Service to the law recognised

Law Society of NSW

Monday, 8 June 2026

Service to the law recognised

A bobsledder, an orchid grower, and a former Councillor of The Law Society of NSW are among several legal figures to feature in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List.

President of The Law Society Ronan MacSweeney said the honours recognise the significant achievements of solicitors and other legal figures in the law and in the life of their communities.

“The appearance of several current and former members of the Law Society in this year’s list, reinforces the foundational role that the rule of law plays in guaranteeing our democratic freedoms, and the leadership roles many solicitors perform above and beyond their legal careers,” Mr MacSweeney said.

“I’m particularly pleased at the award of an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) to Kieran Tapsell, who was admitted to the profession in 1973 and became a Life member of The Law Society in 2012. Mr Tapsell, who served as an Acting Judge of the District Court also played an important role on the Canon Law panel assisting the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.”

Mr MacSweeney also congratulated Winwood Howard on his OAM. Mr Howard was admitted as a solicitor in 1958 and was elected to the Council of The Law Society of NSW in 1969, a role in which he served for seven years. I thank Mr Howard for his service to the profession, particularly for his term as Chair of the Council of Law Reporting for NSW and his part in administering The Law Society’s Fidelity Fund.

Martijn Wilder AM, former Principal of prominent firm Baker and McKenzie, has been elevated to an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO). Mr Wilder, a former 27-year member of The Law Society, was recognised for his service to the law as well as his work on energy and environmental sustainability, including his roles as Chair of both the NSW Climate Change Council, and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.

Former Senior Judicial Member of the New South Wales Equal Opportunity Tribunal (the forerunner to a Division of the NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunal) Helen Conway, has been awarded an AO. Along with holding numerous board position across several industries and charities, Ms Conway, had been a member of The Law Society for 23 years, when appointed as the Founding CEO of the Workforce Gender Equity Equality Agency in 2011.  

Mary-Lynne Taylor, a member of The Law Society for 45 years, has been made a Member in the Order of Australia (AM) for her service to town planning in addition to the law. Along with sustaining a legal career at a number of prominent firms, Ms Taylor has made a significant contribution to the academy as a lecturer, then Adjunct Professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the Sydney University.

Sharon Cook has been awarded an OAM for services to the banking industry and the law. A member of The Law Society for 40 years, Ms Cook holds a senior management position at the National Australia Bank, while serving as Chair of the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW and was also a member of The Law Society’s Specialist Accreditation Committee.

Bronwyn Fagan has been awarded an AM for services to sport, broadcasting and the law. Ms Fagan competed at high levels in bobsledding and the skeleton, including as part of the shadow Australian Team for the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics. She has also supported aspiring lawyers as a magistrate in The Law Society’s Mock Trial Competition as mentoring law students in her role with the Association of Corporate Counsel Australia.

Mr MacSweeney also congratulated former and serving judicial officers recognised with awards in the Order of Australia, many of whom made significant contributions to the solicitor profession before ascending to the bench.

“A large majority of lawyers who become judges begin their careers as solicitors. The recognition these judicial officers are receiving through today’s honours are well deserved indeed. I’m thrilled that NSW Children’s Judge Debra Maher has been awarded an AM for her service to women and children in addition to her work in the law.,” Mr MacSweeney said.

“Judge Maher rose to the bench after lengthy service at Legal Aid NSW, including as the Solicitor in Charge of the Children’s Legal Service. I’m grateful to her Honour for her service to the profession on The Law Society’s Children’s Legal Issues, and Criminal Law Committees and for her work supporting women and children as a Director of both Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia and Women’s Legal Services NSW.”

Mr MacSweeney also congratulated Brian Lulham former Magistrate of the Local Court on the award of his OAM. He served at Local Courts from Broken Hill, Moree and the Downing Centre and as Chair of the Young Offenders Review Board.

Local Court Judge Scott Nash, a former Mayor of Randwick, has been honoured with an OAM for service to local government and the legal profession. His Honour was a Member of The Law Society’s Environmental Planning and Development Law Committee and co-authored our publication A practitioner’s guide to the Land and Environment Court of NSW before being called to the Bar.

Local Court Judge Douglas Dick has been awarded an OAM for a career in which he’s served in NSW Local Courts along the South Coast and Eden-Monaro regions since 1995. His Honour was instrumental in pioneering Circle Sentencing, where Indigenous elders support the Court to reach an appropriate sentence in the presence of the offender and their victim. This approach has led to less reoffending among participants.

Mr MacSweeney thanked the Hon. Justice Murray Aldridge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia for his service to The Law Society’s Advocacy Specialist Accreditation Committee but noted ‘the law’ was down the list of reasons for the award of his Honour’s OAM.

“Justice Aldridge has held federal judicial office for almost 15 years, but I am delighted that his Honour’s recognition in this King’s Birthday Honours List is due in large part to a 55-year botanical passion to which he is also able to apply his judicial skills,” Mr MacSweeney said.

“Justice Aldridge joined the Sutherland Shire Orchid Society in 1971, reaching the office of President of the Australian Orchid Council in 2000. His Honour has also been both judge and exhibitor at the local, state and national level. I’m sure though, he has never judged and exhibited in the same contest.”

Media contact
Damien Smith | Director, Media and Public Relations
The Law Society of New South Wales
M: +61 417 788 947
E: [email protected]