InBrief

Diversity

The Katrina Dawson Award for 2018 has been awarded to Ashley Cameron, a senior associate at HWL Ebsworth (formerly TressCox). Ashley graduated from the University of Western Sydney with a combined degree in Law (Hons) and Economics. She was awarded the RH Stilman Memorial Award in 2010, 2011 and 2012 for being the university’s most outstanding law student. In 2015 Ashley was tipstaff to the Hon Justice Robert McDougall and in May the following year she was appointed secretary of the Women Lawyers Association of NSW – a position to which she has twice been re-elected.

Ashley had aspirations to come to the Bar since attending one of the association’s ‘Career at the Bar’ open days. In June 2018 she completed the Bar exams and received the Ludlows Award for the highest overall mark for her cohort. She will join the May 2019 Bar Practice Course and read with Vanessa Whittaker and Lucas Shipway in Greenway Chambers. Away from the law, Ashley is an active member of the Penrith District Netball Association, playing for Erskine Park in Division A1.

Upon receiving the good news, Ms Cameron paid tribute to Katrina Dawson: ‘It’s an honour to receive an award named after such an impressive and respected member of the NSW Bar, who had aspirations like my own. The Katrina Dawson Award is a fantastic initiative. The advancement of women at the bar is critical to the future of the profession and is a topic about which I am very enthusiastic.’