4 June 2026 | SYDNEY | Swissotel

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Creating Value | Managing Risk | Leading Change

In today’s evolving business environment, General Counsel are faced with unprecedented challenges while striving to deliver strategic value that drives organisational success. Legal leaders must navigate complex regulatory landscapes, resource constraints and digital transformation – all while positioning their function as a critical business enabler. 

Join the 2nd annual General Counsel Leaders Forum 2026 and gain actionable insights that address the legal profession’s most pressing challenges to date. Designed with strategy and tactics at its core, the event will equip senior legal executives with the frameworks, tools and connections needed to drive business value, optimise operations, and build resilient legal capabilities for the future. 

2026 Speakers

Rajeev Merkhedkar

General Counsel & VP, Cloud and Network Services & Americas

Nokia (US)
INTERNATIONAL

Deborah Im

Head of Legal APAC

OpenAI (Singapore)
INTERNATIONAL

Stephen Meade

General Counsel

AFL

Narelle McKenzie

Chief Legal Officer

Tabcorp

Ceri Clark

General Counsel & Company Secretary

Retail Zoo

Gina Peach

Deputy General Counsel

GrainCorp

Kara McGowan

Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary

Sigma Healthcare

David King

General Counsel & Company Secretary

Wisr

Kate Squire

Group General Counsel & Company Secretary

Crown Resorts
JUST ANNOUNCED

Sarah Tinsley

Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary

Southern Cross Austereo (SCA)
JUST ANNOUNCED

Tom Boyd

General Counsel

The Star Entertainment Group

Kate Ingber

Executive General Manager, Legal & Business Affairs

Cricket Australia

Danielle Corden

General Counsel

Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne

Peter Harman

Chief Legal & Risk Officer

Sportsbet

Henrietta Rowe

Group General Counsel, Group Executive Legal & Company Secretariat

Ramsay Health Care

Cate Walsh

Associate General Counsel - ANZ, Japan, Korea & Hong Kong

Mars Inc

Dale Nardella

Chief Legal Officer

Australian Grand Prix Corporation

Kate Cooper

General Counsel & Company Secretary

SunRice

Emily Sunman

Chief Legal & Risk Officer

Aurecon

Craig Emery

Group Company Secretary & Legal Executive

Telstra

Craig is Group Company Secretary of Telstra Group Limited and an executive leading Telstra’s international and corporate advisory legal teams.

Craig is a senior legal and governance professional with over 20 years’ experience advising senior management and boards. Craig reports to the board and his duties include continuous disclosure compliance, corporate governance, and communication with Telstra’s shareholders.

Craig joined Telstra in 2006 and has served in senior legal roles throughout the company including supporting our Consumer, Small Business, Product, Media, Finance, M&A, Employment and Operations functions. He has spent time living and working in Hong Kong leading our International legal team. He was Telstra’s Chief Compliance Officer from March 2023 prior to taking the Group Company Secretary role.

Tatyana Virgara

General Counsel & Company Secretary

QBE Insurance

Claire Bibby

Founder & Managing Director

Claire Bibby Pty Ltd
EVENT CHAIR

Claire Bibby is an award-winning lawyer, professional leadership & career coach, and co-founder of Coaching Advocates, a global professional coaching practice, based in Sydney, Australia.

With over 30 years of experience gained through senior management appointments with some of the world’s largest companies and top-tier law firms, several years ago Claire established her own boutique law firm. In addition, Claire holds several non-executive directorships in the ASX-listed, private, and university spaces.

As an internationally qualified coach (PCC), Claire and her co-founder, Lara Wentworth, lead a team of 20 senior lawyers and psychologists in coaching private and corporate clients, specialising in lawyers and executives. In this area, they empower lawyers and firms to move their career and leadership dreams into active, actionable, pursuits and unlock the potential in people. As a member of both the International Coaching Federation and The Institute of Coaching McLean/Harvard Medical School, Claire helps lawyers and executives rewrite the rules, whether they are craving clarity on what a dream career by design looks like, want to finally move that great business idea off the back burner and into reality, or how to get that next promotion or move into a new job.

Outside of her executive life, Claire is an Industry/Professional Fellow with the University of Technology Sydney, School of Law and an honorary member of the New South Wales executive of the Australian Association of Corporate Counsel.

