WA Emerging Lawyer of the Year
Awarded to a rising star in the legal profession, with less than five years’ PAE, who has shown exceptional promise, leadership, and impact during 2024/25.
Winners will be announced at the Law Society’s 2025 Gala Awards Evening on Friday, 7 November 2025. Click here for more information.
Congratulations to our 2025 finalists:
Isabel Inkster
Isabel Inkster is a rising star demonstrating compassionate leadership and commitment to Justice and Wellbeing in the legal profession.
Since her admission to legal practice in Western Australia in 2021, Isabel has shown exceptional promise as a legal practitioner, combining legal acumen with a deep commitment to community and wellbeing. Despite being in the early years of her career, she regularly engages in complex public law matters while managing a broad range of State litigation and advisory work—demonstrating rare legal maturity and capability.
Isabel’s contributions extend well beyond the courtroom. She has been actively involved in mentoring through the Law Society and Blackstone Society’s women in law programs for over four years. She also tutors Administrative and Constitutional Law in the Juris Doctor program at the University of Western Australia, where she is recognised as a knowledgeable and compassionate educator who leads with integrity and care.
Her community involvement is equally impressive. As a long-time volunteer with Cambridge Coastcare and, more recently, the Perth Homeless Support Group, Isabel is dedicated to supporting environmental sustainability and vulnerable communities.
A particularly meaningful aspect of her work is her leadership of the Jennifer Inkster Memorial Law Scholarship, named in honour of her late mother, a UWA law graduate and barrister. Isabel has revitalised the scholarship by raising its profile and updating its criteria to better support law students with lived experience of mental health challenges—reflecting her commitment to wellbeing and advocacy.
Isabel also speaks publicly and candidly about the importance of mental health in the legal profession. Her advocacy is grounded in lived experience and is marked by authenticity, not performance. She models a balanced and sustainable approach to legal practice—championing rest, boundaries, and purpose-driven work.
Isabel’s conviction and clarity of purpose are exceptional for someone at this stage in their career. She represents the future of the profession—skilled, values-driven, and deeply human in her approach to law.
Bianca Lambert
Emerging leader Bianca Lambert drives social justice and systemic reform with vision and impact. Since her admission to legal practice in December 2022, Bianca has quickly distinguished herself not only as a capable solicitor but as a visionary leader with a deep commitment to social justice and systemic change. Her early career reflects remarkable initiative, innovative thinking, and a maturity well beyond her years.
Bianca’s expertise has already attracted attention beyond the legal sector. She has provided commentary to media outlets including The West Australian, ABC Radio, and Ngaarda Media on critical access to justice issues—particularly the structural challenges faced by regional and remote communities. Her advocacy highlights how inadequate court infrastructure can further disadvantage already vulnerable clients.
Her commitment to access to justice is demonstrated through hands-on service and policy reform. She has volunteered with Fremantle Community Legal Clinic, Refugee Legal’s Ukraine Clinic, and the Birth Certificate Clinic, ensuring that marginalised individuals can access vital legal support regardless of their circumstances.
Beyond direct service delivery, Bianca has contributed to impactful law reform. She has helped draft submissions for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Safety Plan and inquiries into family violence orders and sexual violence reforms. She is also a member of the Drivers’ Licence Reform Committee, led by Community Legal Western Australia, and was invited to give evidence at a federal public hearing on family violence orders.
Bianca is already stepping into leadership roles typically reserved for more senior professionals. Her ability to drive innovative programs, influence national policy discussions, and support both clients and colleagues marks her as more than a rising star—she is a transformative force in the legal profession.
Whether working on community projects, shaping workplace culture, or leading sector advocacy, Bianca leads with integrity, compassion, and a clear purpose. Her work consistently elevates those around her and drives lasting, meaningful change.
Nancy Zhao
Nancy Zhao is a strategic legal advisor and an inclusive and collaborative leader. She has swiftly become a trusted advisor at Gold Corporation, guiding the organisation through its most complex and high-stake matters. Transitioning from a property lawyer to a versatile in-house counsel, Nancy now advises across diverse business areas—including Retail, Tourism, Marketing, State Batteries, Corporate Affairs, Security, Sustainability and Environment, and Risk and Financial Crime Compliance. Her ability to provide practical, commercially aligned legal advice makes her a key contributor to both compliance and strategic decision-making.
A standout feature of Nancy’s work is her integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into legal strategy. She ensures that legal advice not only meets regulatory requirements but also aligns with broader business and stakeholder values. Her impact was formally recognised when she was awarded the University of Sydney and UN Women’s prestigious MBA Leadership Scholarship—typically awarded to senior executives. This honour reflects her commitment to advancing UN Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality and Empowerment.
Beyond her corporate role, Nancy is a committed community leader. As a founding executive of the WA Chinese Chamber of Commerce Youth Committee, she fosters cross-cultural exchange and youth entrepreneurship. In her five-year tenure as Chair of the Student Affairs Sub-Committee of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association (AALA), she launched the AALA Junior’s Guide, the association’s first national publication for law students and junior lawyers.
Nancy’s passion for equity extends through her mentoring work. She volunteers with organisations such as AALA, the Young Lawyers Society, Curtin Law School, the Harding Miller Education Foundation, and the Kaleidoscope Initiative to support students, migrants, and early-career professionals.
Nancy’s leadership is grounded in action—she empowers others, fosters inclusion, and contributes meaningfully to fairer and more diverse legal and workplace systems.
Award criteria
The award will be judged on three criteria as follows:
- Promise: Growing influence as a trusted advisor in their practice area.
- Leadership: Demonstrated leadership of people, ideas or resources in the workplace or community.
- Impact: Evidence of improving outcomes for others, such as clients, colleagues or the community.
Judging panel
- The Hon Dr Andrew Lu AM: Honours Committee member, The Law Society of Western Australia
- Gary Mack: President, The Law Society of Western Australia
- Dr Michael Douglas: Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers
- Thomas Coltrona: Associate, Bennett
Important dates
- Nominations open on Friday, 11 July 2025.
- Nominations close at COB on Monday, 18 August 2025.
- Unfortunately, late submissions cannot be accepted.
- Award winners will be announced at the Law Society’s 2025 Gala Awards Evening on Friday, 7 November 2025. Click here for more information.
Further information
Contact Member Services on (08) 9324 8692 or email membership@lawsocietywa.asn.au.
Previous award recipients
Emerging Lawyer of the Year - Practitioner with less than five years experience
- 2024 – Sophie Coffin
- 2023 – Felicia Chan
- 2022 – Monica Vu
- 2021 – Kendra Turner
- 2020 – Heidi Gan and Hamish Glenister
- 2019 – Kelsi Forrest
- 2018 – Tegan Harrington
- 2017 – Krista McMeeken
- 2016 – Michael Geelhoed
- 2015 – Callum Hair
- 2014 – Jessica Bowman and Stephanie Puris
- 2013 – Gary Mack
- 2012 – Tammy Solonec
- 2011 – Breony Allen
- 2009 – Toni Emmanuel
- 2008 – Anna Rakoczy
