Presenters

Shelley Eden, Principal, Shelley Eden Law
After working at senior levels and leading employment teams in two established firms, in 2023 Shelley has branched out on her own and set up Shelley Eden Law. Shelley has significant years of experience in employment law, representing clients at every level and dealing with every type of employment issue. Shelley brings technical expertise but also commercial pragmatism and pro-activity to her role. Shelley is a strong presenter and enjoys helping businesses to satisfactorily resolve employment issues and to have an engaged, productive workforce. She often works closely with the HR team in client businesses, to help achieve this.

Associate Professor Brigit Mirfin-Veitch, Kaiwhakahaere - Director, Donald Beasley Institute
Dr Brigit Mirfin-Veitch is the Director of the Donald Beasley Institute (DBI), and a Research Associate Professor with the Centre for Post Graduate Nursing Studies, University of Otago (Christchurch). For the past three decades, Brigit has been committed to initiating and achieving social change through evidence-based research. She has led or been involved in a wide range of disability rights-based projects in the area of health and well-being, access to justice, violence and abuse, parenting, and the progressive realisation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, particularly Article 12 – Equal Recognition Before the Law - and Supported Decision Making. Brigit was centrally involved in the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care in a range of capacities, including as a researcher, expert witness, and member of several advisory groups related to the final report writing process.

Dr Robbie Francis Watene, Kairakahau Matua - Senior Researcher, Donald Beasley Institute
Dr Robbie Francis Watene is a disabled leader, scholar and advocate from South Auckland. With 35 years lived experience of disability, Robbie has worked in the disability sector for over 15 years as a support worker, humanitarian documentarian, social entrepreneur, researcher, consultant, and advisor. She has experience working with disabled people in France, Bangladesh, India, Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador, and has also spearheaded research on gender, war and disability rights. Robbie is Disabled-Led Research Lead at the Donald Beasley Institute (DBI). In this role, she oversees a range of disabled-led and disability inclusive human rights research projects, including the Disabled Person Led Monitoring Project, which the DBI conducted on behalf of the Disabled Person Organisations’ Coalition from 2018-2024.