Respect, flexibility & excellence 2026 COAT NATIONAL CONFERENCE 4-5 JUNE NATIONAL WINE CENTRE, ADELAIDE 26
2 | COAT NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2026 Welcome Conference Organising Committee Conference Convenor: Justice Judy Hughes Organising Committee • Anne Bartlett-Bragg • Justice Steven Dolphin • Lucinda Jack • Senior Member Shahyar Roushan • Peter Britten-Jones • Dr Juliet Lucy • Janet Robertshawe • Trish McConnell • Justice Ted Woodward Dear colleagues, Welcome to the 2026 COAT National Conference in Adelaide. This year’s conference theme, Respect, Flexibility and Excellence, reflects the values that underpin tribunal practice and leadership across our jurisdictions. Through keynote presentations, panel discussions and collegiate discussion, the program will explore how tribunals can continue to evolve to meet the needs of our communities while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, fairness and integrity in decision-making. The conference provides an important opportunity to engage with colleagues from across the nation, exchange ideas and experiences, and strengthen the professional relationships that support and enhance the work of tribunals throughout Australia. We are delighted to welcome delegates to Adelaide and to the National Wine Centre, a uniquely South Australian setting for conversation, connection and professional exchange. We hope delegates will also enjoy the opportunity to experience Adelaide’s renowned hospitality, exceptional food and wine, and the many cultural and natural attractions the city has to offer. We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be an engaging, informative and rewarding conference. Justice Judy Hughes Conference Convenor 2026 COAT National Conference
4-5 JUNE 2026 • ADELAIDE | 3 Pre-conference Meetings Thursday 4 June 2026 08:00 – 17:30 Registration – Concourse Room SAET – Riverside Centre The Vines – National Wine Centre The Gallery – National Wine Centre SACAT – 100 Pirie Street 08:15 – 09:30 Heads of Workers Compensation Tribunals (08:00 – 9:30) Justice Steven Dolphin Invitation Only Heads of Mental Health Jurisdictions Meeting Convener: Senior Member Neil Rainford and Member Alex Reilly Invitation Only Regulation of Health, Legal and Other Professionals meeting Convener: Senior Member Mark Stevens and Senior Member Jacqui Rugless Invitation Only Tribunal Registrars Meeting (08:15 – 10:30) Convener: Principal Registrar Anne Lindsay and Principal Registrar Wendy Wakefield Invitation Only Location Hickinbotham Hall – National Wine Centre The Vines – National Wine Centre The Gallery – National Wine Centre Ferguson – National Wine Centre 09:45 – 10:45 Heads of Tribunals Meeting President Malcolm Schyvens Invitation Only Residential Tenancies Co-Convener: Deputy President Barbara Johns, Senior Member Marie Alvino Invitation Only Building and Property Subject Matter meeting Convenor: Mr Chris Boys Invitation Only Guardianship and Administration Meeting Convener: Senior Member Cath Lester and Member Stacey Rowse Invitation Only
4 | COAT NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2026 Program Thursday 4 June 2026 11:00 – 11:30 Morning Tea – Concourse Room Hickinbotham Hall 11:30 – 11:45 Conference Welcome President Malcolm Schyvens - COAT Chair 11:45 – 11:55 Welcome to Country Cliffy Wilson, Kuma Kaaru 11:55 – 12:00 Conference Opening Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia Session Chair Justice Ted Woodward 12:00 – 12:30 Keynote Address Respect, fairness and humanity: Keeping it real in an AI world Ms Rachel Doyle SC 12:30 – 13:20 Lunch – Concourse Room Hickinbotham Hall The Vines Session Chair Principal Member Dr Juliet Lucy President Malcolm Schyvens 13:20 – 14:05 How self-represented participants interpret proceedings Associate Professor David Butt, Linguist The application of the rules of evidence and procedural fairness in tribunals Mr Bruce McTaggart KC 14:05 – 14:10 5-minute break 5-minute break Session Chair Principal Registrar Anne Lindsay Justice Lea Armstrong 14:10 – 14:55 Autism in the tribunal Ms Jodie Johannsen – Office for Autism SA Recusal in a fast-paced hearing room Deputy President Teresa Anderson
4-5 JUNE 2026 • ADELAIDE | 5 Program Thursday 4 June 2026 14:55 – 15:25 Afternoon Tea – Concourse Room Hickinbotham Hall The Vines Session Chair Deputy President Peter Britten-Jones President Mary-Therese Daniels 15:25 – 16:10 Sovereign Citizens – the first empirical study Associate Professor Joe McIntyre How to conduct a hearing so you can give an oral decision Justice Judy Hughes 16:10 – 16:15 5-minute break 5-minute break Session Chair Justice Steven Dolphin Mr Chris Boys 16:15 – 16:45 Interactive workshop to create two templates for your tribunal Understanding a cultural norm called “face” to Asian people, what it means to “give face” and “saving face” as a means to facilitate resolution in hearings and decision making Mr Jack Tam 16:45 – 17:00 Conference day one close 18:30 – 22:30 Conference Dinner: Adelaide Town Hall, 128 King William St • 18:00, doors open and drinks available • 18:30, guests seated • 18:45, welcome from the Conference chair • 18:50, entrée served • 19:00, The Sisters of Invention • 22:30, event concludes Getting to the dinner • Walking: 17-minute walk from the Crowne Plaza Hotel • Uber/Taxi: Approximately 6 minutes subject to traffic. • Public Transport: Adelaide Town Hall is easily accessible from Crowne Plaza Adelaide via Adelaide’s free city tram. Walk to Botanic Gardens Tram Stop, take any westbound tram and disembark at the Adelaide Railway Station Tram Stop. Transfer to a tram heading to Glenelg or South Terrace and disembark at the Pirie Street Tram Stop, just a short walk from Adelaide Town Hall. Total travel time is approximately 15–20 minutes, including walking.
