Presenters

Dr Maria Pozza, Director and Principal Lawyer, Gravity
Dr Pozza is the Director and Principal lawyer of Gravity Lawyers. Her expertise includes: Commercial international space law, international military space law, domestic legislative frameworks over military and commercial uses in space as well as international law space law dealing with armed conflict and aggressive uses. She provides expertise in legal and technical frameworks concerning cybersecurity and IT, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), and technology laws. She has been the course coordinator for the University of Victoria’s Cyber Security and International Relations, as well as a lecturer for the International Relations course. As a prolific publisher, Dr Pozza has edited and published a book on Risk Management in Outer Space Activities – An Australian and New Zealand Perspective, as part of her Book Series titled Space Law and Policy. She has been involved in the development of numerous space law publications that range from academic articles, professional publications, guidance materials, and books. Dr Pozza has supervised at master’s level and is currently supervising at the PhD level with the University of Otago. Her expertise on international and national space law, is often called upon by a wide range of domestic and international clients and institutions.


Simon Mitchell KC, Hobson Chambers
Simon Mitchell has worked as a litigation lawyer since 1990, specialising in family and employment law. He enjoys the challenge of both areas of law, as they focus on people and solving relationship problems. In his family law work, he finds it rewarding to assist individuals through difficult transitions in their lives. His practice covers domestic violence, child custody matters, and property disputes. For twenty years, he has acted for children in the Family Court. In his employment practice, he handles a full range of disputes and brings strong litigation skills while also prioritising resolution and negotiation whenever possible. He represents workers, employers, and unions. He regularly appears in the Family Court and various employment institutions, including the Mediation Service, Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court, and Court of Appeal. His expertise is widely recognised, as evidenced by frequent invitations from the Law Society to present at seminars and conferences on his areas of specialisation. Simon Mitchell was appointed King’s Counsel in November 2022.