Kate Wellington
Chief Executive Officer
kwellington@lawsocietywa.asn.au
(08) 9324 8605
Chief Executive Officer
Kate is a qualified solicitor in Australia and the UK. She began her legal career in the public sector before transitioning to private practice at Linklaters LLP in London, specialising in disputes and regulation. She moved in-house to work for Which? (the UK’s Consumer Association), where she held various senior roles including Lead Lawyer for Policy and Communications. Before joining the Law Society of Western Australia, Kate was CEO of the Costs Lawyer Standards Board, one of the UK’s statutory legal regulators.
Kate has served on numerous boards and committees throughout her career. She held a public appointment to the Civil Procedure Rule Committee and was an independent member of the Chartered Insurance Institute’s Professional Standards Committee and the Ombudsman Association’s Validation Committee from 2019 to 2025. She is a director of the Class Representatives Network and the Data Protection Foundation, as well as Vice President of the Citizens Advice Bureau of WA.
Kate holds degrees in law (LLB) and economics (BEc) from UWA, as well as a postgraduate degree in civil law (BCL) from the University of Oxford.
As Chief Executive Officer of the Law Society, Kate reports to an elected Council and has responsibility for both the Law Society of Western Australia and Law Mutual (WA).
Executive
- Sue Langmair
Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer and President (P/T)
Susie Moir
Director, Advocacy and Professional Development
smoir@lawsocietywa.asn.au
(08) 9324 8646
Advocacy and Professional Development
Susie has extensive experience in law, policy and advocacy gained through working with membership organisations and in private legal practice. Susie was admitted as a legal practitioner in Western Australia in 1998, and practiced at Jackson McDonald and Blake Dawson Waldron before moving overseas to London. Upon her return to Perth, Susie worked in private legal practice and at the Law Society of Western Australia as a Policy Lawyer. Susie most recently worked at the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) as the Policy Manager, Resilient Communities, with responsibility for social policy, emergency management policy and Aboriginal affairs. Susie holds a LLB/BA and a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning (with Distinction) from the University of Western Australia.
Advocacy and Professional Development
- Elizabeth Malone
Lawyer, Advocacy and Professional Development (P/T) - Michaela Speering
Lawyer, Advocacy and Professional Development (P/T) - Susma Giri
Legal Policy Officer - Sandra McGarry
Committee Co-Ordinator (P/T) - Lakshmi Jones
Senior Professional Development Co-Ordinator (Maternity Leave) - Lizzy Watson
Senior Professional Development Co-Ordinator - Jessica Powell
Advocacy and Professional Development Officer - Reilly Blumears
Advocacy and Professional Development Officer - Sarah Bright
Strategic Policy and Projects Lead (P/T) - Xavier Smith-Tan
Research Assistant (P/T)
Leanne Round
Director, Corporate Services
lround@lawsocietywa.asn.au
(08) 9324 8645
Corporate Services
Leanne is an experienced Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Commerce from Murdoch University. Leanne has previously worked as the Chief Financial Officer for Tourism WA and the Perth Market Authority. She also has experience in private practice.
Corporate Services
- Isabella Li
Manager, Finance and Administration - Michael Loh
Manager, Finance and Portfolio - Trevor Smith
Information and Facilities Manager - Thai Do
Accountant - Adrian Yan
Accountant - Maria Jones
Professional Standards Scheme Co-Ordinator (P/T) - Marta Da Silva
Receptionist and Administration Officer - Francesca Giglia
Receptionist and Administration Officer (P/T)
Áine Whelan EMBA, GAICD
Director, Strategy and Growth
awhelan@lawsocietywa.asn.au
(08) 9324 8629
Strategy and Growth
With a portfolio career spanning cultural industries, government, corporate, academic and not-for-profit sectors, Áine’s leadership is defined by strategic insight, innovation and a strong capacity to deliver transformation and growth. Her unique blend of creative and commercial expertise enables her to shape vision, engage stakeholders, build value and lead with clarity and purpose.
