Yara Pilbara Fertilisers, which operates one of the world’s largest ammonia plants in Western Australia’s resource rich Pilbara region. Prior to commencing at Yara, Angelyn was counsel and solicitor at the State Solicitor's Office (WA) where she appeared as a regulatory prosecutor, commercial litigator and coronial inquests on behalf of the State of WA. As a lawyer and freelance food writer for SBS and Broadsheet, Angelyn is passionate about increasing diversity in the legal, food and media industries. |
LEGAL INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR
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This award recognises an individual or team who introduced and championed significant innovation through their role as an in-house counsel or in-house legal team: whether in the areas of thought leadership, legal operations, technology, substantive law, or ways of working that resulted in Legal Innovation.
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ENERO GROUP LIMITED
Enero is an Australian-headquartered, ASX listed global creative and technology company delivering industry-leading brand marketing capabilities for a roster of blue-chip clients worldwide. We accelerate the growth of our client’s business through integrated and modern-marketing solutions, with specialist expertise across technology, healthcare, and consumer brands. Some of Enero’s clients include Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon, ALDI Stores, Hyundai, Walmart, the Australian Government, GSK, Sanofi and Pfizer. Operating in 16 cities, 11 countries world-wide, with over 800 employees across 11 businesses and 42 entities. Cathy Hoyle joined Enero Group in 2014 and is currently the Group General Counsel and Company Secretary. Stacey Rose-Ackroyd joined in 2020 and is currently Legal Counsel. Danielle Iacono joined the group in 2023 and is currently Graduate Lawyer. Together they form the legal team across Enero Group, all based in Sydney, with a truly global and challenging remit. |
NOT-FOR-PROFIT LAWYER OF THE YEAR
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This award recognises the in-house lawyer who has shown the highest excellence beyond expectations in the provision of legal services, leadership, and overall contribution in the NFP sector.
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KATRIN O'SULLIVAN
Katrin O’Sullivan has over twenty years’ experience in the development and humanitarian sectors and is currently the General Counsel for The Fred Hollows Foundation. The Foundation currently operates blindness prevention programs in over 25 countries employing 400 staff and has annual revenue of over $100 million. Katrin advises The Foundation on its global operations, including ground-breaking initiatives such as international social impact investment and development impact bond projects. Katrin holds an LL.B (Hons) from the University of Sydney, an LL.M from the University College London and has undertaken further post graduate studies at Harvard Business School. She has previously worked for the German Foreign Offices, with postings to Berlin and Geneva, and as a diplomat at the UN, with postings to Geneva, New York, Dubai, Afghanistan and Indonesia. At the UN, she established and led the legal department for the Middle East, Africa, Asia and acted as the Director for the office in Indonesia post-tsunami, where she was responsible for coordinating international disaster relief projects. Katrin is part of the ACNC consultation panel, she was named in “The Most Powerful Women in Australia” list in 2015 and awarded “Not for Profit Lawyer of the Year” by LawyersWeekly in 2019. |
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE EXCELLENCE
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This award recognises the in-house lawyer who demonstrates the highest goal attainment, resulting from participation in the ACC Australia Future Leaders Mentoring Program.
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LIZ COLLINSON
Liz Collinson is Senior Vice President, Legal and Compliance and General Counsel for Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific, a division of Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE: TNL), the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company. Earlier, she spent more than a decade at Intercontinental Hotels Group based in Singapore, where she was Senior Vice President, Legal and General Counsel. With over 30 years’ international experience as a hospitality lawyer, Liz is a passionate proponent of evolving the industry by establishing legal frameworks that protect and promote the best interests of all parties. She is currently helping to do so by serving an alternate director on the board of the Asia Pacific Resort Development Organisation (APRDO). Whether working in-house or in law firms, Liz has led and mentored legal teams across multiple brands and jurisdictions throughout her career. Admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Liz is also an accredited Property Law specialist and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. |
GOVERNMENT LAWYER OF THE YEAR
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This award recognises the government lawyer who has shown the highest excellence beyond expectations in the provision of legal services, leadership, overall contribution, and knowledge of their government department.
