President- Lisa Coates
Lisa Coates is the Principal/ Director of Lodestone Business Law, established primarily as an online law firm in Bathurst NSW. She was admitted as a legal practitioner in the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court and the High Court in 2001. Lisa has extensive experience in Canberra and Melbourne in global and boutique law firms. She is also a lecturer in law and a founding member of the Centre for Law and Justice at Charles Sturt University since 2016.
Vice- President- Emalene Gemmell
Emalene is the Principal of Emalene Gemmell Family law, based in Armidale. She is a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, Mediator, Independent Children’s Lawyer. She focuses on Resolution Pathways, Parenting Matters, and Family Law.
Secretary- Hannah Stenstrom
Hannah is a solicitor at Hunter Community Legal Centre where she practices across a range of areas of law to assist vulnerable individuals. She has prior experience working in criminal law with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Before entering the legal profession Hannah built a career in the community sector, working with not-for-profit organisations in both metropolitan and regional areas. Currently based on Awabakal Country, Hannah is committed to improving justice outcomes and contributing to her community. She recognises the importance of solidarity in the profession, particularly among women.
Treasurer- Barbara- Rose Townsend
Barbara-Rose entered the world of law as a fairly late bloomer and has been loving every minute of it since then.
In between completing her B Laws in 2013 from the University of Newcastle, and being admitted to NSW Supreme Court in 2014, she has also raised her two daughters to be independent thinkers and aware of seeking justice for themselves and their friends. Barbara-Rose has always been fascinated by stories and pursued roles in the Newcastle Registry of the Family Court as well as the Aboriginal Legal Service where she heard plenty of family and criminal matters and how they impact on individuals.
After a short time in Family law private practice, Barbara finds herself in the desert, working in family law with Legal Aid, Broken Hill. Having lived all her life on the coast it has been a great experience discovering natural beauty and trail running, as well as beginning to understand the difficulties for people who live in remote areas. Barbara is working hard at building networks between service providers and community members. NRWL is the perfect way to strengthen these connections as well as build greater understanding of what experiences vulnerable clients have to deal with, before they can even start looking at their legal issues.
Committee Member- Emma Boyce
Emma is a Special Counsel in our Dispute Resolution & Advisory team (Bartier Perry Pty Ltd). She has a broad range of experience in general commercial disputes with a focus on insolvency and debt recovery. Emma has acted on matters across all NSW jurisdictions including the Court of Appeal of New South Wales.
Emma assists with the management of portfolios of national complex debt recoveries, both secured and unsecured. She has experience working in all state jurisdictions, most commonly New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia.
Outside of her insolvency and debt recovery portfolio, Emma works on complex general commercial disputes matters with a focus on corporate matters, shareholder and partnership disputes, contract disputes, property disputes including lease and strata by-law disputes.
Emma has a proven track record of developing and maintaining strong relationships with her clients, who are often involved with family businesses. She works closely with them to set the litigation strategy and then works to that strategy to achieve the best results in the most efficient manner possible.
Committee Member- Rose Charlton
Rose Charlton is a solicitor who practises predominantly in commercial law, property law, and estate planning. Growing up in Dubbo, Rose began her legal career locally while completing her Diploma of Law (Dip. Law) and being admitted as a Solicitor in 2016. Her dedication to professional growth saw her move to Newcastle to broaden her experience in the legal sector, where she also achieved her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2020.
In early 2022, Rose returned to Dubbo to continue serving the community she knows so well. She is passionate about delivering practical, client-focused solutions and takes pride in building strong relationships with individuals and businesses alike. Rose now splits her professional time between Newcastle and Dubbo at Kilpatrick Hatton Solicitors in an effort to service her long term clients whilst enjoying the perks of country living.
Outside of work, Rose enjoys balancing her legal career with family life as she raises her young children, travelling, netball and everything football.
Committee Member- Catherine Henry
Catherine is one of the founding members of the NSWRWL. Catherine Henry has specialised in health and medical litigation for almost 35 years with her first role in this field being a senior solicitor at the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission. She has spent equal periods of time practising in Sydney
and – for the last 20 years- her hometown of Newcastle where she conducts her own firm, Catherine Henry Lawyers. She there leads a team of 32 staff including 13 lawyers who practise in the firm’s two practice areas – health & medical law and family & relationship law. Catherine and her team have successfully handled many hundreds of medical negligence matters for clients right across NSW as well as in the ACT and Victoria. The health law team also includes health disciplinary and regulatory work for health professionals, claims against residential aged care facilities, coronial inquests, medical device litigation and mental health advocacy and litigation. Catherine has been a passionate advocate for RRR health reform and is the for the Australian Lawyers Alliance on regional health reform in NSW. In this role she co-wrote the ALA submission to the NSW Upper House Inquiry into rural health services and gave evidence to the inquiry.
Committee Member- Ayanah Hood
Ayanah was admitted to practise as a lawyer in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in November 2022. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Media from Macquarie University.
Having spent the majority of her life on the Central Coast, Ayanah began her legal career working as a Law Clerk in boutique firms in the region, where she was exposed to a range of practice areas. She now practises in family law at Conditsis Lawyers in Gosford.
