New South Wales
COAT NSW and AIAL Joint Seminar | 2 September
The Council of Australasian Tribunals NSW Chapter and the Australian Institute of Administrative Law is pleased to invite you to attend a special seminar:
The Tension Between Procedural Fairness and the Guiding Principle for Administrative Tribunals
Presented by Acting Justice John Griffiths, NSW Court of Appeal
John Griffiths has been an acting justice of the NSW Court of Appeal since April 2022. He took up that appointment after having served as a judge of the Federal Court for almost ten years. John lectured in law at Cambridge University for several years prior to returning to Australia in 1983 as the Director of Research of the Administrative Review Council. He then practised as a solicitor and a barrister for 26 years, primarily in public law litigation. John is currently the Chair of the NSW Chapter of AIAL.
This seminar will explore the relationship between procedural fairness obligations and the guiding principles that underpin the work of administrative tribunals, examining contemporary challenges and practical implications for decision-makers.
Acting Justice Griffiths will be joined in conversation by Judge Gerard Phillips, President of the Personal Injury Commission, and Deputy President Anne Britton, NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Join colleagues from across the tribunal, administrative law and broader legal communities for an engaging discussion on an issue at the heart of fair, efficient and accessible decision-making.
COAT NSW Membership
At the 2026 COAT NSW Annual General Meeting, members approved changes to COAT NSW membership fees and the membership year.
Membership Year
The COAT NSW membership year now runs from 1 July to 30 June, replacing the previous calendar-year cycle.
Annual membership Fees
- Existing members (renewal): $75
- New/lapsed members: $100
Membership Renewals
As part of the transition to the new membership year, all current financial COAT NSW members have had their memberships extended to 30 June 2027.
From 2027 – 28 onwards, memberships will be renewed on an annual basis for the period 1 July to 30 June. Members will receive renewal reminders prior to the commencement of each membership year.
Membership Enquiries
If you have any questions regarding your membership, please contact the COAT NSW Secretariat at nswchapter@coat.asn.au.
Committee Members
- Shahyar Roushan
Convenor, Deputy President, Administrative Review Tribunal - Christine Fougere
Vice Convenor, Principal Member, Guardianship Division, NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal - Katrina Harry PSM
Treasurer, National Registrar, Veterans’ Review Board - Marie Johns
Secretary, Division Head, Motor Accident Divisions, Personal Injury Commission
- Rachel Da Costa
Committee, General Member Administrative Review Tribunal - Jason Cabarrús
Committee, General Member, Administrative Review Tribunal - Meena Sripathy
Committee, Senior Member, Administrative Review Tribunal - Steven Davison
Committee, General Member, NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal
- Simon Handebo
Committee, Principal Member, Guardianship Division,
NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal
COAT NSW Chapter Constitution
This constitution was adopted by a special resolution at the Annual General Meeting of the association on 1 June 2026, and replaced the association’s former 2017 constitution.
Contact Details
Telephone: 0418 281 116
Email: nswchapter@coat.asn.au
COAT NSW Newsletter
Browse the COAT NSW newsletter archive and revisit key updates, events, and discussions from across the tribunal sector.
