If you are interested in joining the OWLS Committee please get in touch via our email address and one of our current Committee Members will be in touch with you to discuss further.

2025 OWLS Committee

Convener: Sarah McClean

Treasurer: Mira Neuman

Co-Secretary: Olivia Samson

Co-Secretary: Hannah Perkin

General Committee:

• Jessica Higgins
• Awhina Clark-Tahana
• Alice Robertson
• Sarvana Lewis
• Ella Anderson-Cahill
• Molly Haywood
• Grace Wallace

OWLS –  Descriptions of Committee Roles

Convener: 

• Set meeting schedule for year including AGM
• Prepare agenda
• Chair monthly OWLS meetings
• Respond to media requests as needed
• Ethel Benjamin Sub-committee membership and other subcommittees of interest
• Appointed member of the Otago Branch of NZ Law Society – attend monthly meetings, provide monthly reports for Otago Branch NZLS  agenda
• Semi – annual newsletters for OWLS members

Deputy Convener:

Assisting Convenor with undertaking their duties

• Providing support to the Convenor to ensure a balanced workload
• Filling in for the Convenor if the Convenor is absent
• Sharing the lead role in the Ethel Benjamin sub-committee

Secretary (duties may be shared): 

• Maintain a register of members
• Send and receive communications to members, including event invitations and other correspondence
• Prepare minutes at committee meetings.

Treasurer:

•  Managing the OWLS bank account
•  Attending to payment of any invoices or reimbursements
•  Preparing invoices/ receipts for payments into OWLS bank account
•  Liaising with the accountant in regards to end of year financial statements
•  Preparing yearly Treasurer’s report for AGM
• Completing yearly tax return, attending to any correspondence received from the IRD
•  Managing  sponsorship funds

Wise OWLS

• Established in 2016 to provide a network of experienced practitioners to provide support and mentoring for junior colleagues one-on-one basis.
• The  Wise OWLS  committee reviews and facilitates the role of Wise OWLS.

CPD

• Organises and facilitates continuing professional development (CPD) seminars and events.  
• The CPD committee meets every month to brainstorm new event ideas, contact potential speakers and plan events.  CPD points are available at all events.

Social Committee:

The social Committee organises the following annual events and any other events of OWLS choosing:

• Meet the Committee Drinks and Nibbles
• Quiz at the Kensington Hotel
• Suffrage Day Breakfast/lunch
• Mid-winter Christmas Dinner
• Christmas Dinner
• Coffee Catch-ups (A 2020 and 2021 response to Covid restrictions)
• 20-Year Lunch celebrating OWLS members who have held a practising certificate or been admitted for 20 years.

PREVIOUS COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

2024 OWLS Committee

Co-Conveners: Lauren Brent and Jessica Higgins

Deputy Convener:  Shona Squires

Treasurer: Sarah McClean

Secretary: Juliette Wilson (resigned July 2024)

Shona Squires (appointed August 2024)

General Committee:

• Awhina Clark-Tahan
• Zoe Hollander
• Bethany Hyslop
• Hayley Lowry
• Hannah Perkin
• Olivia Samson
• Sarvana Lewis (appointed May 2024)
• Alice Robertson (appointed September 2024)

2023 OWLS Committee

Convener: Hayley Galvin

Deputy Convener:  Grace Ockwell

Treasurer: Astrid Bond

Secretary: Shona Squires

General Committee:

• Lauren Brent
• Jessica Hardman
• Jessica Higgins
• Zoe Hollander
• Grace O’Hagan
• Grace Titter
• Juliette Wilson

2022 OWLS Committee

Convener: Natalia Dowrick

Deputy Convener:  Hayley Galvin

Treasurer: Astrid Bond

Secretary: Jessie Paterson

General Committee:

• Hannah Field
• Zoe Hollander (appointed September 2022)
• Kate McLay
• Korrie Middendorf (resigned August 2022)
• Tarsha Norris (resigned September 2022)
• Grace Ockwell
• Jeanne Snelling
• Grace Titter

2021 OWLS Committee

Convener:  Grace Ockwell

Deputy Convener:  Natalia Dowrick

Treasurer: Georgia Stumbles

Secretary: Lizzie Rutherford

General Committee:

• Astrid Bond
• Catherine Donaldson (resigned September 2021)
• Hayley Galvin
• Melissa Hammer
• Kate McLay
• Korrie Middendorf (joined October 2021)
• Jessie Paterson
• Jeanne Snelling
• Grace Titter

2020 OWLS Committee

Convener:  Lizzie Rutherford

Deputy Convener:  Catherine Donaldson

Treasurer: Georgia Stumbles

General Committee:

• Karen Billinghurst
• Alison Douglass
• Grace Ockwell
• Jenny Ross
• Caitlin Kearney
• Melissa Hammer
• Amanda Short
• Joy Liddicoat
• Natalia Dowrick