Acknowledgement

The Association acknowledges the professional accounting support it receives from Kendons.

Convenor’s Report 2021/2022

Firstly, I would like to thank our amazing committee for all their hard work over the last year and for their constant enthusiasm, despite the difficulties we have faced with Covid-19 disrupting our events again. A special thanks goes to Chantal Morkel who has been our treasurer and Natasha McClure who has been our secretary. They have both done a fabulous job. I would also like to thank Kendons who provide accounting services to the CWLA, pro bono. Each year they prepare our accounts. We very much value their support and expertise.

As with 2020, despite the challenges of Covid-19, the CWLA has still had a successful year and we have been able host a number of events. Due to the Professional Women’s Conference being postponed twice last year, the first event for the financial year was on 24 June 2021, when the CWLA hosted its Mid-winter Christmas at Spice Paragon. 72 members attended this event and due to their generosity, the CWLA was able to raise $129.80 in cash, $260 in vouchers and a large amount of food and sanitary items which were then donated to Aviva.

On 24 November 2021, the CWLA then hosted its Christmas lunch at Mexico. This was a great event with 105 members attending and $343.40 being raised and donated to Aviva. To start off 2022, the CWLA hosted its ‘Welcome Back Event’ at the Old Government Building on 10 February 2022. This event was open to members and non-members and it was a great opportunity to catch up after the Christmas break and encourage more women in the legal profession to join the CWLA.

Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, the CWLA was only able to host one ‘'Lunch & Learns’ this financial year. However, the committee intends to get these up and running again soon. In addition to the events the CWLA was able to put on, on 31 March 2022, members of the CWLA committee attended a zoom meeting with the panel who have been appointed to undertake an independent review of the regulation of lawyers and legal services in Aotearoa New Zealand. The panel consists of Professor Ron Paterson (Chair), Jacinta Ruru and Jane Meares. This meeting was a great way for the panel to introduce themselves to the CWLA committee, discuss the scope of their review and to hear from the CLWA committee on potential areas of interest. This zoom was intended as an initial meet and greet and once the panel have produced their discussion paper, the committee intends to obtain the views of CWLA’s members so that the CWLA can put forward a written submission to the panel. We look forward to making progress on this and hopefully initiating some positive change in the profession.

As noted earlier, although Covid-19 did disrupt the year again, it was still a successful year for the CWLA. The CWLA currently has 265 members and we look forward to the events to come this year, particularly the Professional Women’s Conference which is now set for 9 June 2022. The theme this year for the conference is ‘Undo your limits’ and we have some excellent speakers lined up, including Hilary Barry – Journalist and television personality, Brodie Kane – Radio broadcaster, Dave Sewell – Executive leadership coach, Abbey Foote – Professional director and Nicola Willis – Duty Leader of the National Party. We are also very lucky to have Ursula Cheer chairing the conference. We are pleased to say that the conference has sold out and we have 223 people scheduled to attend.

Finally, I would like to say a big thank you to all our members for your attendance at our events to date and for your support this year. We hope the CWLA will continue to provide a platform for women lawyers to connect and make changes for the better in the profession. I have really enjoyed being Convenor for the last two years, but as such, it’s time to handover the reigns. I really look forward to seeing you all at our events over the remainder of the year and especially the conference.

Thank you,

Courtney Donaldson

(Convenor)