AUSTRALIA Law and Practice Contributed by: Kathy Dalton, Jonathan Wright, Gella Rips and Mirna Oghanna, Workdynamic Australia
Workdynamic Australia is a specialist employment law and workplace investigations firm delivering in - dependent and impartial workplace investigations services to leading public and private sector employ - ers, either instructed directly or through legal advis - ers. The firm is led by six directors and supported by over 20 lawyers with extensive experience in deliv - ering investigation services and support to employ - ers dealing with a broad range of matters, including bullying, discrimination, sexual harassment, safety incidents, fraud, corruption and other misconduct is - sues. With offices in Sydney and Melbourne and staff
located in Brisbane, it capably resources matters of all size and complexity across Australia. The team is trained and experienced in trauma-informed and person-centred investigation practices. As skilled and experienced employment lawyers, the team reg - ularly manages large-scale, complex and high-profile investigations with the independence and expertise to make sound findings of fact, reliable application of policy and inciteful recommendations as to post- investigation steps under relevant regulatory and dis - ciplinary frameworks.
Authors
Kathy Dalton brings more than three decades of expertise in employment law, providing strategic guidance and representation to public and private sector employers across employment, equal opportunity and industrial
including managing performance and conduct issues, managing injured workers and fitness-for- duty assessments, terminations of employment, and enforcing post-employment restraints.
Gella Rips has specialised in employment law for over 15 years. She holds a Master’s in Labour Law and Industrial Relations and has worked in both private practice and in-house roles. Based in Sydney,
relations matters. Boards and senior executives regularly seek her counsel on business-critical and high-stakes workforce issues. She has extensive experience in managing and supporting sensitive workplace investigations, internal reviews and discipline, performance management and dismissal processes. Based in Melbourne, and prior to joining Workdynamic Australia as a Director and Principal, Kathy served as an employment law partner at K&L Gates and DLA Piper.
Gella is recognised for her expertise in conducting complex workplace investigations and capability in managing diverse stakeholder expectations while conducting thorough and impartial investigations. She is regularly invited to present at industry forums on topics relating to best-practice workplace investigations.
Jonathan Wright has specialised in employment law for over 16 years and is renowned for conducting “best practice” investigations. Based in Sydney, Jonathan practised at Minter Ellison Lawyers, before co-founding
Mirna Oghanna is a skilled employment and industrial relations lawyer, having practised exclusively in this area since her admission to
Workdynamic Australia. Jonathan heads Workdynamic’s practice relating to investigations into allegations of reportable conduct, including historical sexual abuse. He has also conducted numerous investigations into allegations of bullying, discrimination, corruption and criminal conduct. In addition, Jonathan provides advice to employers in relation to the full range of employment issues,
practice. Mirna has advised clients in the public and private sector across a broad range of industries, and is particularly versed in the application of industrial awards and agreements. Based in Melbourne, Mirna regularly conducts investigations for clients into alleged psychosocial harms, code-of-conduct breaches and matters involving potential fraud and corruption.
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