Mary Kitson Award

The Mary Kitson Award recognises an individual or organisation who has made an extraordinary contribution to the advancement of women in the law.

Mary Cecil Kitson was admitted to legal practice in South Australia, paving the way for countless other women to enter the legal profession. Mary Kitson was the first female lawyer in South Australia, having taken advantage of the Female Law Practitioners Act 1911 which for the first time allowed women to practise law. She was an outstanding lawyer who became an authoritative and widely published voice on child welfare matters and was also a tireless and effective advocate for the advancement of women.

This Award is presented to an individual in South Australia, or a South Australian organisation with an interest in women’s issues and the law.

Judges

The Judging panel comprises the Law Society President, Law Society female Vice President, Chair of the Women Lawyers' Committee and the Chief Executive.

Conditions

  1. Nominees are not required to be Members of the Society unless otherwise specified in the award specific criteria.
  2. Nominees are not required to be admitted legal practitioners unless otherwise specified in the award specific criteria. 
  3. Nominators must be Members of the Society.
  4. Self-nominations are not accepted.
  5. The nomination will be submitted on the Law Society website via the online process;
    • Name and contact details of nominator
    • Name and contact details of nominee
    • Name and contact details of two referees who can attest that the nominee meets the Award criteria; and 
    • Description of the achievements of the nominee that address the Award criteria (Maximum 400 words).
  6. Nominees who are unsuccessful for an award in a given year will be included for consideration for the award in the following three years (subject to the nominee continuing to meet the award criteria and in the absence of the nominee, nominator or seconder withdrawing the nomination).
  7. A nominee/s must not be the subject of charges before the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Tribunal or the Supreme Court for unsatisfactory conduct or professional misconduct, or be a person suspended from practice.
  8. The judging panel for each award will consider nominations and make a final decision on the suitability of the nominee for the Award.
  9. The judging panel may decide that an award not be conferred in a given year, should there not be a suitably meritorious nominee.

Winners of the Mary Kitson Award

2024 - Gillian Walker SC

Gillian has proposed numerous amendments to practices and procedures of the Bar Association that would see women treated more fairly, particularly with regards to issues such as complaints, membership subsidies in circumstances where a woman needs to take time out of the profession, and CPD relief or exemptions when working part time or on maternity leave.

She currently leads the SA Bar Association’s Women at the Bar committee, and also sits on the Chief Justice’s Respectful Workplaces committee.

She mentors many women in the profession, and regularly undertakes pro bono work to advance the plight of female lawyers and protect the rights of women.

Gillian has been a staunch advocate for and an unofficial watchdog of the Courts’ certainty of sitting hours policy, helping to ensure that the scheduling of Court sitting hours accommodates family and carer commitments of practitioners.

2023 - Julie Redman

Throughout her career, Julie has focused on empowering vulnerable individuals, particularly women and children, to gain access to, and be supported in, the legal system.

In her first year of practice on the Eyre Peninsula, Julie was instrumental in the establishment of the first women’s shelter in Port Lincoln, providing a safe haven for those escaping abusive situations.

When Julie returned to establish a firm in suburban Adelaide she provided legal support to Bramwell House, one of Adelaide’s first women’s shelters.

She also helped to establish the Conyngham Street Community Child Care Centre following the birth of her son.

Julie was named the National Children’s Lawyer of the Year by the National Children's Legal Service, was a finalist in the Australia TELSTRA Business Women awards and received a UNESCO Achievement Award for her work in promoting children's rights within the legal system.

Julie was the inaugural Chair of the Law Society's Children and the Law Committee, a position she held for over a decade.

Beyond her legal endeavours, Julie has made significant contributions to community organisations, including her six-year chairmanship of Uniting Care Wesley Adelaide (now Uniting Communities).

Julie has volunteered at various organisations, including the Women's Information Switchboard, the Norwood Community Legal Service, and the Law Society Advisory Service.

Her selfless contributions have made a significant impact on the lives of individuals who otherwise might not have had access to legal support. Julie’s dedication to nurturing talent and empowering women has had a profound and lasting impact on the next generation of legal professionals.

2022 - Ruth Beach

Since her admission to practise in 1993, Ruth Beach has served in a number of roles aimed at advancing the interests of women lawyers. These include membership of the Society’s Women Lawyers’ Committee for 15 years from 1993, including as Chair 2004- 2008; Law Society representative to the Law Council of Australia’s Equalising Opportunities in the Law Committee 2004 to 2008; member of the Women Lawyers’ Association (SA) including as President from 2001 to 2002; South Australian Director of Australian Women Lawyers; and member of the Women’s Legal Service Committee in Queensland and South Australia.  

Ruth has pioneered a number of initiatives aimed at empowering women within the profession, particularly when the profession was male dominant. Ruth advocated to the State Attorney-General for more women to be appointed to the judiciary and as senior counsel, and recognised the need for more collaboration between women lawyers which lead to the organisation of a number of social opportunities for women lawyers, including Drinks with the Judiciary. Ruth was instrumental to the establishment of the Women Lawyers’ Mentoring Program and has personally mentored many women lawyers from culturally diverse backgrounds. 

