Karlene O’Halloran
President
Karlene is an Associate and Crown Prosecutor at Meredith Connell, undertaking Crown prosecutions and acting for the Commissioner of Police in civil proceedings seeking the restraint and civil forfeiture of the proceeds of crime.
Karlene joined the AWLA committee in 2019 and has since held the positions of Treasurer and Vice President before her appointment as President in 2024. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the New Zealand Women's Law Journal — Te Aho Kawe Kaupapa Ture a ngā Wāhine.
Karlene is passionate about the advancement of women in law and society. During her time on the committee, Karlene has enjoyed the opportunity to work on issues of social justice including drafting AWLA's submissions on the Abortion Legislation Bill and the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Bill, and subsequently appeared before the Parliamentary Select Committees to deliver oral submissions. Karlene believes our profession is made stronger with a diverse background. For that reason she has worked to develop the AWLA New Law Student Scholarship directed at women for whom studying law would otherwise be a financial challenge.
Karlene wants to ensure women can excel within the profession of law and in their lives outside of it.
Erica Burke
Vice President
Erica is a specialist family lawyer with a strong commitment to advancing gender equity. She has previously been a committee member and then Secretary of AWLA for a number of years and is excited to stand for Vice President for 2025.
Throughout her career, Erica has championed the empowerment of wāhine in law and supported initiatives that uplift women and children in our community.
Erica was the Co Editor-in-Chief of Te Aho Kawe Kaupapa Ture a Ngā Wāhine |
New Zealand Women's Law Journal (2023 edition). She has been a mentor with the He Ira Wāhine University of Auckland Law Women Mentoring Program and looks forward to continuing the this role next year.
More recently, Erica was a recipient of the Michael and Suzanne Borrin Foundation Travel and Learning Award. Erica is using this to visit select organisations across the world that provide targeted legal support and advocacy for women. This is with the goal of developing a framework for a free and inclusive legal clinic and advocacy centre in Tāmaki Makaurau for those who identify as wāhine.
Through the above projects and roles, Erica has gained valuable insights into the challenges women and children face in society, the unique position of women in the legal profession and the importance of mentorship and advocacy.
Wendy Alexander
Treasurer
This is my first year serving as a committee member for the AWLA.
I started practicing as a lawyer in 2021. I have always been passionate about law and after my three sons became older, I fulfilled my life-long dream of completing a Law Degree and becoming a lawyer. With my extensive prior experience in civil litigation in various roles (legal search clerk, secretary and then legal executive), I have advanced quickly in my career and am now a Senior Associate.
I am dedicated to supporting the growth and success of female lawyers. As a mother of three sons, I have a deep understanding of the challenges that come with balancing a fulfilling career and family life and I am passionate about helping others achieve success in a legal career and to share my knowledge on how to manage balancing a professional and personal life.
I am also a trained commercial mediator. I began my mediation training to help my clients through the unpleasant experience of managing litigation. I completed Negotiation and Mediation training at Harvard Law School and the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ), which led to my Associate Membership with AMINZ and my practice as a commercial mediator.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, going for walks, Pilates and a good cup of tea.
Nadine Ward
Secretary
Nadine is a solicitor in the Office of the Manukau Crown Solicitor (Kayes Fletcher Walker), and author of the Youth Justice commentary in Abbott & Thompson, District Courts Practice (Criminal). After graduating from the University of Otago, Nadine went on to assist the Principal Youth Court Judge for two years in Wellington. Throughout her legal career so far, Nadine has been exposed to forward-thinking and innovative leaders, all committed to improving the experiences of participants in the criminal justice system. Through her involvement in AWLA, Nadine hopes to play a part in challenging boundaries and advancing the interests of women in the legal field.
