Registrations are now open
The Legal Practice Section's Charities and Not-for-Profit Committee, the Charity Law Association of Australia and New Zealand (CLAANZ) and the University of Melbourne Law School will host the sixth John Emerson Oration and CLAANZ Annual Lecture in Melbourne on Thursday, 13 November 2025.
The John Emerson Oration is in honour of John Emerson AM. John retired from Herbert Smith Freehills, where he was a partner for almost four decades. He remains recognised as an expert in the tax laws applicable to charities in Australia. John was also a member of the Board of Taxation and a number of other legal and public sector committees. He was a key contributor to the reform of laws which led to the establishment of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. John is a Member of the Order of Australia for services to law and to the community, particularly through the provision of advice to charities and not-for-profit organisations and the development of public administration reform to encourage philanthropy in Australia.
In promoting its objective of charity law education, CLAANZ holds an Annual Public Lecture, which is open to anyone with an interest in charity law and the not-for-profit sector. The Annual Lecture addresses key, contemporary legal issues in the charity and not-for-profit sectors in Australia and New Zealand.
Registration closes 5:00 pm, Thursday, 6 November 2025.
Event Details
When: Thursday, 13 November 2025
Where: Melbourne Law School, 185 Pelham Street, Carlton VIC 3053 & online
Time: 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm (AEDT) (refreshments from 5:00 pm – 5:30 pm)
Cost: AU$50.00 in person & AU$25.00 online (free for Melbourne University staff and students. Please email chelsea.desilva@lawcouncil.au for the code)
Speaker
Jennifer Batrouney AM KC
Jennifer graduated with an LLB (Hons) and BCom (majoring in accounting) from the University of Melbourne in 1987. She completed her articles with Blake & Riggall (now Ashurst) in 1988 and remained with that firm as a solicitor until moving to the Bar in 1991. She was appointed one of His Majesty’s Counsel for the State of Victoria in 2000.
With over 30 years' experience at the Bar (including 25 years as a silk), Jennifer is a trusted adviser to a range of corporate, government, superannuation and not-for-profit clients. She has a substantial practice in superannuation, charity, equity, revenue and administrative law. Jennifer is known for her collaborative approach to problem solving, as well as for her clear and concise opinions. Her clients appreciate her attention to detail as well as her concern for the practical implications of any advice sought by them. She enjoys working with people in a cooperative fashion and leading by example.
Jennifer was a director of the Charity Law Association of Australia and New Zealand for 12 years and is the Founding Chair and member of the Law Council Charities and not for profit committee.
Jennifer was a member of the Melbourne Law School Advisory Council and is a Senior Fellow at the Melbourne Law School teaching charity law in the Melbourne Law Masters.
She was a member of the Victorian Legal Services Board from 2019 to 2023.
Jennifer is also a former President of the Australian Bar Association, the Victorian Bar, the Tax Bar Association and Australian Women Lawyers. She was appointed a member of the Order of Australia in June 2020 for significant service to the law, to the legal profession and to women lawyers.
Jennifer is married to Steve and they have 2 adult sons.
Contact
Chelsea De Silva
Executive Officer, Law Council of Australia
E: chelsea.desilva@lawcouncil.au
P: 02 6246 3722
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