Winners

Kiarah Kelly is the Director and Principal Solicitor of Bloom Law. Kiarah works as an Independent Children's Lawyer, is a qualified Collaborative Law Practitioner, and holds a Master of Applied Laws (Family Law), including a research thesis examining the economic outcomes of women following separation. A Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Family Law winner (2023), Kiarah specialises in complex parenting matters, property settlement, collaborative law, domestic and family violence litigation, and multi-disciplinary dispute resolution. Bloom Law was born from Kiarah's belief that her clients, her family, and she herself deserve an awesome life on the other side of whatever brought them to her door.

Indi McKeown is a proud Barunggam woman – her mob coming from the Chinchilla area. She is in her fifth year of an Arts/Laws (Hons) degree at The University of Queensland, with Arts majors in Criminology and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander studies. Indi has published academic research with the UQ Pro Bono Centre about cultural safety and supports access to justice through volunteer work with Caxton Community Legal Centre. Dedicated to First Nations advocacy, Indi has held leadership roles within Queensland Youth Parliament (QYP) and is committed to using her opportunities to mentor young mob, drawing on her mentor experiences with QYP and AIME. She is an active CareerTrackers intern, completing her seventh internship with HSF Kramer’s Pro Bono team in 2025. Indi hopes to use her career to work with and for mob, contributing to social justice and community-led approaches.

Ishita Punj is an Associate at Jones Day who fell in love with corporate law long before she stepped into real-world practice. Growing up watching her family build a business after migrating from India to Australia, she saw firsthand how relationships, trust, and perseverance sit at the heart of every deal. That upbringing shaped her drive to understand the people behind a transaction to her commitment to building meaningful connections in every room she enters. A founding member of the Australia India Business Council's Youth Program, Ishita cares deeply about empowering the next generation and strengthening the communities around her. Whether chipping away at challenges, bringing people together, or finding the story behind the transaction, she is someone who dives in with heart – and she is just getting started.

Theresa Jennings began her legal career as a student volunteer at Cancer Council Queensland and has recently celebrated 10 years with the legal team. She provides advice across contracts, intellectual property, deceased estates and privacy compliance. Theresa was diagnosed with bilateral hearing loss at 11 and is moderately-severely deaf. She is a founding member of the Queensland Law Society’s Disability and Accessibility Network and is current Co-Chair of the QLS Equity and Diversity Committee. She is an active speaker and contributor on diversity and accessibility in the legal profession, and has contributed to law reform discussions, including a submission to the Chief Justice of Queensland on court accessibility. 

Julie Howes is a nationally recognised LGBTIQA+ domestic and family violence solicitor and sector leader. Based in Darumbal Country, Central Queensland, she is the Director/Principal Solicitor of LGBTI Legal Service Inc, a statewide Community Legal Centre she founded in 2009. Julie led the organisation from concept to service delivery in 2009 and has returned after twelve years to guide its strategic growth and sustainability in regional Queensland. Her work includes award winning initiatives such as Australia’s first LGBTIQA+ Court Safe Room and statewide DFV legal education. Julie’s leadership is grounded in trauma-informed, client-focused practice, advancing safety and access to justice for LGBTIQA+ communities.

Lander & Rogers is a leading Australian law firm that advises private and public sector organisations and individuals across Australia and internationally, delivering practical, commercial legal advice grounded in a deep understanding of clients' needs. For more than 20 years, Lander & Rogers has dedicated its expertise and resources to advancing access to justice, supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, and addressing both individual legal need and systemic barriers to justice. The firm's pro bono practice is focused on four national priority areas: First Nations justice, climate and just transitions, people forcibly displaced, and gender-based violence. This work reflects the firm's enduring commitment to the rule of law, the public interest and a more equitable society. That commitment is shared across the firm, with partners, lawyers, legal assistants, business services professionals and legal technology consultants all contributing to pro bono and community initiatives.

Chelsea Baker is Director of Baker Hastings Lawyers, practising in succession law with a focus on complex estate planning, contested estate administration, and estate litigation. Chelsea is appointed by the Supreme Court of Queensland as an Independent Administrator, reflecting her capability in managing sensitive and complex estate matters. Admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia, Chelsea has built a strong reputation in wills and estates, including matters involving trusts, superannuation, and guardianship. She is a member of STEP Queensland and Queensland Law Society’s Succession Law Policy Committee.

George Sourris is the Legal Practice Director of Empire Legal – a property law firm with offices in Brisbane’s CBD and bayside, and the Gold Coast. Empire Legal helps Queenslanders buy and sell homes, backed by 3,000+ five-star Google reviews. George has been a solicitor for 9 years. He hosts Raising the Bar, a QLD property podcast, with guests including REIQ CEO Antonia Mercorella and former REIQ Chairman Peter Brewer. He sits on the boards of several charities, and is in his third year on the QLD PEXA Practitioner Advisory Council.

Andrew Shute is a Senior Legal Consultant in MinterEllison's Dispute Resolution team, with over 30 years' experience in commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution. He advises a range of public and private sector clients on complex commercial disputes and regulatory investigations. His expertise in applying technology to improve the efficiency of litigation has recently extended into AI policy development and education for the profession. He currently chairs the Queensland Law Society Litigation Rules Committee and is a member of the QLS AI in Legal Practice Consulting Committee and the Innovation Committee. Andrew has been widely recognised and awarded for his work and expertise in litigation and alternative dispute resolution.

With over 30 years’ experience, Linda Adcock has dedicated her career to supporting local families through complex legal matters. A QLS Accredited Specialist in Family Law since 2001, her expertise spans family law, domestic violence, child protection, dispute resolution and arbitration. She is an Independent Children’s Lawyer, Separate Representative, an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and Arbitrator. Currently Senior Principal Lawyer at LAQ in Bundaberg, Linda has been instrumental in implementing key initiatives, including the Domestic Violence Duty Lawyer service, chairing the Family Law Pathways Network, and engaging with local stakeholders and the First Nations community. In 2024 she was recognised with the Legal Aid Queensland Outstanding Achievement Award.