BN Health Forum Brisbane: Going Viral - Healthcare, Media and the Law

Richard is a litigation Barrister and King’s Counsel, specialising in common law, insurance law, land law, and the confiscation of criminal profits, with a notable focus on statutory proportionate liability. He is a member of Callinan Chambers in Brisbane, as well as a member and director of Hemmant’s List, where he conducts an extensive, trial court appellate and advisory practice. Richard is also a nationally accredited mediator.

Richard was president of the Bar Association of Queensland from 2009 to 2011 and Medico-Legal Society of Queensland from 2016 to 2018. He also chaired the Bar Association’s civil litigation committee from 2012 to 2022.

Since December 2021, Richard has been editor of the Association’s “Hearsay” electronic magazine. He is also the lead author of two publications on the Ipp legislation, being the online Civil Liability Australia, which covers the Ipp legislation of the Commonwealth, states and territories, and the text Annotated Civil Liability Legislation Queensland.

In 2014, Richard was awarded the National Insurance Law prize by the Australian Insurance Law Association, and was the Association’s annual Geoff Masel lecturer in 2018.

Dr Mellissa Naidoo is a specialist medical administrator with over 15 years of industry experience in clinical, medical leadership and executive roles in both public and private health and insurance industries.

Mellissa has a strong interest in social impact and health equity. .In addition to her Board roles, Mellissa is a certified Advisory Board Chair and provides advice to government, NGO and corporates on a range of medicolegal, risk management, strategic,, medical professional and health workforce issues.

She is actively involved in mentoring and training the next generation of diverse medical leaders through her college and university roles and is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland and Bond University Medical Schools.

Justine is a Group Client Manager at BBS Communications Group - an award-winning consultancy whose expertise spans corporate communications, digital public relations, risk and crisis management, stakeholder engagement and advocacy.

Justine has more than 25 years’ experience in media, communications, and public affairs across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors and more recently as a corporate media trainer.

She commenced her career as a journalist at The Courier-Mail before moving into government where she held senior ministerial media and policy advisor roles in portfolios, including education, infrastructure and treasury. Justine is passionate about the power of communications and her role as a trusted strategic communications advisor in shaping, protecting and promoting the public profiles of her clients.

Melissa specialises in medical negligence claims, OHO and AHPRA matters, and Coronial investigations and inquests involving health care professionals. With a diverse range of clients, including hospitals, doctors, medical indemnity insurers and aged care providers, she regularly advises on complex liability, quantum and strategic issues. Melissa has a particular interest in the issues surrounding consent for medical treatment involving minors.

Alongside her role as a Special Counsel, Melissa has an interest in training and education, and regularly delivers educational and professional development sessions to clients. She has also contributed to our in-house podcast, The Checkup, providing valuable insights on complex legal principles and discussions on issues related to Indigenous health.

Sarah is a Special Counsel in BN's Insurance & Health team. With a strong focus in personal injuries law, she is a Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialist in the field. Sarah’s expertise lies in handling complex liability and contribution issues, as well as all aspects of damages assessment in personal injury claims.

Sarah manages a range of claims, including medical negligence and public liability cases. Her exceptional skills and contributions have been recognised by Best Lawyers where she has been featured in the Personal Injury Litigation category since 2022.

Lisa is a Senior Associate in BN's Insurance and Health team. Her expertise spans across medico-legal litigation, coronial inquests, assisting in statutory investigations, parens patriae applications, OHO and AHPRA complaints, and capacity and guardianship matters. Lisa also has a particular interest in advisory work for hospitals, particularly matters involving legal and ethical issues which arise from emergency medicine and health matters involving questions of consent and capacity.

Lisa has completed a secondment to a large tertiary hospital as in-house counsel and also to the Queensland Government Insurance Fund. Prior to BN, Lisa worked for the UK Government Legal Department where she primarily practiced in human rights, administrative law, medical negligence and coronial inquests.

Committed to pro-bono work, Lisa regularly volunteers through the Human Rights Legal Clinic in partnership with Queensland Advocacy Incorporated.

Remy Crozier is a solicitor in BN's Insurance and Health division. Remy has worked in multiple teams across the division and experienced a diverse range of matters.

Before joining our firm, Remy served as an associate to a judge in the District Court of Queensland, where he gained valuable insight into advocacy and adjudication in complex criminal and civil proceedings.

Bonnie is a Graduate in BN's Insurance and Health team. Bonnie has worked on a wide variety of insurance matters in relation to professional negligence, public liability, OHO matters, and Coronial inquests involving health care professionals. She is also on secondment to Caxton Legal Centre in their Human Rights and Civil Law Practice team.

Prior to joining Barry Nilsson, Bonnie was an associate to a Judge in the District Court of Queensland in Maroochydore where she was introduced to advocacy and gained valuable insight into judgment of complex criminal, civil and planning & environment proceedings.