6 | COAT NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2026 Program Friday 5 June 2026 08:00 – 17:30 Registration – Concourse 08:00 – 08:30 COAT AGM | Hickinbotham Hall Room Hickinbotham Hall 08:30 – 08:45 Day Two Opening Principal Adjudicator Mr Brett Carter Session Chair Justice Steven Dolphin 08:45 – 09:30 Keynote Address Hon Justice Ingmar Taylor, President, NSW Industrial Relations Court & Commission 09:30 – 09:55 Morning Tea – Concourse Room Hickinbotham Hall Session Chair Commissioner Anina Johnson 09:55 – 10:55 Not drowning, waving – how to navigate the choppy seas of tribunal work Facilitator: Commissioner Anina Johnson, Law Enforcement Conduct Commission of NSW Panellists: Ms Martha Roche, Member NZ Immigration & Protection Tribunal Justice Kerri Mellifont, President Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal A/Prof Jonathan Lane, Chief Psychiatrist, Department of Veterans Affairs 10:55 – 11:00 5-minute break
4-5 JUNE 2026 • ADELAIDE | 7 Program Friday 5 June 2026 Room Hickinbotham Hall The Vines The Gallery Session Chair Principal Registrar Wendy Wakefield Deputy President Barbara Johns Deputy President Peter Britten-Jones 11:00 – 11:45 Thinking creatively about case management – people and technology in Tribunals Principal Registrar Anne Lindsay and Mr Simon Kelso Learnings from the Nunga Court Retired Magistrate Paul Bennett Tribunals and the doctrine of precedent – who binds who? Mr Mike Wait SC, Solicitor-General for SA 11:45 – 12:30 Lunch – Concourse Room Hickinbotham Hall Session Chair Ms Sarah Eyre 12:30 – 13:30 Building a fire: enhancing access to justice through culture Mr David Wenitong Principal Referee Janet Robertshawe 13:30 – 13:35 5-minute break Room Hickinbotham Hall The Vines The Gallery Session Chair President MaryTherese Daniels President Mark O’Reilly Justice Lea Armstrong 13:35 – 14:20 The centrality of judge-led proceedings in Singapore’s tribunal justice system Deputy Principal District Judge Jasbendar Kaur Excellence in high volume lists Deputy President Anne Britton Wandering hands but not wandering minds: sexual misconduct, discipline and the rules of evidence Judge Henry Jackson SC
8 | COAT NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2026 Program Friday 5 June 2026 14:20 – 14:45 Afternoon Tea – Concourse Room Hickinbotham Hall Session Chair Deputy President Shahyar Roushan 14:45 – 15:45 Plenary panel: AI and the future of tribunal decision-making Deputy President Shahyar Roushan Principal Member Dr Juliet Lucy Principal Adjudicator Mr Brett Carter Ms Anne Bartlett-Bragg Member Claire Bennett 15:45 – 16:00 Conference close Justice Judy Hughes
4-5 JUNE 2026 • ADELAIDE | 9 Venue Floor Plan
10 | COAT NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2026 Notes
4-5 JUNE 2026 • ADELAIDE | 11 Notes As the host destination for the COAT Australasia 2026 Conference, Business Events Adelaide invites you to take part in a brief survey. Your insights are important to help us understand your experience in Adelaide as a business events destination.
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