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AMY SALAPAK
The WA Country Health Service (WACHS) is Australia’s largest country health provider, servicing rural and remote Western Australians across an area that spans more than 2.5million square kilometres. It’s a career highlight to be WACHS inaugural General Counsel, and to have successfully established its in-house legal function. Amy has legal expertise in healthcare, anti-corruption and higher education and has worked across the public and private sectors. She specialises in litigation, dispute resolution, ethics, governance, and risk management; and has particular experience in conducting investigations and statutory inquiries. Amy is trained in mediation and advanced negotiation, and has attended Harvard University's Negotiation Institute. As a Fulbright Scholar, Amy attended Rutgers University’s Institute for Ethical Leadership. There she investigated the role of culture, conduct and governance in the finance industry following the GFC. Amy is undertaking a Doctor of Business Administration, and continuing this research, focusing on corporate culture and the outcomes of the Australian Banking Royal Commission. Amy has presented at Australasian and international forums on business ethics, banking and finance, dispute resolution and governance issues. She is featured on ACC’s inaugural podcast series, In-house Insiders, and has recorded an ACC TED Masterclass presentation, The Seven Deadly Sins and Corporate Culture. |
SOLE LEGAL OFFICER OF THE YEAR
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This award recognises the highest excellence beyond the expectations of their role and demonstrated added value to their organisation.
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AIMEE POMOGACS
Aimee is an experienced senior lawyer with broad knowledge and experience in general commercial law across a range of industries, having worked in both private practice and in-house. She is currently Head of Legal at Grill'd Healthy Burgers and Koko Black Chocolate. |
SMALL LEGAL TEAM OF THE YEAR
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This is awarded to the small legal team showing the highest level of excellence, being recognised for effectiveness, integration with senior management, management of legal and commercial objectives and people development.
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ENERO GROUP LIMITED
Enero is an Australian-headquartered, ASX listed global creative and technology company delivering industry-leading brand marketing capabilities for a roster of blue-chip clients worldwide. We accelerate the growth of our client’s business through integrated and modern-marketing solutions, with specialist expertise across technology, healthcare, and consumer brands. Some of Enero’s clients include Microsoft, Google, Meta, Amazon, ALDI Stores, Hyundai, Walmart, the Australian Government, GSK, Sanofi and Pfizer. Operating in 16 cities, 11 countries world-wide, with over 800 employees across 11 businesses and 42 entities. Cathy Hoyle joined Enero Group in 2014 and is currently the Group General Counsel and Company Secretary. Stacey Rose-Ackroyd joined in 2020 and is currently Legal Counsel. Danielle Iacono joined the group in 2023 and is currently Graduate Lawyer. Together they form the legal team across Enero Group, all based in Sydney, with a truly global and challenging remit. |
LARGE LEGAL TEAM OF THE YEAR
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This is awarded to the large legal team showing the highest level of excellence, being recognised for effectiveness, integration with senior management, management of legal and commercial objectives and people development.
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TRANSURBAN LEGALTransurban is a leading global toll road developer and operator with 22 assets and 4 major infrastructure projects in development or delivery across five regions. The Australian Legal Team supports Transurban in all that it does. The team has undergone a significant change to its operating model over the last year to enable the legal team to continue being a partner to the business, providing value, expertise and solutions. The Legal Team is a highly collegiate and collaborative team, that is highly respected by the business and works hand in glove with the business. The team have also had a fantastic attitude to the recent changes which is reflective of their adaptability and agility. It is a team that as Group General Counsel, I am extremely proud of. |
GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE YEAR
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This award recognises the General Counsel who has shown the highest excellence beyond the expectations of their role and demonstrated added value to their organisation.
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ELISABETH FLETT
In her second year with Cancer Council NSW (CCNSW), Elisabeth has continued to develop a high-performing, agile, client-focussed team, which has delivered quality and timely support on over 400 matters and key strategic projects, at minimal cost. In December 2022, Elisabeth and hear team were nominated for multiple CEO’s Awards for having “completely transformed the legal function”. Underpinning the team’s success is Elisabeth’s pursuit of strategies and opportunities to enable efficient and effective management of legal resources, while supporting and inspiring her team. Elisabeth has previously held senior roles with national and global organisations, including ASX listed agribusiness company Ruralco Holdings Limited, Brookfield, and DP World. She is a passionate advocate for work-life wellness, and when she's not working you'll find her enjoying time with her young family or on one of her many creative pursuits. |