Nadia joined WLSQ in early 2022 as CEO. She has qualifications in law and business and is passionate about access to justice, legal services, and women’s rights and safety. Nadia was admitted as a solicitor in 2005 and has a broad range of experience across a diverse range of roles in the corporate, profit-for-purpose, and community sector.
Nadia is focused on legal and social issues affecting women and working with a diverse network of organisations, supporters, and individuals who are united by a shared belief in protecting the rights of women. Nadia is committed to ensuring the sustainable provision of legal and social justice for a safer future for women and children.
Genevieve is an accredited specialist in Family Law and partner at Lander & Rogers in Family and Relationship Law. She has practiced exclusively in family and relationship law for over 18 years, and is a contributing author to a number of CCH publications on family law. Her focus is providing clients with practical and strategic advice to assist in the early resolution of matters and to avoid litigation whenever possible.
Genevieve has been involved with Women’s Legal Service Queensland for over 18 years, starting as a volunteer lawyer and then through governance in 2018. She is also a proud two-time Dancing CEO for WLSQ, helping to raise much needed funds to support women and children experiencing family violence.
The Honourable Ann Lyons is the Patron of Women’s Legal Service Queensland.
Admitted as a solicitor in 1977, Justice Lyons brings a long career in the law and community service.
Justice Lyons worked as an anti-discrimination lawyer with Queensland Rail, was a legal member of the Social Security Appeals Tribunal (1995-2001), a legal member of the Panel of Assessors under the Health Practitioners (Professional Standards) Act 1999 (Qld) (2000-05), and the inaugural president of the Guardianship and Administration Tribunal (2000-06). Justice Lyons was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2006 until her retirement in July 2021. From August 2017 – July 2021 Justice Lyons held the position of Senior Judge Administrator of the Supreme Court of Queensland.
The Women Lawyers Association of Queensland named Justice Lyons their Woman Lawyer of the Year in 2004 in acknowledgement of her Honour’s contributions to the Queensland legal profession.
Justice Lyons had held a number of positions in various professional and charitable organisations including: member, Mater Private Hospital Research Ethics Committee (1998-2001); executive member, Council of the Australasian Tribunals (COAT) and convenor of the Queensland chapter (2006); member, Churchill Fellowship Queensland Selection Committee (2008-2016), member, Advisory Committee QUT Law School; member, Loreto Ministries (2015-18) member, Supreme and Federal Court Judges’ Conference Committee (2012-18), and member, Legal Profession Breakfast Committee (2017-2021).
Marisa Vecchio AM was appointed the inaugural WLSQ Ambassador in 2014. Marisa is owner and “Chief Executive of Everything” at Hanworth House, after she lovingly restored the residence which has a strong history of helping women in need.
Previously Marisa was a national CEO, business leader and company director for nearly 20 years, winning the 2004 Queensland Telstra Business Woman of the Year.
Marisa is a leading philanthropist with involvements in: Zonta International, QUT, WANTZ committee, Brisbane Festival, Ballet International Gala and Mater Foundation specifically ovarian and breast cancer initiatives.
In 2017 Marisa was recognised for her corporate and philanthropic work in being awarded an Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and the 2017 Queensland Community Foundation’s Community Philanthropist of the Year.
Marisa has recently launched the podcast Bubbles and Benevolence to inspire others to make a difference.
QUT honoured her contribution to the University and community in 2019 by awarding Marisa Doctor of the University.
Marisa’s long term support of Women’s Legal Service Queensland has included opening Hanworth House for WLSQ website photographs following devastating fires to the residence, event sponsorships, stepping up as a 2017 Dancing CEO bringing tango dance skills while raising record funds, recruiting Dancing CEOs and support for subsequent Dancing CEOs through assistance with fundraising and a significant dollar match campaign in 2023. Marisa hosted the first designer rummage sale for WLSQ in partnership with the Women Lawyers Association in 2016. Over the years Marisa has grown the event into Labels on the Lawn raising over $300,000 for Women’s Legal Service.
Rachael is a Professor of Law in the Bond University Faculty of Law, and Co-Director of the Bond Centre for Dispute Resolution and Bond’s Centre for Professional Legal Education. Her areas of teaching and research expertise include dispute resolution, family law and domestic violence, as well as lawyer and law student well-being and legal education. Rachael has been published widely in the dispute resolution field and completed a PhD on mediation ethics in 2011. Amongst other works, she is the author of Australian Dispute Resolution (2022) and co-author with Laurence Boulle of Mediation in Australia (2018). Rachael founded the Australian Wellness Network for Law and co-founded the ADR Research Network. Rachael was Queensland Woman Lawyer of the Year in 2013 and in 2020 she was elected as a life-long Honorary Academic Bencher of the Inner Temple in London.
Rachael began volunteering with Women’s Legal Service in 1993 as a junior family lawyer on the evening advice roster and felt an immediate connection with the feminist values of the Service and its commitment to legal and social justice for vulnerable women and children. Joining the Management Committee in 1994, Rachael became the President in 2004 and then joined the Ambassador team in 2020. Rachael cherishes the role of Ambassador because it allows her the opportunity to contribute to community awareness about the mission and work of the Service and its incredible, inspiring staff.
