TAS CPD Event - GC Panel: Navigating Key Issues In-House

Ailsa Sypkes, Group Manager Legal & Compliance, Blundstone

Ailsa is a seasoned legal and governance professional with nearly three decades of experience spanning private practice, government, and in-house roles. Her career has been defined by versatility, with a strong focus on critical industries – energy, ports and logistics, water and sewerage – and now, with the global footwear icon, Blundstone, where she serves as the sole in-house legal counsel. Ailsa brings deep expertise in complex commercial transactions, infrastructure projects, real property, regulatory compliance, competition and consumer law, IP, privacy, and dispute resolution. In addition to her legal skills, she has strategic leadership experience in executive roles overseeing legal services, company secretariat, risk management, compliance, internal audit, and other functions.

With over 20 years as a company secretary, Ailsa is a trusted advisor to boards and executives, driving good corporate governance practices. At Blundstone, she plays a pivotal role in supporting global operations through the provision of legal services, risk management, compliance, quality and environmental management systems.

Beyond her corporate work, Ailsa has held director roles on not-for-profit organisations in the education, arts and community sectors. She is currently an active member of the ACC Tasmania committee, seeking to support her colleagues and champion excellence in in-house legal practice.




Emma Connolly, General Counsel & Company Secretary, Tasmanian Irrigation

Emma Connolly is a senior legal practitioner with over two decades of experience across government, private practice, and international legal settings. As General Counsel and Company Secretary at Tasmanian Irrigation, she provides strategic legal and governance advice to the board, executive, and project teams, supporting the delivery of complex infrastructure projects within a highly regulated environment. Emma brings particular expertise in water and land law, environmental regulation, and public sector compliance.

Her broader legal background includes founding and leading a boutique legal practice, with a focus on maritime, commercial, and equine law. Emma has advised clients in the shipping, logistics, and superyacht sectors on matters involving regulatory compliance, marine incidents, insurance claims, and vessel transactions.

She also developed a dedicated equine law practice, advising horse owners, breeders, trainers, and equine businesses on contracts, insurance, liability, and the sale and transport of horses, including cross-border transactions. She has extensive experience drafting and negotiating commercial agreements involving complex regulatory frameworks and international legal standards.

Emma has held legal and advisory roles in Germany, Italy, and the UK, including with a major global shipping company, where she advised on marine insurance claims, legal risk and international operations across multiple jurisdictions. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tasmania, a Postgraduate Diploma in Maritime Law from London Metropolitan University and is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. She also holds a Certificate in Corporate Governance from the Governance Institute of Australia.




Oliver Cousland – General Counsel & Company Secretary, Aurora Energy

Oliver Cousland is an experienced executive leader with extensive experience in legal practice, corporate governance, and stakeholder engagement. His career began in commercial law with Butler, McIntyre and Butler before transitioning into senior in-house legal and management roles across Australia and the UK.

Oliver has been General Counsel and Company Secretary at Aurora Energy, a Tasmanian State-Owned Corporation since 2016, Oliver leads the Governance team and oversees board secretariat, governance, risk, compliance, and government relations, consistently delivering strong performance and team engagement. He has also acted as CEO.

Before joining Aurora, Oliver was Senior Legal Counsel at Australia Post, advising senior management, resolving disputes, and negotiating contracts with global companies including Amazon and eBay. His international experience includes several years as an in-house lawyer in the UK, adding valuable cross-industry and cross-border insight.

Oliver is passionate about community service and has previously served as Director and Company Secretary on the Board of Westpac Rescue Helicopter Tasmania Limited.




Kate McKenzie, Executive General Manager Governance and General Counsel, Hydro Tasmania

Kate McKenzie is a highly experienced executive level lawyer and governance professional with experience spanning multi-national companies, government businesses, the not-for-profit sector and small business. She has direct experience in highly regulated industries leading legal, compliance, secretariat, enterprise risk and internal audit functions.

Kate grew up on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria and spent many years working as a lawyer with King and Wood Mallesons, Coles Myer, Accenture and AusNet Services. In 2016 Kate, her husband and 5 children moved to Tasmania to join Hydro Tasmania where Kate continues to work as Executive General Manager Governance. Her role at Hydro Tasmania gives her the opportunity to be actively involved in the critical role of generating renewable energy for the future.

In addition to her role at Hydro Tasmania, Kate is a non-executive director and President of Lifeline Tasmania, and enjoys spending her weekends at the family’s hobby farm in Geeveston where the family enjoy learning about sustainable farming practices. With no prior farming experience, YouTube is an invaluable resource, and there is never a shortage of laughs when things go awry.


Moderators




David Shelley, Managing Principal, Page Seager

David is the Managing Principal of Page Seager. He works with property owners and developers, managed funds and state-owned corporations, providing advice on infrastructure projects, property acquisitions and disposals, due diligence, property development, commercial leasing and large scale community housing projects. In addition, he regularly advises on duty and property related tax issues.

David is also the Honorary Consul for France and for Germany in Tasmania.




Theo Kapodistrias

Theo Kapodistrias is a multi-award-winning lawyer, based in Hobart, Tasmania. He is also an award-winning speaker, MC and public speaking + presentation skills coach, running his own business. Theo is also the author of A Way With Words, published by Rethink Press. This book became an Amazon Best Seller in 5 categories in its first 24 hours on sale. He's held senior legal roles such as Senior Legal Counsel at Gentrack, previously as General Counsel at Evergen and the Legal and Commercial Manager at Tourism Tasmania.

He has been recognised for his work in the legal and community space winning several awards and has been named one of Australia's Most Influential Lawyers by the Australasian Lawyer Magazine in both 2022 and 2023. He was also named the Speaker of the Year at the 2022 International Coaches Awards. He is a Non-Executive Director of the Association of Corporate Counsel Australia and previously at Business Events Tasmania. In 2025, he's been appointed as Chair at Story Island Project Tasmania. In ACC Australia, he is also the Tasmanian Divisional President and Chair of the Sole Legal Officer Special Interest Group. In 2021, Theo took on the role as Executive Director and Licensee of TEDxHobart and is the host of a podcast titled ‘Craft Messages That Matter.’ In 2023, he delivered his own TEDx Talk at TEDxKatoomba titled 'Lessons from my Ethnic Lunchbox'.