Panel Discussion
Truth, Power, Consent & the Legal System
Panel Discussion presented by Black Swan State Theatre Company, Clayton Utz, and The Law Society of Western Australia
Join us for a though-provoking discussion about truth, power, consent and the legal system.
Black Swan's upcoming productions, Sydney Theatre Company's RBG: Of One, Many and our brand-new production of Prima Facie, both written by Australian playwright Suzie Miller, shine a light on our justice systems, explore gender roles and identity and dissect the balance between individual experience and societal obligation.
With a strong focus on our evolving relationship with consent, panellists will interrogate the issues at the heart of Suzie Miller's powerful, award-winning plays that have taken the world by storm. The discussion will challenge, inspire, and enhance our understanding of the transformative power of the arts, its role in activism, and its influence on societal change.
DATE: Thursday 4 July
VENUE: Supreme Court of WA, Courtroom 1
TIME: 5:30pm for a 6:00pm start
Please join us after the discussion for drinks and canapes.
WITH PANELLISTS
Suzie Miller – Writer RBG: Of Many, One and Prima Facie
The Hon Peter Quinlan – Chief Justice of Western Australia
The Hon Lindy Jenkins – Chair, Law Reform Commission
Dr Jennie Gray – CEO, Women’s Legal Service WA
Rabia Siddique QCVS – Human Rights Lawyer
Discussion moderated by Anna Casellas – Partner, Clayton Utz
Registrations for this event are currently full, please join the waitlist by clicking the button below.
Suzie Miller
Writer RBG: Of Many, One and Prima Facie
Suzie Miller is a contemporary international playwright, librettist, screenwriter and novelist drawn to complex human stories often exploring injustice.
Miller has been produced around the world winning multiple prestigious awards. Most recently her play, Prima Facie, won three Australian Writers’ Guild Awards and when it premiered in the West End, earned five-star reviews across all platforms, winning the London Olivier Awards 2023 for Best New Play, and Best Actor, winning the 2023 London Whatsonstage award for Best Play and winning the 2023 UK Southbank Sky Arts Award for best play and others. The same production opened on Broadway in 2023 earning four Tony nominations. Prima Facie has now been translated into over 20 languages, with productions all over the world and is being made into an international film.
Suzie has a background in law (she worked as a human rights and children’s rights lawyer) and science, and is currently developing major theatre, film and television projects across the UK, US, and Australia.
Miller’s first novel, Prima Facie, was published by Pan Macmillan in Australia in 2023 and will be published in the USA and UK in 2024.
The Hon Peter Quinlan
Chief Justice of Western Australia
Peter Quinlan was appointed to the Supreme Court of Western Australia on 13 August 2018. He was appointed as a Judge of the Court, a Judge of the Court of Appeal and as the Chief Justice of Western Australia.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1992 and a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) in 1995 from the University of Western Australia.
Chief Justice Quinlan was Professional Assistant to K H Parker AO QC, Solicitor General for Western Australia, from 1993 – 1994, and Judge’s Associate to the Hon Justice Parker, Supreme Court of Western Australia in 1995.
From 1996 to 2001, he was a Legal Officer (and ultimately Assistant Crown Counsel) at the WA Crown Solicitor’s Office before joining the Independent Bar in 2001. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2010.
The Chief Justice was appointed Solicitor General for Western Australia on 1 July 2016 and served in this role until his appointment to the Bench.
He served as President, WA Bar Association from 2012 to 2015, Board of Governors at the University of Notre Dame from 2008 and Director of the Law Council of Australia from 2012 to 2014.
The Hon Lindy Jenkins
Chair, Law Reform Commission
Lindy is the Chair of the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia. In 2022-23, the Commission conducted a review of sexual assault laws in Western Australia.
Lindy served as a judge of the District Court of Western Australia from 2001-2004 and a judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia from 2004-2020. Lindy has presided as a judge over sexual assault trials. From 2020-2022, Lindy was a Commissioner on the Royal Commission into the Perth Casino. Prior to being a judge, Lindy worked as a lawyer and has experience in prosecuting sexual offences in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Dr Jennie Gray
CEO, Women’s Legal Service WA
Jennie’s professional career in the community sector has spanned practice, management, research and policy roles, in a variety of contexts. This includes many years designing and delivering services in regional and remote Western Australia and being employed as the Deputy CEO, at the WA Council of Social Service. Jennie is passionate about redressing gender inequality, which is at the heart of making things better for women.
Rabia Siddique QCVS
Human Rights Lawyer
Rabia is an international criminal and human rights lawyer, former British Army officer, hostage and family, domestic and sexual violence survivor, and global change maker and trail blazer. She was decorated by the late Queen Elizabeth 11 for her humanitarian work in the Middle East as well as in Asia, South America and Europe, and became well known for having successfully sued the British Armed Forces and Government for discrimination in a landmark case in 2008.
Rabia is the author of the best-selling book Equal Justice - My Journey as a Woman, a Soldier and a Muslim, and more recently has become a multi award winning storyteller, professional speaker, leadership, resilience and diversity consultant, non-executive board member, philanthropist, media commentator and advocate for women, children and our most marginalised communities. She is also a very proud mother of teenage triplet boys!
Anna Casellas
Partner, Clayton Utz
Anna is a partner at national law firm Clayton Utz and holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Western Australia, and a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne. With over 20 years' legal experience Anna advises a broad range of clients on all aspects of employment, industrial relations and safety law. She represents clients in both contentious and non-contentious matters, such as employment advice and litigation, unfair dismissal and adverse action, equal opportunity and anti-discrimination, managing industrial action, enterprise bargaining and preparing employment and contractor agreements. Anna also practices in regulatory litigation and compliance with a focus on large financial services.
Anna leads a number of diversity initiatives at Clayton Utz in Perth and sits on the firm's national diversity and inclusion committee, Momentum. She advises Boards regularly and currently is a Director and Company Secretary at the Black Swan State Theatre Company and the Chair of Council at St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls.
ABOUT THE SHOWS
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Past Show
RBG: Of Many, One
by Suzie Miller
Australian legend, Heather Mitchell, commands the stage in this intimate theatrical portrait of one woman who changed history.
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Past Show
Prima Facie
by Suzie Miller
When a shocking turn of events shifts her to the other side of the witness stand, defence barrister Tessa must confront the lines where...
