
Women Barristers Forum
The Women Barristers Forum is a section of the New South Wales Bar Association created for promoting and supporting Women at the New South Wales Bar.
International Women's Day Lunch-Wednesday 8 March
The Women Lawyers Association of NSW, the NSW Bar Association’s Diversity and Equality Committee and the Women Barristers Forum invite you to lunch at Jardin St James at 12.30pm on 8 March 2023 to celebrate International Women’s Day.
This year’s theme is ‘Cracking the Code: Innovation for a gender equal future’.
Date: 8 March 2023
Time: 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Location: Jardin St James, 173 King St Sydney
Cost: WLANSW member price: $40, and non-WLANSW member price: $50
Guest speaker: Wajiha Ahmed
More information is available here. To RSVP, please click here.
NEWS AND EVENTS
Please refer to our News and Events pages for information and updates on the work of WBF.
BACKGROUND
The genesis of the WBF was a function held in March 2002 to promote camaraderie amongst women at the bar and to forge links with solicitors, members of the bar and the judiciary. Over 200 members of the profession attended. WBF was formally established in 2004 and became a section of the New South Wales Bar Association in 2007.
The Women Barristers Forum is a section of the New South Wales Bar Association created for promoting and supporting Women at the New South Wales Bar.
The work of the Women Barristers Forum is to:
- promote awareness, discussion and resolution of issues which particularly affect women barristers;
- identify, highlight and eradicate discrimination against women in law and in the legal system;
- advance substantive, and not merely formal, equality for women at the bar and in the legal profession generally;
- provide a professional and social network for women barristers;
- support and encourage women at the bar;
- promote the interests and skills of women barristers; and
- support diversity and flexibility at the bar.
Throughout the year the WBF holds seminars, arranges networking functions and assists in the creation of policies and measures aimed at advancing women at the bar. WBF also seeks to work closely with the Equal Opportunity Committee of the New South Wales Bar Association and Women Lawyers Association of NSW.
Women at the New South Wales Bar: the Years to 1975
It's comparatively commonplace to see women practising as barristers today, but before 1976 in New South Wales, it was a very different story. The WBF, with the support of the Bar Association, has produced a multimedia presentation about the pioneering women at the New South Wales Bar. Full interviews and biographical details of these incredible women can be found here.
CONTACT US
The current executive committee of the WBF
Chair: Naomi Sharp SC
Co-Vice-Chairs: Ingrid King and Madeleine Bridgett
Co-Secretaries: Emily Graham and Sarah Andrews
Treasurer: Rosalind Winfield
CPD Co-ordinators: Claire Roberts and Fiona Clark
Equitable briefing: Ingrid King
WLA Liaison Officer: Renée Bianchi
Diversity & Equality Opportunity Committee Liaison Officer: Renée Bianchi and Winnie Liu
Social: Elizabeth Picker, Caroline Dobraszczyk, Emma Bartley, Clare Carnell, Chauntelle Ingenito and Anna Elizabeth
Clerk Representative: Jackie Charles
Correspondence to:
Women Barristers Forum
New South Wales Bar Association Basement,
Selborne Chambers
174 Phillip Street
Sydney NSW 2000
WE WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK!
If you have news about a WBF member, have some suggestions as to how WBF can best promote women at the bar, or have concerns or need assistance please contact us.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The WBF thanks Thomson Reuters for sponsoring its activities.