Claire has been recognised as one of Australia’s best lawyers and female executives, including having been awarded the “Excellence Award for Women in Law”, “General Counsel of the Year”, “Female Executive of the Year in Asia, Australia & New Zealand”, “Mentor of the Year” and has been featured in SmartCompany’s International Women’s Day Showcase.

Part and parcel with her passion for the law and for coaching, Claire is an active public speaker on issues of innovation, diversity and inclusion, psychological wellness, developing high-performing teams, and leadership.

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Content by leaders, for leaders

Our content is expertly researched and curated with insights from Connect Media’s network of industry specialists. Timely and tailored, it sparks innovation, tackles key industry challenges, and provides the skills and tools for future business success.

Agenda

Thursday, 4 June 2026
8:15 AM
Registration, Refreshments & Networking
8:45 AM
Opening Remarks from the Chair

Claire Bibby

Founder & Managing Director

Claire Bibby Pty Ltd
8:50 AM
Opening Ministerial Address
9:00 AM
Opening Global Fireside Chat

Rajeev Merkhedkar

General Counsel & VP, Cloud and Network Services & Americas

Nokia (US)
9:25 AM
Value Creation Session

From Cost Center to Value Creator: Unlocking Legal’s Business Impact

  • How are you balancing your role as a business advisor with the responsibilities of risk and compliance?
  • How should legal teams be positioning themselves in commercial negotiations to drive better business outcomes?
  • How are you building trusted partnerships with business leaders while securing meaningful input into strategic decision-making processes?
  • What specific metrics have you used to communicate legal’s value beyond risk and mitigation in the boardroom?

Cate Walsh

Associate General Counsel - ANZ, Japan, Korea & Hong Kong

Mars Inc

Kate Ingber

Executive General Manager, Legal & Business Affairs

Cricket Australia

Danielle Corden

General Counsel

Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne

Kate Cooper

General Counsel & Company Secretary

SunRice
10:05 AM
Partner Keynote
10:30 AM
Morning Refreshments & Networking
10:55 AM
International Interview

Navigating Global Complexity: Building Resilient Legal Teams Across Borders

Deborah Im

Head of Legal APAC

OpenAI (Singapore)
11:15 AM
Digital Allies Session

Innovation at Scale: Future-Proofing Legal for the Digital Era

  • What are the most impactful technology investments you’ve made in your legal department, and how are you measuring their success?
  • How can General Counsel build a business case for tech investment that demonstrates clear ROI in operational efficiency and service quality?
  • What criteria do you use for identifying new legal technologies, and how do you balance functionality, security, and cost considerations?
  • How do you approach change management when introducing new technology tools to establish legal workflows and team processes?

David King

General Counsel & Company Secretary

Wisr

Craig Emery

Group Company Secretary & Legal Executive

Telstra

Kate Squire

Group General Counsel & Company Secretary

Crown Resorts
11:55 AM
Diamond Keynote
12:15 PM
Keynote

Stephen Meade

General Counsel

AFL
12:40 PM
Lunch Welcome Remarks
12:50 PM
Lunch & Networking
1:45 PM
Keynote

Gina Peach

Deputy General Counsel

GrainCorp
2:05 PM
Platinum Keynote
2:25 PM
Risk & Compliance Session

Compliance in a Complex World: Navigating Innovation, Risk & Regulatory Demands

  • When managing compliance across multiple jurisdictions with conflicting requirements, what frameworks or decision-making processes help you prioritise and navigate these complexities?
  • How do you build compliance as a foundational part of business process, rather than treating it as an afterthought?
  • When facing a potential regulatory violation or investigation, what frameworks help you respond effectively while maintaining business continuity?

Emily Sunman

Chief Legal & Risk Officer

Aurecon

Peter Harman

Chief Legal & Risk Officer

Sportsbet

Tatyana Virgara

General Counsel & Company Secretary

QBE Insurance
3:05 PM
Fireside Chat

Ceri Clark

General Counsel & Company Secretary

Retail Zoo
3:25 PM
Afternoon Refreshments & Networking
3:50 PM
Platinum Keynote
4:10 PM
Leadership Session

Building Resilient Legal Teams: Strategic Leadership for the Modern GC Function

  • When resources are constrained, how can GC deliver greater value without compromising quality?
  • How do you set meaningful performance metrics for your legal team, and how do you advocate for your people’s advancement?
  • What critical people management skills do General Counsels need that were never taught in law school?
  • How do you balance short-term resource constraints with long-term transformation goals and team development needs?

