My government and corporate clients, including in health, energy, education, infrastructure, transport, technology, and franchising sectors, value my focus on helping them achieve their objectives.

I regularly advise on use and protection of intellectual property, confidential information and data, as well as technology transfer and licensing, research collaboration and intellectual property commercialisation. I deliver trusted technology, privacy, AI and data protection legal expertise - supporting procurement and outsourcing transactions and advising on privacy, AI, data protection and cyber security risks and issues.

I have significant experience in public sector-related commercial matters, particularly procurement, projects, and collaborations to support service delivery. This intersects with my regulatory work concerning statutory powers, governance and compliance.

Career highlights

• Longstanding and trusted advisor to Queensland Health (department and Hospital and Health Services) in general and commercial operations, including major projects, health services procurement, technology and telecommunications procurement, statutory powers, and research collaboration and commercialisation.
• Acted for a number of Local Governments on ICT procurement, contract optimisation and management, as well as dispute resolution for IT solutions for core Council services.
• Advised State Government and leading organisations on high value and strategic ICT procurement including in conjunction with MinterEllison Technology Consulting.
• Advised regulated critical infrastructure owners and operators on security of critical infrastructure reforms, including operational and supply chain contracting uplift, data protection and governance, as well as cyber review and risk management program reviews in conjunction with MinterEllison Cyber and Risk Consulting teams.
• Advised energy and resources clients on IP, technology, communications and data management issues including in energy transition, M&A transactions and concerning autonomous systems. Identification of key regulatory and legal issues and negotiation of contracts for services and high value, tech-integrated systems to improve safety, sustainability and productivity.
• Advising franchisors on franchised operations and legal compliance.
• Supporting a range of the firm's clients with their important work by providing advice on a diverse range of issues including technology; privacy; AI; data governance; IP development, licensing and protection; research collaboration; fundraising, promotions, marketing and events.

• Early adopter's playbook: Deploying AI in healthcare

  By Vanessa Mellis |February 2024

• Early adopter's playbook: Deploying AI in healthcare

  By Vanessa Mellis |February 2024

• Early adopter's playbook: Deploying AI in healthcare
  

  The transformational power of AI is set to redefine the modus operandi across various sectors, including healthcare. The life sciences sector in particular are already realising the benefits of AI. Their shared experiences offer other health organisations the opportunity to pre-empt some of the challenges associated with AI.

• Top 5 predictions for healthcare in 2024
  

  Health organisations face both opportunities for optimism and challenges to navigate in 2024. We look ahead and provide our top 5 predictions.

• Good Machine Learning Practice for medical devices
  

  The International Medical Device Regulators Forum is consulting on draft Guiding principles on good machine learning practice for medical device development.

• New ransomware payment reporting obligations in Australia
  

  The Cyber Security Act introduces new ransomware payment reporting obligations for many organisations in Australia.

   

• Privacy and other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 now in effect
  

  An overview of the significant reforms to Australia's privacy laws ushered into law in 2024 and the corresponding commencement dates.

• Map to the future: Australian Government releases a roadmap for developing AI capability in Australia
  The global race to in AI is underway. The Commonwealth Government has recently contributed to the discussion with the release of Australia's AI Roadmap. It promotes strategies designed to advance Australia's AI capability and realise AI's potential for boosting industry productivity, creating jobs and economic growth, and improving the quality of life for Australians.
• Fairness in franchising
  A parliamentary report on fairness in franchising has broad implications for both franchisors and franchisees.
• Beyond Asimov's Three Laws: A new ethical framework for AI developers
  It's time for a discussion on the proposed Artificial Intelligence: Australia's Ethics Framework to inform the federal government's approach to AI ethics in Australia.
• The ethics of artificial intelligence: laws from around the world
  In this article, we examine the creation of frameworks for the ethical use of AI in Australia and globally.
• Emerging standards for emerging technologies: AI Standards
  

  Standards Australia has commenced a consultation to carry forward standards-building efforts informing the development of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions in Australia.

• The very bright future of CDR
  

  The Australian Government has released its response to the Inquiry into Future Directions for Consumer Data Right. With 94 out of 100 recommendations accepted, we explore what that means for the future.

