Joanna Knight Scholarship recipients

22/09/2025

Raihana Haidary, Eliza Sarlos and Katherine Palacios have been awarded the Joanna Knight Scholarship for 2025.

Raihana Haidary- 5 St James Hall

Raihana Haidary has studied law in Australia, the UK, and the Netherlands, specialising in public international law. She has lectured at UNSW across most domestic and international law subjects and served as an Associate to Justice Angus Stewart at the Federal Court of Australia. Coming from a refugee family who fled the war in Afghanistan, Raihana is committed to advancing accountability for war crimes and improving access to justice for displaced communities. Through the Joanna Knight Scholarship, she will pursue her career at the Bar while continuing her pro bono work supporting refugees.

Eliza Sarlos – Wardell Chambers

Eliza Sarlos is a senior industrial relations lawyer with extensive experience in high-stakes litigation, including uncovering Australia’s largest wage underpayment case worth over $430 million. She has appeared in the Fair Work Commission, the Federal Court, and the High Court, and has published on workplace investigations with LexisNexis. Eliza is also a dedicated community advocate, having volunteered at Kingsford Legal Centre and served on numerous boards in the arts and union sectors. With this scholarship, she will transition from her leadership in the union movement to the Bar, continuing her mission to make quality advocacy accessible to all.

Katherine Palacios

Katherine Palacios is a law graduate completing her Diploma in Law through the Legal Profession Admission Board and is the first recipient of the Stream 2 Scholarship. Originally trained as a lawyer overseas, she is requalifying in Australia. A survivor of domestic violence, Katherine’s lived experience has given her a deep commitment to helping other vulnerable women navigate the legal system. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and passionate about improving access to justice for culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The scholarship will support her final steps toward admission and her goal of practising family and community law. Through this opportunity, she will complete her Practical Legal Training at a Community Legal Centre, delivered in partnership with the Scholarship.