I am delighted to invite you to attend the twenty-fourth annual Colloquium of the Australian Judicial Officers Association. I am particularly delighted to be able to do so after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The organising committee, consisting of Justice Michael Walton, Justice Jayne Jagot, Vice President Dan O’Connor and Magistrate Jenny Atkinson, have worked hard to prepare a stimulating program for the Colloquium; and have arranged a distinguished assembly of speakers. We are indebted to them for their hard work.
The conference will commence on Friday afternoon with the President’s Welcome and the Official Opening by the Governor of Tasmania, Her Excellency the Hon Barbara Baker AC. This is followed by the Keynote Address, presented by the Hon Justice Stephen Gageler AC.
There are sessions within the program dealing with the very important topic of “Judicial Independence”: a subject on which we must be always vigilant, and which is the bedrock of AJOA’s purpose. After the keynote speech on Friday, we will hear from former female judges from Afghanistan. This session will include an update on the work undertaken by the International Association of Women Judges in helping these judges to escape. On Saturday morning, the Hon Chris Kourakis, Chief Justice of South Australia, and Dr Joe McIntyre from the University of South Australia will explore this important topic further.
The remaining sessions on Saturday and Sunday morning include a presentation by the Hon Andrew Bell, Chief Justice of New South Wales, and the Hon Justice Mark Moshinsky, Federal Court of Australia, on the topic of Australian courts and the extraterritorial operation of laws; and the Hon Peter Quinlan, Chief Justice of Western Australia together with Ms Melinda Upton of Minds Count, on Wellbeing and Leadership. In addition, there will be sessions on adjusting to the use of technology in a post-Covid world with the Hon Justice Michael Wheelahan and Mr Murali Sagi and the international rules-based order with Professor Rob McLaughlin.
An important part of each Colloquium are the social events. On Friday evening, you are warmly invited to join us for welcome drinks in the Atrium Courtyard at the Henry Jones Art Hotel. Following the Conference Dinner at the Peppermint Bay Hotel on Saturday evening, we will have the pleasure of hearing an after-dinner speech by Mr Jarrod Rawlins,
Director, Curatorial Affairs at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart. Partners are welcome to join on both occasions. Please ensure you include their attendance on the registration form.
One of the major strengths of the AJOA is that its membership is drawn from all Australian courts. The AJOA Colloquium provides an opportunity to meet and form friendships with colleagues from different courts and different jurisdictions as well as enjoying a thought provoking program.
I hope you enjoy the 2022 Colloquium as much as I know I will.
Justice Glenn Martin AM
President