IRS Newcastle Branch - Practitioners Workshop

Practitioners Workshop

Date: Tuesday 24 February 2026

Time: 2.00pm - 5.00pm

Venue: Wests Bowling Club, New Lambton 

The Industrial Relations Society of NSW - Newcastle Branch is excited to announce our first event of 2026:

IR Mastery: Building Core Strengths & Embracing New Skills

INTRODUCING OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Deputy President Tony Saunders, Fair Work Commission

DP Saunders was appointed to Commissioner in 2015 and has held the Deputy President position since December 2018. Prior to the FWC, he was a Barrister specialising in workplace relations litigation including employment claims, industrial disputes, discrimination and work health and safety. DP Saunders was admitted as a solicitor in 1998 and was later rated in Doyle’s Guide to the Legal Profession as a leading employment and workplace relations barrister.

Deputy President Saunders will discuss preparing for contested arbitration of industrial instrument terms in the context of bargaining.  This will encompass the conduct of bargaining prior to tribunal involvement, and practical considerations for preparing a case for hearing in the context of intractable bargaining workplace determinations under the Fair Work Act.

John Ringland, Ringland Consulting and former Safe Work NSW

John Ringland is a highly experienced Work Health and Safety and risk management professional with more than two decades of operational, regulatory, and consulting expertise across regional NSW and QLD. 

John spent 15 years with SafeWork NSW, where he developed deep capability as a regulator of the NSW Work Health and Safety legislative framework. His work spanned providing technical advice, delivering proactive hazard‑based programs, responding to complaints and incidents, and conducting complex WHS investigations. During this time, John also led one of SafeWork NSW’s statewide priority programs in the agricultural industry, strengthening safety outcomes across one of the state’s highest‑risk sectors and working closely with industry bodies and regional communities. He later served as Acting Director of Operational Delivery for Northern NSW, overseeing a geographically dispersed inspectorate and driving operational performance across the region.

In 2021, John transitioned into local government where he broadened his expertise to include the design and implementation of safety and risk systems within a complex, multi‑disciplinary council environment.

In 2023, John founded Ringland Consulting Pty Ltd, fulfilling a long‑held goal to establish a professional consulting practice. His business supports a diverse client base which includes a regional bank, not‑for‑profit organisations, a large state government department and regional local government councils.

Andrew Wilson, State Chambers

Andrew has over 25 years’ experience across law, government and industrial relations. He was called to the Bar in 2020 after having been admitted as a solicitor in 2007, and having worked in industrial relations since 1997. As a solicitor he worked in both private and government practice, and as an advisor to the Attorney General of New South Wales.

Andrew’s employment practice includes both the individual and collective aspects of employment law, as well as work health and safety.

Since being called to the Bar, Andrew has appeared in a wide range of matters on behalf of ASX-listed companies, small and medium sized enterprises, individuals, insolvency practitioners, not-for-profit entities and trade unions. He primarily appears in the Supreme, District and Local Courts of New South Wales, Federal Court of Australia, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, the Fair Work Commission and the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).

Andrew holds a Master of Laws, a Bachelor of Laws, and a Bachelor of Commerce. Andrew is a member of various professional associations. In addition to his litigation and advisory practice, he acts as a Mediator in commercial and employment disputes.

Light refreshments will be served

For any enquiries, please contact newcastle@irsnsw.org.au

Booking terms and conditions apply