2024 Migration Manager Young Australian Migration Lawyer of the Year
John Gibson AM (1950-2012) was one of Australia’s most admired advocates, working tirelessly to promote the rights of refugees and asylum seekers for over 25 years. John served as Refugee Council of Australia President between January 2006 and August 2012, was the founding chairperson of the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (also known as Foundation House) and served as a part-time Member of the Refugee Review Tribunal for four years. John Gibson was acknowledged for his decades of service to refugees and asylum seekers with a posthumous award in the 2013 Honours List “for significant service to international relations as an advocate for human rights”
The award is given annually by the Federal Dispute Resolution Section of the Law Council of Australia.
Call for nominations
The nomination round for the 2024 Migration Manager Young Australian Migration Lawyer of the Year is now closed.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the award, a nominee must be:- engaged in practice in any Australian jurisdiction (including in private practice, a government law firm, as in-house counsel or for a NGO) or an academic teaching or researching in the field of migration law or related area at an Australian university; and
- have equal to or less than five (5) years post admission experience.
The key criterion for the award is:
- outstanding contribution to the field of migration law in Australia or internationally
Nominations
The nominee can be either nominated by colleagues or self-nominated. The nominator should confirm that the nominee is aware of the nomination and willing to be nominated.There is no specific nomination form. Nominations should be accompanied by educational qualifications and material to confirm eligibility, and must address the key criteria.
Information regarding professional contributions should include employment history, publications, conferences attended, presentations and seminars.
The nomination can include up to three references and testimonials. Testimonials could be provided by colleagues, clients or office bearers of NGOs or government departments.
Nomination process
The Migration Law Committee will review all applications. If the committee cannot agree on a winner the final decision shall be made by the Chair of the committee.
Presentation of award
The winner of the award will be announced in March 2024. The presentation of the award will be at the 2024 Immigration Law Conference dinner to be held in Melbourne on Thursday, 14 March 2024.The award
The winner of the award will receive:
- complimentary membership to the Federal Dispute Resolution Section for one year;
- complimentary registration to the 2024 Immigration Law Conference and dinner;
- flights to Melbourne (if required) and accommodation if located outside of VIC for the evening of the Thursday, 14 March 2024.
Previous winners
- 2023 - Mr Ko Ko Aung
- 2022 - Ms Bethany Rose
- 2020 - Ms Marial Lewis
- 2019 - Ms Kim Heap
- 2018 - Mr Mitchell Simmons
- 2017 - Ms Adriana Mercado
- 2016 - Ms Melinda Jackson
- 2015 - Ms Marina Brizar
- 2014 - Mr Besmellah Rezaee