News Archive

Kingsley Liu, NSW Branch President of the AALA, was recently interviewed by Lawyers Weekly. To read the full article, please click here. 

The Asian Australian Lawyers Association would like to congratulate James Wang on his promotion to partner at KWM. 

It is encouraging to see greater cultural diversity in Australian law firm partners. In 2015 the AALA published its Cultural Diversity Report, which revealed that Asian Australians are underrepresented within the senior ranks of the legal profession.

The Asian Austrailan Lawyers Association would like to congratulate Chuong Nguyen on his recent promotion to partner at Baker & Mackenzie.

Research by the AALA in 2015 revealed that Asian Australian only accounted for 3.1% of law firm partners in Australia, with 6 large firms and 44 medium firms with no Asian Australian partners.

Dear Members, 

You are invited to register for the Asian Australian Leadership Summit 2016 in Sydney. The Summit is supported by the Diversity Council of Australia. 

This event is not hosted by the AALA, but AALA members are warmly invited to attend and will receive a 10% discount on the registration fee (please mention you are an AALA member when registering). 

Pre-Summit Workshop 18 July 2016

Summit 19 & 20 July 2016

Post-Summit Workshop 21 July 2016

Diversity in thinking, perspective and experience bring about the creativity and innovation which organisations need to thrive in today’s world, and fuel the future for so many existing and emerging leaders. And yet, as the world enters into the Asian Century, aspiring and emerging Asian Australian professionals remain starkly underrepresented at senior executive leadership levels in Australia.

Leadership is always viewed through a cultural lens, and draws on our individual cultural values. For Asian Australian leaders seeking to step up in their organisation, there can be complex cultural barriers to overcome, from unconscious bias, communication styles and management paradigms to a lack of relationship capital and the so-called ‘bamboo ceiling’. In order to move forward and increase access to leadership opportunities, it is crucial that Asian Australian leaders refine skills and aptitudes and organisations invest in supporting their leadership pipeline.

The inaugural Asian Australian Leadership Summit is the first dedicated professional development event for region’s aspiring and emerging Australasian professionals working across all roles and industries, as well as developing cross-cultural competence from a personal and organisational perspective. Hear from senior Asian Australian leaders from across the region, diversity and cross-cultural specialists, and business and management consultants open up a crucial and exciting discussion and explore the future of Asian Australian leadership.

For more information and registration details, please click here (PDF flyer). 

Dr Tim Soutphommasane, Race Discrimination Commissioner, has recently given a speech at the Vincent Fairfax Ethics in Leadership Oration. The speech addresses the issue of race and cultural diversity. 

To read the full speech, please click here. 

Members of the AALA are warmly invited to register for the Australia-China Youth Association Victoria Bilingual Language Competition.  Please refer to the event invitation below. 

The Australia-China Youth Association Victoria Bilingual Language Competition Inc. ('ACYA VIC BLC'), is an autonomous incorporated not-for-profit organisation under the ACYA umbrella.

The Bilingual Language Competition provides a challenging platform for Victorian tertiary students to showcase and improve their Chinese and English communication skills, both linguistic and cultural.

Participants will undertake a preliminary essay writing assessment where they are required to demonstrate their language skills via writing in Chinese and English. Then, five finalists from each level (intermediate and advanced) will subsequently progress to the finale where they are required to provide a public speaking performance in Mandarin and English. Both stages are impartially assessed by academics from our partner universities and influential individuals within the Australia-China community, providing legitimacy and expertise to competition results.

In our inaugural year, ACYA VIC BLC Inc. successfully hosted the Bilingual Language Competition in front of a distinguished audience of over 250 people, including academics, senior representatives from our sponsors and supporting organisations, government officials, as well as the general public.

Competition participation and language acquisition is incentivised through the provision of prizes ranging from a $5000 academic scholarship to a radio interview experience on SBS Mandarin Radio and SBS Cantonese Radio. Coupling this with extensive and diverse media coverage and growing government recognition and support, the public nature of the competition ensures the promotion of language learning and cultural understanding within the wider community.

If you are interested in being part of this life-changing experience, please visit http://www.acyavic-blc.com/ for registration and more information. With more amazing prizes in the store this year, do not miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and showcase your language talents. Registration closes 7th July 2016. Terms and conditions apply.

CIArb Asia Pacific Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration Course
20 - 28 August 2016

The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators has launched the CIArb Asia Pacific Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration Course as a joint venture between the Australia, East Asia and Singapore branches. Supported by global arbitration bodies, the inaugural course will be held in Singapore between 20 and 28 August 2016. 

Successful completion offers a pathway to CIArb membership and accreditation that carries a global qualification in the growing practice of international arbitration. Places are strictly limited. For further information and to register visit https://www.ciarb.net.au/training/diploma2016/

Media Release

The Asian Australian Lawyers Association (AALA) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new President, Ms Tuanh Nguyen, and would like to thank Mr Reynah Tang for his leadership and tireless efforts over the last 3 years in founding and building AALA.