Claudia Russell
Claudia is a Civil Litigation Associate at Lowndes Jordan. Claudia completed an LLB and BA Majoring in Politics and International Relations in 2019 and started practicing as a Solicitor at a Community Law centre after briefly working at the District Court. Having worked with clients from all walks of life has given Claudia unique perspective on how people engage with and experience the law. Claudia was heavily engaged in advocacy and student journalism groups (95 BfM, Craccum Magazine, Equal Justice Project) during university, and loves the opportunities for advocacy a career in litigation provides. Claudia was a 2025 committee member, and looks forward to being more engaged in the advocacy work of ALWA in the future.
Jade Magrath
Jade is a Senior Associate at Simpson Grierson, where she specialises in resource management, local government, and public law. She is a longstanding member of the AWLA, and was the recipient of the AWLA Margaret Wilson Scholarship in 2017. The connections and support that Jade has received through the AWLA's scholarship, networking and mentoring programmes have been invaluable to her career. Jade looks forward to leveraging her professional and volunteer experiences to support and empower women in the profession, foster a welcoming and inclusive community of women lawyers, and advocate for law reform on women's issues.
Olivia Manaton
Olivia obtained her Law and Criminal Justice Degrees from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. She now practises criminal defence law with the Public Defence Service in the Waitakere area. Olivia is new to he AWLA joining in 2023, but she cant wait to meet all the members and grow connections.
While living in Christchurch Olivia enjoyed road tripping and exploring the South Island. Now she is back in her home town of Auckland she enjoys catching up with friends, going to the beach and travelling whenever she gets the chance.
Vanshika Sudhakar
Vanshika is a Crown Prosecutor at Meredith Connell, with a background in criminal defence at the Public Defence Service in Manukau. She also has experience in family law and Māori legal issues.
Raised in South Auckland, she's passionate about giving back to her community and making a difference. Supporting and empowering young women in the legal profession is especially close to her heart—she's all about creating a space where they can grow, thrive, and feel confident in their careers.
Outside of work, you'll find Vanshika spending time with her family, tackling landscaping projects at her home, or exploring dog-friendly beaches with her three-year-old Labrador.
She's excited to be part of the AWLA committee, working alongside an incredible group of wāhine to champion its kaupapa.
Pooja Sundar
Pooja Sundar is a leading immigration lawyer, and trained mediator known for her expertise in complex matters involving migrants and families navigating sensitive legal and immigration issues. She holds a Master of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland and is a Legal Aid–registered practitioner.
Her legal work spans all areas of complex immigration law from visas to deportation appeal and High Court review matters. Pooja combines deep legal expertise with strong cultural intelligence and is frequently called on for high-stakes and precedent-setting matters. As a mediator, she brings a cultural lens to the table and has a special interest in elder mediation and family succession sessions.
She has driven national reform on family-violence visa processes for migrant wāhine and has supervised research work in this field. She looks forward to being able to contribute to AWLA and hopefully make a meaningful difference int eh way women practice law.
Fiah Kitson
Fiah Kitson is a junior lawyer within the commercial team at a law firm in downtown Auckland. In 2024, she completed a LLB and BA majoring in economics, developing a strong interest in the intersection between law, commerce, and access to opportunity.
As an early-career lawyer, Fiah is passionate about advocating for women within the legal profession and recognising both the privilege of obtaining a legal education and the barriers that continue to exist for many. She values the role AWLA plays in fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for women, and in creating space for connection, mentorship, and collective advancement across the profession.
Fiah is enthusiastic about contributing to AWLA’s work in uplifting women and supporting positive change within the legal community. Outside of work, she enjoys playing golf and reading, and values the balance these bring alongside her professional life.
Emma Glubb
Emma is a solicitor working in private wealth law at TGT Legal. Originally from Christchurch, she graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Canterbury in 2023. This is Emma’s first year on the AWLA committee, and she is excited to contribute meaningfully to the important work AWLA does advocating for and advancing women in the legal profession.
Outside of the office, you can find Emma in a Pilates studio, exploring the beauty of the North Island, or making trips home to spend time with her family and her dog, Honey.