Kara McGowan

Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary

Sigma Healthcare

Henrietta Rowe

Group General Counsel, Group Executive Legal & Company Secretariat

Ramsay Health Care

Tom Boyd

General Counsel

The Star Entertainment Group

Dale Nardella

Chief Legal Officer

Australian Grand Prix Corporation

Sarah Tinsley

Chief Legal Officer & Company Secretary

Southern Cross Austereo (SCA)
4:50 PM
Closing Keynote

Transforming Legal Functions in Highly Regulated Industries

Narelle McKenzie

Chief Legal Officer

Tabcorp
5:15 PM
Closing Remarks from the Chair

Claire Bibby

Founder & Managing Director

Claire Bibby Pty Ltd
5:20 PM
Networking Drinks Remarks
5:30 PM
Networking Drinks Reception
6:30 PM
Close of Forum

Event Pricing

SINGLE DELEGATE PASS

Early Bird

$995 + GST

Early bird price valid Until 13/03/2026

Standard

$1195 + GST

5 DELEGATE PASSES INCLUDES 2 FREE

EARLY BIRD

$2985 + GST

Early bird price valid Until 13/03/2026

Standard

$3585 + GST

What’s included in my delegate pass
Access to Full Event Program
Exclusive Networking Opportunities
Executive Insights & Event Content

Delegate registration is strictly for in-house legal professionals. Service providers, vendors and consultants within the legal industry are not permitted to register as delegates. If you are a service provider, vendor or consultant, please reach out to jackm@connectmedia.com to discuss your involvement.

Registrations will be reviewed for the correct rate, Connect Media reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone not paying the correct rate. Furthermore, we will not be responsible for travel costs if you do not pay the correct rate.

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Our 2025 Partners

Become A Partner

The General Counsel Leaders Forum is Australia’s premier event for in-house legal professionals. We focus on actionable insights and real-world solutions by bringing together the leading voices shaping the sector. Every year we refine our event model to unlock greater value for our partners and to ensure that our delegation’s expectations are exceeded. 

Whether you’re looking for brand visibility, lead generation or exclusive event networking opportunities, our sponsorship packages are tailor made and designed to maximise your ROI. 

Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss what these opportunities could look like for you and your brand. 

PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Jack Martin
Growth Manager
Tel: +61 451 548 447
Email: jackm@connectmedia.com

GENERAL ENQUIRIES

Tel: +61 2 8004 8590
Email: team@connectmedia.com

Venue & Accomodation

Swissotel Sydney

68 Market St, Sydney NSW 2000

Accommodation at Swissôtel Sydney

Enjoy 15% off the best available rate at the time of booking.

Book Now – Swissôtel Sydney

To access the discounted rate:

Select ‘Special Rates’

Enter the following codes:

  • Client Code: SCP2132169
  • Access Code: CO583AU511

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s included in my delegate pass?

A Delegate Pass includes access to all sessions, refreshment breaks, networking lunches, and access to provided speaker presentations. Please note: Sharing of speaker presentation’s is subject to approval from the guest speaker. One delegate ticket is entry for one person only, passes cannot be shared. Organiser’s reserve the right to deny entry to anyone not registered.

Is there a group booking discount?

Yes – groups of 3 people or more are entitled to a discount. Full discount information is available on our registration page. If you have any questions about how group bookings work, please contact team@connectmedia.com

Can I transfer my pass?

A delegate pass is entry for one person only, passes cannot be shared. A substitute delegate is welcome at any time prior to the event, provided the request is made in writing to team@connectmedia.com

How do I receive my delegate pass?

Following the completion of your registration, you will receive an email confirmation. We will contact you via email the day prior to the event with a QR code, to make your arrival as seamless as possible have your QR e-ticket ready and visible on your device.

Is media registration available?

No, this is a closed and confidential event. Media registrations are not available.

Cancellation Policy:

A full refund less a $250 (GST Inclusive) processing fee is applicable on cancellation requests made in writing within 10 days of registration. No refunds are available for cancellations made more than 10 days after registration. Where Connect Media is required to reschedule the event in the interest of the event partner’s and guests, your pass will be automatically transferred to the rescheduled dates. Should Connect Media be unable to offer, deliver or fulfil any engagement within 12 months, you will be entitled to a full refund.

What is a Service Provider?

A service provider refers to an individual or organisation who supplies products and/or services to the primary audience of the event.

Will there be a delegate list available?

No, Connect Media does not provide delegate lists to attendees.