Ayanah is honoured to be a committee member of NSW Regional Women Lawyers and is excited to assist in expanding access to mentoring opportunities similar to those she has experienced on the Central Coast. She looks forward to supporting initiatives that connect and empower regional women lawyers across New South Wales.
Committee Member- Danielle Hughes
Having grown up in Orange, Danni commenced her legal career in Orange in 2018 following completion of a Bachelor of Criminal Justice with Charles Sturt University. Danni then obtained her Honours in Criminal Justice prior to commencing her Bachelor of Laws with Charles Sturt University. She graduated in 2022 and was admitted to practice as a solicitor in 2023.
Danni has a breadth of experience across areas including conveyancing, leasing, business transactions, estate planning, migration, crime, family law, and commercial litigation.
Danni is the Young Lawyers representative for the Central West Law Society and also serves as an Executive Councillor for NSW Young Lawyers.
Committee Member- Tory Lynch (Social media sub-committee)
Tory is a recently admitted Solicitor, who holds a combined Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws from Macquarie University. She brings extensive experience from the pharmaceutical industry, with a strong background in regulatory affairs, quality assurance, compliance, policy and law reform.
Driven by a commitment to advocacy and social justice, Tory is passionate about supporting individuals and communities who experience barriers to accessing legal support and representation. She has recently volunteered with the Central Coast Domestic Violence Committee, contributing to initiatives that promote safety, empowerment, and systemic change for those affected by domestic and family violence.
Tory is focused on developing her legal career in a way that combines her practical experience with her commitment to client-centred advocacy, with the goal of achieving fairer outcomes for those navigating complex legal and social challenges.
Committee Member- Lisa Molloy (Social media sub-committee)
Lisa is a Clinical Teacher/Legal Practitioner at the University of Newcastle Legal Centre (UNLC) where she provides clinical supervision to law students and advice and representation to clients, specialising in family law matters. Lisa has a particular interest in Family Dispute Resolution and resolving family law matters through alternative dispute resolution.
Lisa teaches into the Bachelor of Laws and Juris Doctor degrees, as the Course Coordinator and teacher of Family Law in 2019 and 2020.
Prior to joining UNLC in 2019, Lisa was a Senior Solicitor in the Domestic Violence Unit at Legal Aid, where she assisted clients affected by family violence in family law and ADVO matters. Lisa also practised as a solicitor at the NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office, working primarily in the Inquiries Practice Group where she assisted the State Coroner and Deputy State Coroner in a wide range of inquests, including deaths in custody, homicides, health related and workplace deaths. She also worked in the Child Protection and Administrative Law Practice Groups at the Crown Solicitor’s Office. Lisa also worked as Deputy Associate to Donald J and Associate to Altobelli J, of the Federal Circuit Court.
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University and Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the ANU College of Law, and was admitted to practice in NSW in 2007.
Committee Member- Michelle Meares
Michelle Meares is the immediate Past President of the NSW RWL and one of the founding members of NRWL. She is a barrister based on the NSW Central Coast and a 2 Selbourne Chambers. Michelle accepts briefs in equity and property, commercial law (building and construction), insurance disputes and family law. Michelle has extensive civil litigation experience and has appeared in the Supreme Court, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, District Court and various tribunals.
Michelle has successfully represented clients in claims for historic institutional abuse, medical negligence, motor accident, workers compensation and other personal injury claims. In addition, she has worked on family provision claims, challenges to testamentary capacity and breach of executor duties claims.
Prior to being called to the Bar in 2023, Michelle was the owner and principal lawyer of Central Coast firm Meares Law, practicing primarily in family law and plaintiff litigation. Michelle has significant experience in complex parenting and property matters including valuation issues, company and trust structures, bankruptcy, superannuation including Australian and international pensions and appellate work. She frequently appears in parenting matters involving complex mental health and family violence issues.
Michelle was formerly a member of the NSW Council for Law Reporting and the Legal Aid Review Committee.
Committee Member- Jennifer Spear
Jennifer is the immediate past Vice President of the NSW RWL and one of the founding members of NRWL. Jennifer was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW in 2014 and entered on the High Court of Australia Register of Legal Practitioners in Jennifer attended university at University of New England, Armidale and Washington State University, U.S.A (go Cougs!). She graduated with a double degree in criminology and law with first class honours. Jennifer was the President of the Orana Law Society and Bushweb Chair for NSW Young Lawyers in 2025. In addition, Jennifer has had several years of involvement with NSW Young Lawyers as both a Regional Delegate and Executive Councillor.
She has sat on various committees of the Law Society of NSW including the Rural Issues Committee and Ethics Committee. Jennifer’s extended family are banana farmers from the Mid-North Coast of NSW, but has now found herself committed to the Orana region after marrying a local.
She is proud to embrace her regional roots and looks forward to advocating for regional women to ensure they have the same opportunities, resources and access to justice as their CBD counterparts. A key focus for Jennifer will be to foster the collegiality and wellbeing of regional women lawyers.