Mr Tang has recently announced his retirement as President of AALA to take up appointment as a sessional Member at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Ms Nguyen, a Senior Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal and the current Secretary of the AALA, will succeed Mr Tang as President. Succeeding Ms Nguyen as Secretary will be Mr Barton Wu, a Lawyer at the Law Institute of Victoria and a current member of the AALA’s Executive Committee.

The AALA also welcomes to the Executive Committee, Ms Adelyn Koh, Senior Legal Counsel (The General Counsel’s Office) at Ernst & Young, who has been appointed to fill a casual vacancy position on the Executive Committee.

The AALA congratulates Ms Nguyen, Mr Wu and Ms Koh on their appointments.

The AALA thanks Mr Tang for his leadership and significant contribution to the establishment and growth of AALA. As a founder and inaugural President, Mr Tang led the AALA from its humble beginnings to an organisation numbering 450 members across two States. Among his countless achievements and contributions, Mr Tang oversaw the launch of the AALA’s report on cultural diversity in the legal profession, the first of its kind in Australia; the establishment of the AALA’s NSW Branch; the introduction of the AALA’s annual mentoring program; and the appointment of the Honourable Michael Kirby AC CMG as the AALA’s first patron.

Ms Nguyen thanked her fellow Executive Committee members for their support and stated that: “Reynah has been an immense guiding figure for the AALA and leaves behind a vast legacy. He has built a strong foundation for the continued growth of the AALA and the achievement of its objectives. I am truly honoured to become President of the AALA and excited to continue the significant work that Reynah has done in promoting cultural diversity in the law and advancing Asian Australian representation in the upper echelons of the legal profession.”

In addition to Mr Tang’s appointment as a sessional Member at VCAT, fellow AALA member, Mr David Kim, a barrister with Foley’s List, has also been appointed a sessional Member at VCAT. The AALA congratulates Mr Tang and Mr Kim on their appointments.

Ms Nguyen also applauded the Victorian Attorney-General, the Hon. Martin Pakula MP, on the appointments and for his commitment to ensuring that our courts and tribunals are more reflective of the diversity in the community they exist to serve.

Contact: Ms Tuanh Nguyen, President M: 0438 831 906

About AALA

The AALA was formed in 2013 to promote Asian cultural diversity in the Australian legal profession, provide advocacy and support to its members and develop links with Asian legal associations.  AALA has more than 450 members hail from more than fifteen countries in Asia and, between them, speak more than 20 different Asian languages and dialects.

Follow the AALA on Twitter at @OrgAALA or subscribe for updates on our website: aala.org.au.

The French Australian Lawyers Society (Inc) (FALS) would like to invite you to the Immigration Law Seminar presented by Hammond Taylor at: 

The Trust Bar (back room)
405 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
from 5.30 pm (for 6pm start, sharp) to 7.30 pm
on Thursday 23 June 2016

TOPIC:Work visas – a guide for HR, in-house counsel, managers and employees

PRESENTERS: James Hammond and Jackson Taylor

Jackson Taylor has worked in the migration advice profession for more than 8 years, principally providing advice to corporate clients on Employer Sponsored visas and all aspects of immigration compliance. Prior to entering the migration industry Jackson was a recruitment consultant in the IT sector and developed a passion for understanding and supporting businesses’ needs. Jackson has worked with a range of corporate clients across all industry sectors from start-ups to multinationals, including some of the largest users of sponsored visas in Australia. He has advised a number of overseas businesses on the immigration requirements to offer services in Australia and establish local entities.

James Hammond is a Melbourne based lawyer specialising in Australian immigration law. He has practised immigration law for 10 years, including 5 years in his own practice. He is experienced in and can assist with all Australian immigration matters including visa and sponsorship applications, appeals and advice. His clients include national and multi-national companies in the following industries: engineering, construction, hospitality, ICT and manufacturing. He also assists skilled professional, trades and business people from all over the world to migrate to Australia under Skilled, Employer Sponsored and Business Skills visa categories.

Wine and finger food will be served.

There will be a formal seminar for 45 minutes, with an additional 15 to 20 minutes for questions. Guests are welcome to stay and network after the seminar.

All lawyers and students with an interest in Australian immigration law are welcome to attend, so please feel free to invite any others who you think may be interested. The event is $30.00 to non FALS and FACCI members. 

To register or for more information, please click here. 

The Australian Council of Learned Acadamies (ACOLA) has recently released a report on Australia's potential for building transnational business networks with Asia, with a particular focus on Chinese and Indian business.

The ACOLA report references findings from the AALA's 2015 cultural diversity report. 

To read the full report, please click here.