Famin graduated in a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and Arts from UQ in July 2019. Famin is a pro bono and community investment lawyer with MinterEllison having previously worked as Associate to the Honourable Justice Patrick Keane AC.
In a six-month period between graduating Law and beginning her role as Associate, Famin began her project called “Famin Makes”, where she sews reversible hats (using donated material), donating all proceeds to WLSQ. Since starting full-time work in the law, Famin has continued the project in her spare time. To date, Famin has raised over $60,000 for WLSQ. Famin is also passionate about raising awareness about domestic and family violence prevention, using her platform to advocate through social media, podcasts and interviews.
In 2023 Famin was awarded the Queensland Community Foundation Emerging Philanthropist of the Year.
Holding a commerce degree from the University of Queensland, Lorilie Cunningham was CFO and founding owner of Results Physiotherapy based in Nashville Tennessee in the US. Whilst working and living between the US and Australia, she also did much work for charities including fundraising events.
Lorilie is very much involved in her daughter’s business Bonita Collective and the family Thoroughbred business Cunningham Thoroughbreds. She also loves to mentor young people starting out in business.
Lorilie is on various Committees and Boards involved in finance, the arts, and fashion.
In 2021 Lorilie was a Dancing CEO, raising the roof on City Hall and a record breaking $160,000 for WLSQ.
In addition to helping the community, Lorilie’s great love is her family including 10 grandbabies.
Katelyn Aslett is a passionate, energetic and dynamic businesswoman who is currently Director and Founder of – Taste Whitsundays, Whitehaven Event Co and My Giving Table (MGT). Prior to relocating to North Queensland Katelyn was the Market Development Manager for Adagold Aviation.
Katelyn is a two times State Government Export Award winner, as Director of the textile and fashion design business she began and operated for 20 years, recognized for her innovative business development in new markets globally. Her corporate role at Adagold Aviation has seen her support the Dancing CEOs over the past 5 years, particularly with the development of the Private Jet raffle prize, raising funds in excess of $200,000 for Dancing CEOs, as well as raising awareness for the work of WLSQ.
Katelyn was a Dancing CEO in 2018 (solo) and in 2019 in an enthralling group routine with former Dancing CEOs.
Katelyn is an active and passionate humanitarian and philanthropist and is most proud to have founded her philanthropic fundraising platform My Giving Table (MGT) in 2020. MGT offers an innovative and transparent fundraising model, raising funds for WLSQ and many community-based charities across Queensland.
Brendon is the Founder and CEO of Epic Hair Designs, which boasts 16 salons across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, with close to over 200 staff.
When Brendon and his partner Brendan Smith embarked on their fundraising mission, some staff and clients revealed they accessed the services of Women’s Legal Service Queensland, which further drove Brendon to bolster the fundraising mission. He and partner Brendan were named Top Fundraiser and Record-Breaking Fundraiser at Dancing CEOs 2022, after raising $242, 777. The fundraising effort was made possible through Epic Hair Designs clients and staff, the Epic Giving Gala and Epic Walk for DV – both annual events on the philanthropy calendar.
Brendon and his Epic Hair Designs team has also assisted multiple other charities including Orange Sky, The Carers Foundation Australia and Share the Dignity.
In 2022, Brendon was also named the Vidal Sasson Humanitarian of the Year at the Australian Hair Industry Awards. In 2023 Brendon was announced as a finalist in the Queensland Community Foundation Corporate Philanthropist of the Year Awards.
Brendon is thrilled to be one of WLSQ’s first male Ambassadors.
Brendan has been a Broadcast Journalist for more than a decade and is the current State Political Reporter for 10 News First Queensland.
During his time in television news, he’s seen firsthand the devastation caused by domestic violence and the legislative changes Queensland has undertaken to curb domestic and family violence. Brendan is one of “The Brendan/ons” and has been fundraising for WLSQ since 2020. He and partner Brendon Mann were named Top Fundraiser and Record Breaking Fundraiser at Dancing CEOs 2022, after raising $242, 777. The mammoth fundraising effort was made possible through Epic Hair Designs clients and staff, the Epic Giving Gala and Epic Walk for DV – both annual events on the philanthropy calendar. Prior to joining WLSQ as one of the first male Ambassadors, Brendan helped raise vital funds for the Cancer Council NSW.
In 2023 Brendan was announced as a finalist in the Queensland Community Foundation Corporate Philanthropist of the Year Awards.
Brendan is committed to continuing his philanthropic endeavours for Women’s Legal Service Queensland.
Read and download our Annual Reports and Strategic Plan (2021-2024).
WLSQ respectfully acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work, particularly the Turrbul, Jagera and Kabi Kabi peoples and the Yugambeh Language Region on whose lands our offices sit. We pay our deepest respects to elders, past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connection to the land, waters and culture. We especially honour First Nations women and the traditions they carry.
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