Alongside her busy practice, Ruth provides voluntary support to members of the Women Lawyers’ Association (SA) who want to discuss bullying or harassment related issues, through her role as the Association’s inaugural Support Person. She also acts predominately for women on a low-bono and pro bono basis in a wide variety of legal matters, including through the Society’s Advisory Service and as a JusticeNet pro bono lawyer. 
 
2021 - The Honourable Justice Trish Kelly

Justice Trish Kelly’s exceptional legal career is a source of inspiration for women in the profession. In her roles as prosecutor at both State and Federal level, a senior legal officer at the Equal Opportunity Commission, and judicial officer, culminating in her appointment as the inaugural President of the Court of Appeal in January 2020, Justice Kelly has been a purveyor of the law par excellence, making a notable contribution to protecting the rights of victims of crime. In addition, Justice Kelly has been a Member of the Intellectually Disabled Services Council of South Australia and a member of the Rape Crisis Centre Board.

2020 - Kerry Clark SC

Kerry started at the independent Bar at a relatively young age and has become a highly respected barrister and strong role model for young practitioners, especially those considering joining the Bar. Despite having a very busy practice, she has mentored countless female lawyers and barristers.

Kerry has held a number of positions which seek to promote gender equity and the advancement of women within the profession. She is an active member of the Women Lawyers Association of South Australia and served as its President between 2007 and 2011. Kerry was an Australian Women Lawyers Board Member from 2008 to 2010 including as Vice-President in 2010. She has been a Member of the Society’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee since 2017 and is a former Member and Chair of the Society’s Women Lawyers’ Committee.

Kerry is currently the President of JusticeNet SA, an independent, not-for-profit legal service for South Australians who cannot afford a lawyer or get the legal help they need elsewhere. She has worked for JusticeNet SA for the past 11 years.

She also was appointed Senior Counsel on 4 December – a testament to her skill, integrity and dedication.

2019 - Amy Nikolovski

Amy Nikolovski is the fourth female President of the Law Society and will be the first to deliver a child during their presidency. Amy is not only the youngest ever female President but is also the youngest person to be made an Equity Partner at Duncan Basheer Hannon, at age 35. By sheer example, Amy continues to advance the interests of women lawyers. 

Amy was a Member of the Society’s Gender Equity Working Group and was instrumental in garnering support for the gender equity reforms undertaken by the Law Society in 2015.  In all her actions she reminds people of unconscious bias and the ways in which women are discriminated against. 

She is Chair of the Society’s Bullying, Discrimination and Harassment Working Group; and the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She is also a Member of the Society’s Council and Executive and numerous other committees, in addition to being a Director of the Law Council of Australia and the Society’s representative on the Law Council’s Equal Opportunity in the Law Committee. 
2018 - Leah Marrone

Leah Marrone has been involved in a broad range of activities, both as a Member of the Women Lawyers’ Committee and of the Women Lawyers’ Association of SA, of which she has been the President since 2015.

Leah is a passionate advocate for the decriminalisation of sex work.  She has contributed to the development of the Society’s submissions in relation to various Bills to effect decriminalisation.  With then President, David Caruso and Taruna Heuzenroeder, Leah appeared for the Society in 2016 before the Select Committee’s Inquiry into the Statutes Amendment (Decriminalisation of Sex Work) Bill 2015.   

Leah has been integral to advocacy for facilities for mothers with infants in SA Prisons; an organiser of Reclaim the Night events; and of International Women’s Day marches.  She is a member of the University of Adelaide Alumni Council, and is on the Premier’s Council for Women.  Leah is also on the Board of Australian Women Lawyers and the Law Council of Australia’s Equal Opportunity Committee.  

In February 2018, a paper written by Leah, “Pay Gap and Gender Discrimination: No more euphemisms” was published in Precedent, the journal of the Australian Lawyers Alliance.  The paper focussed on successful strategies some organisations have used to address unequal gender pay rates. 

Leah has mentored many young law students through their transition into the profession.
2017 - Taruna Heuzenroeder

Taruna Heuzenroeder has made significant contributions towards the advancement of the interests of women lawyers and issues in the law which affect women. 

Taruna is a member of the Society’s Women Lawyers Committee where she has made a significant contribution to submissions on policy issues, including on topics such as revenge pornography, same sex marriage, the gender pay gap, decriminalisation of prostitution, reform of equal opportunity legislation, the admissibility of evidence in domestic and family violence cases, and the equitable briefing policy.

Taruna is also a member of the Women Lawyers Association of South Australia (WLASA), the Equal Opportunity Committee of the Law Council, and was a founding member of the Women at the Bar Committee of the SA Bar Association. 

