Presenters

Fiona Culliney, Partner, Meredith Connell
Fiona prosecutes serious sexual violence cases, homicide, large-scale drug operations and financial crime. She has the innate ability to work compassionately alongside victims of crime. Fiona has trial experience related to commercial drug offending and associated money laundering, and brings forfeiture proceedings under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009. She also provides litigation for and advice to the Commerce Commission in respect of criminal cartel conduct. She appears on behalf of the Crown in appeals to the High Court and the Court of Appeal, and has further interest and expertise in extradition proceedings for other governments in the New Zealand courts.


Paige McElhinney, Director, Forensic Science Consultant, The Forensic Group
Paige McElhinney has worked in forensic science for over 20 years. She has worked for both the Crown, at ESR, and the defence, now a Director and forensic science consultant for The Forensic Group Ltd. Her areas of knowledge and expertise include - crime scene examination, body fluid identification, blood stain pattern interpretation, clothing damage, hair comparisons, footwear impression location, recovery and comparison and using DNA results to assist in interpretations. Paige was the Doctors for Sexual Abuse Care (DSAC) (now MEDSAC) liaison at ESR and represented ESR at training courses on sexual abuse for medical personnel run by DSAC, as well as at the training of Police Medical Officers. She was also part of the team that developed the most recent medical examination kit and co-authored the chapters on Forensic Specimens and Forensic Science and Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault in The Medical Management of Sexual Assault (Sixth Edition 2006), published by DSAC.


John Munro, Director, John Munro Criminal Lawyer
John Munro, specializing in criminal defense, offers advice and protection to individuals facing criminal and regulatory charges. He provides robust advocacy in court, ensuring fair trials and thorough defense representation for his clients, supported by a team of experts in their respective fields.


Lynne Mathieson, Legal and Research Counsel, Office of the Chief Coroner
Lynne Mathieson has worked within the Criminal Justice sector for over 25 years. Lynne joined the Police in 1996 and served as a frontline officer in rural areas such as New Plymouth, Tokoroa, Mangakino, and Paeroa. She then made her way to South Auckland where she was promoted to Sergeant and spent time as a Prosecutor in both the Otahuhu and Manukau District Courts. Eventually, she went back on the streets where she was promoted to the rank of Senior Sergeant. Her last sworn role was as Senior Sergeant in charge of the Otara station. In order to juggle family commitments better, she left as a sworn officer and took up various Police non-sworn contract roles within the Counties Manukau District. These included setting up the Investigative Support Unit (ISU), managing the Counties Manukau South, Criminal Justice Support Unit (CJSU), and conducting reviews and training at various levels of the organization. She graduated from AUT law school in 2016 and worked again as a Police prosecutor in Manukau, Papakura, and Pukekohe. She swapped to the Defence in January 2023 when she took up a Senior Solicitor role with Gold Legal Ltd. During her session, she aims to pass on practical advice regarding navigating the lead up to trial, while also prompting thought and discussion regarding the challenges facing both Prosecution and Defence within the Criminal Justice environment.


Anoushka Bloem, Principal, Bloem & Associates
Anoushka Bloem founded Bloem Law as the largest specialist criminal defence practice in Auckland. She has established a large team of criminal lawyers who focus solely on criminal law, offering transformative outcomes for her clients. Anoushka specialises in jury trials for serious crime. She conducts jury trials in the Auckland region District Courts and the High Court. Anoushka represents people charged with the full spectrum of criminal charges including sexual, violence, drug and dishonesty charges. Anoushka has 21 years’ experience in the area of criminal law.


Her Hon. Judge Kirsten Lummis, The District Court of New Zealand
Kirsten Lummis was appointed to the District Court Bench in 2021 and holds a jury warrant. Prior to her judicial appointment, she had an extensive career as a Senior Crown Prosecutor. She joined the Auckland Crown Solicitor’s office in 2005, following her work as a criminal defence lawyer under Susan Hughes KC at Govett Quilliam in New Plymouth. In 2014, Kirsten became a Partner at Meredith Connell, where she prosecuted numerous sexual violence trials in both the District and High Courts. A dedicated advocate for victims and survivors of sexual abuse, she has actively highlighted the challenges they face in jury trial settings in New Zealand.