2021 QJA CONFERENCE SPEAKERS We are on a countdown until the 2021 QJA State Conference launches on Saturday 15 May at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. The Conference Planning Committee has engaged several industry leaders to present on contemporary topics relevant to JP practice. Throughout the day, you will be hearing from the following speakers: SHANNON FENTIMAN MP
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Do-
mestic and Family Violence Ms Fentiman was appointed Attorney-General and Minister for Women and Minster for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence on 12 November 2020. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Hons) from QUT and a Master of Laws from Melbourne University. She was admitted as a Legal Practitioner in 2007.
THE HONOURABLE
CHIEF JUSTICE CATHERINE HOLMES AC The Honourable Chief Justice Catherine Holmes AC is the Patron of the QJA and is a great supporter of the honorary justice system. She has been a guest speaker at several QJA Conferences in the past and always adds value to the day. Chief Justice Holmes was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1982, and as a barrister in 1984. From 1984 to 1986 Chief Justice Holmes worked as a Commonwealth Crown Prosecutor before commencing private practice as a barrister. In 1999 Chief Justice Holmes was appointed Senior Counsel. Chief Justice Holmes was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2015, having served as a judge of the Queensland Court of Appeal from 2006. Chief Justice Holmes has previously served as Judge of the Queensland Supreme Court (2000-06); Justice of the Queensland Mental Health Court (2000-04); and acting Judge of the District Court of Queensland (1999).
Shannon is committed to social justice and, throughout her career, has worked to improve the lives of working people. She is passionate about fighting discrimination and unfairness at work and in the community. Prior to her election to the Queensland Parliament as the Member for Waterford, Shannon worked as a solicitor for Hall Payne Lawyers. She has considerable experience in employment law, having previously worked as an industrial advocate and as a Judge’s Associate in the Supreme Court of Queensland to her Honour Justice Atkinson. Shannon has also been a board member of the Logan Women’s Health and Wellbeing Centre, Secretary of the Centre Against Sexual Violence in Logan, and the Duty Solicitor at the Beenleigh Neighbourhood Centre.
Shannon Fentiman MP
QJA Quarterly
Autumn 2021| 16