Fraudulent activities

We’ve been alerted to instances of companies proposing to purchase and sell lists of attendees for our events. Please be assured, we do not engage in the sale or distribution of event-related data. Such companies have no association with us, and we are actively working to halt these deceptive practices.

Regrettably, this type of scam is not uncommon in the media industry. Any information purported to originate from our events and offered by a third party would be completely fabricated. Should you have doubts about the legitimacy of a potential supplier, we urge you to contact us directly.

For any additional questions please contact us on 02 8004 8590 or team@connectmedia.com.

Delegate Pass:

Delegate Pass includes access to all sessions, refreshment breaks, networking lunches, networking drinks reception, and access to approved speaker presentations/on demand content. Please note: Sharing of speaker presentation’s is subject to approval from the guest speaker. One delegate ticket is entry for one person only, passes cannot be shared. Organiser’s reserve the right to deny entry to anyone not registered.

Digital Pass (only applicable for digital events):

A digital pass is valid for the use of 1 user and provides access to live content, inclusive of all keynotes, and sessions. The pass also includes access to approved speaker presentations/on demand content; this will be available to you via email in the week following the event. Please note: Sharing of speaker presentation’s is subject to approval from the guest speaker. Access must not be shared by multiple user’s or redistributed in any way. Organiser’s reserve the right to deny access to anyone who is found violating the above terms.

Payment & Discounts:

Only one promotional discount code can be applied per registrant. All prices and promotions are valid at the time of purchase only and may not be redeemed after the point of purchase.

Registrations will be reviewed for the correct rate, Connect Media reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone not paying the correct rate. Furthermore, we will not be responsible for travel costs if you do not pay the correct rate.

Organiser’s Rights:

Connect Media and Communications Group Pty Ltd endeavours to ensure the conference programme and speaker line-up is correct at the time of the event. All advertised details are correct at time of publishing. Due to unforeseen circumstances Connect Media and Communications Group Pty Ltd reserves the right to alter the programme prior to the event without notice. We also reserve the right to cancel or postpone the event. Where Connect Media is unable to run the event in the next 12 months (from the date of the event), you will be entitled to a full refund. In the unlikely event that it is cancelled or postponed, no compensation will be provided for cancelled/amended travel arrangements.

Connect Media and Communications Group Pty Ltd reserves the right to deny access to any individual that engages in or is alleged to engage in practices that are considered unprofessional and inappropriate for a business conference. We reserve the right to deny access to delegates that may affect the client / vendor ratio of attendance in favour of the interests of sponsors and commercial partners of the event.

In registering for this event, delegates grant permission to Connect Media and Communications Group Pty Ltd to take and to have full and free use of video/photographs containing their image/likeness for promotional use. Should a delegate not agree to the above image release, they must advise team@connectmedia.com.

Cancellation Policy:

A substitute delegate is welcome at any time provided the request is made in writing. A full refund less a $250 (GST Inclusive) processing fee is applicable on cancellation requests made in writing within 10 days of registration. No refunds are available for cancellations made more than 10 days after registration. Where Connect Media is required to reschedule the event in the interest of the event partner’s and guests, your pass will be automatically transferred to the rescheduled dates. Should you be provided with a credit note at the discretion of the event organisers, this credit is valid for the specified amount of passes, and not the monetary value. Should Connect Media be unable to offer, deliver or fulfil any engagement within 12 months, you will be entitled to a full refund.

Event Delivery:

In case of a change in government restrictions and advice, Connect Media reserves the right to make the decision to deliver the event completely digital, or completely in person. Should you hold a different pass, you are entitled to move your registration to digital/in person, or receive a credit for the following edition of the event.

Privacy Disclosure:

We take your privacy seriously. Information collected on this registration will be held in the strictest of confidence on a secure database. This information may be used in order to contact you regarding future events, product development and services offered. If you do not wish to be contacted please email team@connectmedia.com. To view our full privacy policy please visit: https://dashboard.connectmedia.com/privacy-policy/.

General Counsel Leaders Forum is offering a limited number of places for selected startups to participate in a premium executive environment on a commercial basis. To make involvement possible for startups without large marketing budgets, we offer a Startup Pass: the pass is priced at AUD $2,500 per pass (maximum two passes per startup) and is provided in exchange for shares in your startup (rather than cash). Places are limited and approved startups must be relevant to the audience and able to contribute meaningfully to the day.

Startup Equity Pass Application

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