Newcastle Branch | Annual Conference

IRS Newcastle Branch

Annual Conference

Date: Friday 25 October 2024

Time: 8.30am - 4.00pm

Venue: Fort Scratchley, Newcastle

INTRODUCING OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Deputy President Saunders, Fair Work Commission

Deputy President Saunders has been a member of the Fair Work Commission for 9 years. Prior to his appointment, Deputy President Saunders was a solicitor and then a barrister specialising in employment law and industrial relations for a combined period of about 18 years. DP Saunders will speak on the new Fair Work Commission jurisdiction relating to (a) unfair contracts for independent contractors and (b) unfair dismissal for employee like workers and road transport contractors”

Mark Bray, Emeritus Professor at the University of Newcastle

Mark Bray held the Foundation Chair in Employment Studies at the University of Newcastle from January 1997 until his retirement in early 2021, when he was appointed Emeritus Professor. During that time, he served almost continually on the Newcastle Branch Committee of the Industrial Relations Society and acted as President for a two-year period in 2002-2003. He has continued to research and publish since his retirement, exploring long-term trends in collective bargaining, workplace cooperation and the role of the Fair Work Commission in Australia.

Senator Barbara Pocock, Greens Senator for South Australia

Barbara Pocock grew up on a mallee farm in South Australia. She is an economist and Emeritus Professor who has spent her life fighting for the rights of working people, women and low-income workers. She established and led the Centre for Work + Life at the University of South Australia until 2014 and was awarded an AM for services to industrial relations research and social justice in 2010. She has written many books and articles, worked in shearing sheds, on farms, in universities, in government and as a mother.

Barbara became a South Australian Senator for the Greens in 2022 and is currently the Greens spokesperson for Finance, Employment and Public Sector portfolios. Additionally, Barbara has recently chaired a Senate Select Committee looking at work and care in Australia which shows the need for a new 21st century social contract, one that creates a practical right to care alongside the right to work.

She is passionate about action on climate change and creating a sustainable future for future generations – in a world of greater economic justice.

Sophie Costsis, Minister for  Industrial Relations and Minister for Work Health and Safety

Sophie Cotsis was born at Canterbury Hospital and attended Canterbury South Public, Kingsgrove Public and Kingsgrove High Schools. Ms Cotsis graduated from Macquarie University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts and the University of Technology, Sydney in 2001 with a Master of Legal Studies. Ms Cotsis has a range of employment experience in both the public and private sectors, including working at Sydney Airport while a student at university. 

Ms Cotsis has been an active part of the many diverse multicultural communities that are found throughout NSW for many years and has a proud history of being involved in many community campaigns and causes.

Ms Cotsis first entered NSW Parliament as a Member of the Legislative Council in September 2010, and served as a member of the Shadow Cabinet since 2011. Ms Cotsis has played key roles in the establishment of the Inquiry into Affordable, Social and Public Housing and the Inquiry into Elder Abuse.

Brent Ferguson, Head of National Workplace Relations Policy at Ai Group

Brent is Ai Group's Head of National Workplace Relations Policy, leading a team of workplace relations policy and advocacy professionals in representing Ai Group members in workplace relations policy matters. This includes representations to Government and Opposition parties, submissions to numerous inquiries, major cases in the FWC and Courts, and influencing the public debate. 

Brent is a solicitor with around 20 years’ experience. In his current roles as Head of National Workplace Relations Advocacy & Policy department and Legal Practitioner Director at Ai Group Workplace Lawyers, Brent has been involved in a wide range of workplace developments and reforms.

The Hon. Justice Ingmar Taylor, President of NSW Industrial Relations Commission

The Hon. Justice Ingmar Taylor was sworn in as President of the Industrial Relations Commission and a Justice of the Industrial Court by the Chief Justice of NSW in a private ceremony on 1 July 2024.

Justice Taylor holds the qualifications of BA, LLB (University of Adelaide) and LLM (University of Sydney). His honour was admitted to practice as a solicitor in New South Wales in 1990, as a barrister in 1997, and appointed Senior Counsel in 2012. Before his appointment his Honour was nationally recognised as a preeminent counsel in industrial law and work health and safety.

Before being appointed to the Bench, his honour held several leadership roles, including Treasurer and Executive member of the NSW Bar Council, Director of the Law Council of Australia and the NSW Bar Association, Chair of a Professional Conduct Committee of the NSW Bar Association and Editor of the NSW Bar’s journal, Bar News.  He was also Editor of the Industrial Reports. He was a founding director of Greenway Chambers, Chair of the Industrial Law Committee of the Law Council of Australia, Director and later Chair of the Association for Children with a Disability NSW, and a lecturer for a Masters of Law Course on the law of registered organisations for the University of Sydney. 

Renata Roberts, Chief Corporate Services Officer at The Bloomfield Group

Renata has worked in the resources industry for over 20 years in a diverse portfolio of functions including HR & Capability, Safety & Health, Risk Management & Audit, Industrial Relations, Communications, Community Engagement, and IT.

Renata’s career, which has seen her operate in roles & projects around Australia and Internationally, has been recognized when she was awarded in 2020 the NSW Exceptional Woman in Mining Award and then went on to be the first NSW nominee to win the Exceptional Woman in Australian Resources Award for her leadership and work within the industry.

In 2022, Renata was selected among the 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining for her passionate advocacy for diversity, inclusion, and mental health. Renata uses her platform to promote the value diversity brings to the mining industry, and to help others develop their inclusive leadership skills.

Since July 2012 Renata has worked with The Bloomfield Group and is currently the Chief Corporate Services Officer responsible the Safety & Health, HR, Industrial Relations, Contractor Administration & Audit, and IT.

Renata’s commitment to a call to action on diversity and inclusion, and generally building respect to allow people to bring their authentic selves to work, has seen Renata involved in a number of projects and events on mental health and women in male-dominated businesses. Renata is the creator of the website “They Who Share Their Stories” offering a platform for stories to be shared and inspire others to take their own journey towards workplace inclusion, and is the author of a series of children’s books called Join Jackson’s Journey, which is designed to strengthen the leaders of today and build the leaders of tomorrow.

...and more to be announced!

For any enquiries, please email newcastle@irsnsw.org.au

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