Connecting Lawyer Mums Annual Gala Dinner & Inspire Awards

📅 Friday, 25 July 2025

📍 Blackbird Bar – Riverside Centre, 123 Eagle St, Brisbane City QLD 4000 🎟 Tickets: $229 Early Bird (ends 15th May 2025) | $269 General Admission

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Pre-event networking drinks at Blackbird Bar
5:00 PM onwards: “Unapologetically You” Gala Dinner & Inspire Awards

Unapologetically You

What does it mean to be unapologetically you? It’s about embracing your true self without fear of judgment, owning your unique ideas, ambitions, and experiences, and stepping into your most confident, authentic life.

At this year’s Connecting Lawyer Mums Inspire Gala Awards, we celebrate authenticity, self-acceptance, and personal empowerment in the law, business, and beyond. Whether in your career, relationships, or personal journey, this event is about celebrating who you are – just as you are.

Join us for an evening of elegance, inspiration, and empowerment, with a line-up of extraordinary speakers, prestigious award recognitions, and meaningful networking opportunities with top legal professionals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders.

What to Expect

Red Carpet & Pre-Event Networking (4:00 PM – 5:00 PM)

Mix and mingle with legal professionals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders over drinks.

Exclusive photo opportunities with our high-profile speakers and sponsors.

Gala Dinner & Keynote Sessions (5:00 PM onwards)

A luxurious fine-dining experience, premium drinks included, in the stunning Blackbird Riverview Room.

Thought-provoking discussions on being unapologetically yourself in law, leadership, and life.

The Inspire Awards

Honouring trailblazers, changemakers, and community leaders who exemplify courage, authenticity, and impact.

Silent Charity Auction

A fundraising initiative supporting Project:herSELF, a local charity partner, aligned with CLM’s mission and values. Your generous donations will help us to deliver currently incarcerated women a SELF directed release plan. This project allows women to self-determine their plans for release, helps them to start to think positively about these plans and their lives before they are released from prison. Studies show that when women are able to adequately plan for their release they have much lower recidivism rates. Our goal is to have these plans in the hands of all currently incarcerated women by the end of the year and the funds raised from this event will help with printing and operations costs to make that happen. All plans are created in conjunction with community Elders, to ensure they are culturally responsive to First Nations women in custody.

Powerful Speaker Lineup

MC

Sarah-Elke Kraal

Presenter | Lawyer | Storyteller

Sarah-Elke Kraal is a presenter, lawyer, and former Marilyn Monroe impersonator who once turned down a contract with Universal Music to dive into the world of suburban legal practice. Luckily, she’s since made a career out of being the “stupidest person in the room” while interviewing some of the smartest minds – from Michael Kirby to Chief Justices, Holberg Prize recipients and global legal changemakers.

At the Inspire Gala Awards 2025, Sarah-Elke is ready to sit down with a powerhouse lineup of women and revel in feeling outsmarted once again.

Keynote Speaker

Erika Cramer

The Queen of Confidence | Author | Global Speaker

Erika Cramer, widely known as The Queen of Confidence, has transformed personal adversity into global impact. From surviving trauma, abuse, foster care, and breaking her back in the U.S. Army to facing early widowhood, Erika’s resilience is unmatched. Today, she’s an internationally renowned confidence coach, best-selling author, award-winning podcast host, and speaker who has empowered hundreds of thousands of women to reclaim their power and rewrite their stories. Currently pursuing her Bachelor’s in psychotherapy, Erika is on a mission to help women heal, grow, and step into the lives they deserve. Her journey is living proof that resilience and confidence can reshape any future.

Tête-à-Tête Panel

Chief Justice Helen Bowskill

Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Queensland | Legal Leader | Advocate for Justice

Chief Justice Helen Bowskill has built a distinguished career in law, from earning a University Medal at Queensland University of Technology to serving as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland. Admitted as a barrister in 1998 and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2013, she has a storied history in public, administrative, and commercial law, with a notable focus on native title law.

Her Honour has served as Senior Judge Administrator and as a judge across various Queensland courts, including the Children’s Court and Planning and Environment Court. In 2022, she was appointed Chief Justice, solidifying her as a trailblazer for women in the legal profession.

Chief Justice Bowskill is celebrated for her commitment to justice, legal education and her role in shaping Queensland’s legal landscape.

Justice Naita A. Semaj

NY State Supreme Court Judge | Youth Advocate | Legal Trailblazer

Flying in from New York exclusively for the Inspire Gala, Justice Naita A. Semaj is the youngest female appointed to the New York State Supreme Court. Known for her groundbreaking work in youth justice, Justice Semaj has presided over violent felony cases in the Youth Part, specialised firearm cases, and now serves in the Civil Term, Bronx County.
A fierce advocate for young people, she launched an internship program for high school students, connecting them with judges and offering hands-on mentorship. Her community work includes ongoing involvement with Not on My Watch, Inc., a Bronx-based organisation uplifting young girls.
Beyond the bench, she’s a proud Bronx resident, wife, mother and dog mom to a cavapoo and mini poodle.

Meet Your Host

Connecting Lawyer Mums (CLM) – Connecting Lawyer Mums, led by Founder Lauren Cassimatis, is a thriving global community of over 9,000 members, spanning Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA. Our network includes lawyers, judicial members, law students, legal entrepreneurs, and business leaders committed to fostering meaningful connections, professional growth, and well-being. Through nationwide events, webinars, and mentorship, CLM supports its members in balancing career, business, and personal life in a supportive, inspiring environment.