Holding an honours degree in Music from Trinity College Dublin and a degree in Arts Management from the internationally recognised Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), Áine began her career producing and touring internationally in Australia, Europe and Asia, followed by senior advisory roles in government and the private sector. Building on her creative foundation, she brings a transformational approach to leadership, integrating creativity and business acumen to drive meaningful impact and sustainable success.
Membership, Events and Marketing
- Maryka Mensink
Manager, Events and Business Development - Louisa Bell
Membership Executive (P/T) - Kristin Yu
Membership and Marketing Administration Executive - Liz Collins
Membership Engagement and Marketing Executive (Maternity Leave)
Education and Community Services
- Dean Curtis
Manager, Education and Community Services - Megan Shaw
Museum Curator - Torren Whisson
Visitor Services and Collections Officer (P/T) - Janelle Hauser
Visitor Services and Museum Officer (P/T) - Asvira Asfar
Visitor Services and Museum Officer (Casual) - Sarah Bright
Mock Trial Coordinator (P/T) - Shannon Thompson
Education Officer (P/T)
Claire Chaffey
Director, Content and Communications
cchaffey@lawsocietywa.asn.au
(08) 9324 8614
Content and Communications
With a career bridging law, journalism and communications leadership, Claire is a seasoned professional who thrives at the intersection of high-impact content, stakeholder engagement, and strategic storytelling.
A graduate of the University of New England (BA/LLB (Hons)), Claire began her career as a lawyer before pivoting into journalism – completing a Graduate Certificate in Journalism and working internationally as a journalist in Ghana.
Claire later brought her dual passions for law and communication to the Law Society of New South Wales, leading teams across engagement, content, communications, events, and membership for 11 years before relocating to Perth.
An accomplished writer and editor at heart, Claire is also a committed advocate for diversity, professional development, and meaningful member experience.
Content and Communications
- Claire Eslinger
Manager, Membership and Marketing (P/T) - Domenic Iacono
Project Manager - Tiffany Cosby
Digital Communications and Marketing Officer (P/T) - Rebecca Nguyen
Communications and Design Officer
Sharan Gill
General Counsel Law Mutual (WA)
sgill@lawmutualwa.com.au
(08) 9324 8626
For general enquiries, please contact:
info@lawmutualwa.com.au
Law Mutual
Sharan is an experienced commercial and insurance litigation lawyer with a wide range of experience across government, private practice and in-house.
Sharan commenced her legal career at Crown Law in Queensland where she practiced in the areas of medical negligence and commercial and construction litigation.
Sharan then worked in-house at Law Mutual (WA) as a Claims Solicitor, and the Law Society of Western Australia as an Executive Legal Officer, before transitioning into private practice at Jarman Mckenna where she specialised in the defence of professional indemnity claims against a wide range of industry professionals with a focus on claims against lawyers, barristers, medical and health practitioners, engineers, architects, accountants, financial advisors, real estate agents, construction contractors, publishers, directors and officers, mortgage & insurance brokers.
Sharan re-joined Law Mutual (WA) in 2014 as a Senior Claims Solicitor where she specialised in the defence of professional indemnity claims against lawyers and barristers.
She was promoted to the role of Manager – Claims in 2017 and held the role of Head of Claims in January 2025.
In August 2025, Sharan commenced in the role of General Counsel where she oversees the insurance, risk and claims functions of Law Mutual (WA).
Sharan holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) from Queensland University of Technology. She was admitted as a Legal Practitioner in Westen Australia in 2008.
Sharan was a Finalist in the Law Society of Western Australia’s 2025 Lawyer of the Year Award for “WA In-House Counsel of the Year”.
Law Mutual (WA)
- Evelyn Yuen
Claims and Risk Solicitor - John Rogers
Senior Consultant (Casual) - Paula Bluemel
Insurance and Claims Administrator - Mary-Ann Winnett
Administration and Risk Officer (P/T)