• TGA to expand regulatory oversight of personalised medical devices
  

  Some previously exempt custom-made and personalised medical devices (including some 3D printed devices) are now subject to new regulatory requirements.

• Human Rights in a robot world: the promise and perils of new technologies
  In its Human Rights and Technology Discussion Paper, the Australian Human Rights Commission has outlined a number of proposed reforms to protect and enhance human rights in the context of new technologies (including AI).
• Pay and tell: mandatory ransomware payment reporting obligations in force
  

  As of 30 May, mandatory ransomware payment reporting obligations introduced under the Cyber Security Act 2024 (Cth) are in effect.

• New opt-out model for My Health Record information
  

  Sharing by default was recently legislated to modernise the My Health Record to a default 'opt-out' system.

• Queensland Government released new version of the QITC Contract Conditions
  Suppliers providing ICT products and services under the new version 2 of the QITC Contract Conditions will be obliged to comply with the Ethical Supplier Threshold under the Queensland Procurement Policy, with serious consequences for non-compliance.
• Incident reporting and asset register obligations now in effect under SOCI
  

  On 6 April 2022, the Minister for Home Affairs enacted the Security of Critical Infrastructure (Application) Rules (LIN 22/026) 2022 (Cth) (Rules), which 'turn on' the incident reporting and asset register obligations for some sectors and assets under the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 (Cth) (SOCI Act).

   

• SOCI Round 2 - law reform now enacted
  

  The second tranche of the Security of Critical Infrastructure laws passed on 31 March 2022 and commenced on 2 April 2022. The Rules will shortly undergo final consultation. We outline the latest amendments and need for prompt compliance action.

• Protecting Australian infrastructure in a turbulent world
  

  The amendments to the SOCI Act are intended to help organisations and the government strengthen the protection of Australia's critical infrastructure assets. How should organisations approach the implementation of the new requirements? What opportunities exist to use the legislative change to drive better risk management, cyber risk and operational outcomes?

• Proposed Reforms to Queensland's Privacy and Right to Information Framework
  

  The Queensland Government released a consultation paper setting out proposed reforms to Queensland's privacy and right to information framework.

• Five key technology and digital considerations for the public sector
  

  Technology and digital transformation uptake continues to accelerate in the public sector. The pace of change is unprecedented, and changes bring new challenges, issues and potential pitfalls.

• SOCI Risk Management Program requirements now in effect
  

  On 17 February 2023, the Security of Critical Infrastructure Risk Management Program Rules commenced. The clock is now ticking for impacted responsible entities to become compliant with the risk management program obligation under the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act.

   

• 'BrAInwashing': It's a thing
  

  You would have heard of 'greenwashing', but have you heard of 'brAInwashing'? We discuss the application of the Australian Consumer Law to the promotion of products and services which use AI.

• The European Union's AI Act - a model Australia will follow?
  

  The European Parliament recently passed its version of the Artificial Intelligence Act, a world-ing piece of legislation in the regulation of AI.

• An AI balancing act - Australia's road to enhanced AI regulation
  

  Following the release of the 'Safe and Responsible AI in Australia' Discussion Paper, the Department of Industry, Science and Resources is requesting submissions from the public on appropriate artificial intelligence policy settings and regulation. We set out the current regulatory frameworks in Australia and internationally considered by the Discussion Paper, as well as the various regulatory measures which are under consideration.

• An AI balancing act - Australia's potential regulatory measures under consideration by government
  

  Following the release of the Safe and Responsible AI in Australia Discussion Paper by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, we detail the various potential regulatory measures that under consideration by the government.

• Mandatory safety guardrails foreshadowed for high-risk AI
  

  We explore the implications of the Australian Government's recently published 'Safe and responsible AI in Australia consultation interim response'.

• Increased AI regulation? Final Senate Report key takeaways
  

  The Senate Select Committee on Adopting Artificial Intelligence has delivered its final report, signalling a clear direction for regulation in Australia.

• Taking responsibility: Guardrails for high-risk AI
  

  The Australian Government has recognised that our current regulatory system is not fit for purpose to respond to the distinct risks that AI poses.