Taruna has since 2009 worked as a mentor for the Indigenous Law Students’ Mentoring Program. She has a strong sense of social justice which is made apparent by the hundreds of hours of pro bono work she has undertaken, including work for the Refugee Advocacy Service of SA Inc.
2016 - Lynn Valentine

At the time the Award was presented, Lynn Valentine had been practising law for 30 years.  In 1994, she was on the Establishment Committee for the Women's Legal Service, set up to meet unmet needs of women, in particular victims of domestic violence and became its first chairperson.  The role involved many hundreds of pro bono hours of work per year.  She continued as a Member of the Management Committee for many years.

Lynn has always advocated for Aboriginal women in her family law practice and was a member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultative Committee within the Adelaide Registry of the Family Court when the Committee was first established in 1999 and for many years thereafter.

Her Honour Judge Kelly has said (Miss Valentine) “single­ handedly increased the capacity of Aboriginal women within SA to access justice through the Family Law Court".

Lynn was employed at ALRM where she was practising in family law often representing Aboriginal women who had been the victims of violence.  Through her tireless efforts, she developed the focus of the family law and child protection branch to the point where it gained recognition across the profession for protecting the rights and interests of Aboriginal women at a time when those women were disenfranchised and seriously under-represented.

At the same time, whilst a board member of the Women's Legal Service, Lynn was instrumental in expanding the operations of that service when the Family Violence Legal Service was established in Port Augusta. In 2001 she took 12 months leave of absence from ALRM and moved to Port Augusta to become the founding solicitor of that service to assist aboriginal women who had been victims of domestic violence. 

Lynn established a court liaison service for women victims in Port Augusta and on the lands - the first such service in this State. She successfully worked with Aboriginal leaders, police and prosecution services to ensure female victims were protected; often being on call 24 hours a day.

In 2007, Lynn took the position of the senior lawyer and coordinator at the Women’s Legal Service; supervising junior lawyers and volunteers, coordinating outreach services and applying for ongoing funding.  Under her management it established a partnership with the Alice Springs Family Violence Unit to ensure that Aboriginal women on Lands had a complete service in SA and the NT. This partnership still operates today under the successful model she established.

In the last year, as a result of changes to its conflict policy, ALRM has not been able to represent women in family law matters where the other party is an Aboriginal person.  
 
Lynn continues to conscientiously, and with great respect to culture, represent the interest of those women in the Family and Federal Courts, often on a pro bono basis.

Throughout her professional life Lynn has offered strong guidance and encouragement as a mentor to women beginning their professional lives and to women from diverse backgrounds who work as paralegals. She has always promoted equity in the practice of law, for example when briefing counsel, recognising that such a policy enhances the justice system in particular and the broader community generally.

Lynn Valentine has made a significant difference for women in South Australia, both in her roles of supporting women lawyers and women who are the most marginalised in our State - all for little or no reward. Many thousands of hours of her time have been donated within the services she assisted and when in paid positions, at very low salaries.  She makes a significant contribution in her role as consultant at a family law practice.   
2015 - Amy Challans

Amy Challans received the inaugural Gender Equity in Law Award for working tirelessly to inform the profession about gender equity and to facilitate improved equity for women.Amy was appointed National President of Australian Women Lawyers in 2013.  She is the first South Australian to hold this position and the first person to be appointed for two consecutive terms.

In 2015, Amy was named one of Australia’s top 50 women by Australian Associated Press in its 10th anniversary edition of Who’s Who’s of Australian Women for her services and national contribution to women in the legal profession. 

She is member of the Law Council of Australia’s Equal Opportunity Committee (since 2011) and has been a member of the Women Lawyers Association of SA and the Law Society of SA Women Lawyers Committee since 2006 and a Director of Australian Women Lawyers since 2010.

Amy has advanced the interest of women lawyers in SA through representing and demonstrating their leadership on a national level and with a national voice. This includes
  • Delivering AWL’s 5th National Biennial conference to Adelaide including responsibility for all aspects of the conference. The conference delivered the highest number of attendees, sponsorship income and overall profit of all AWL’s previous conferences.
  • Drafting and delivering the AWL’s formal response to the National Attrition and Engagement Study (NARS).
  • Lobbying State and Federal Attorney General’s to adopt consultation processes relating to female judicial appointments.
  • Media and print engagement on reoccurring topics for women in law, including: paid parental leave, female promotional statistics, attrition, NARS and flexible workplace practices; underrepresentation of female partners, silks and women in senior positions across the profession and lobbying for equity.
  • Presenting at legal seminars across Australia on topics relevant to women in the legal profession and future directions and delivering key note speeches at conferences, events and Award evenings on topics relating to women’s achievements in the law 
  • Supporting and encouraging women nationally across the legal profession to become actively involved in the profession 
  • Her contributions to gender equity and the advancement of women in the law have been voluntary, at her own initiative and with her own commitment. Amy’s contribution has been sustained, significant and undertaken without fanfare on her part.