Sydney Law School academic and alumni named in 100 Women of Influence

The Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence Awards encompasses ten categories, featuring women working across a spectrum of industries demonstrating a strong sense of commitment to a cause.

Professor Rosemary Lyster, who is co-director of the Australian Centre for Climate and Environmental Law, was recognised for her role in influencing and changing public policy.

Her concern for the victims of climate disasters in developed and developing countries led Rosemary Lyster to become an expert in the area of climate law and climate disaster law.

In 2015 she was appointed by the Victorian government to a three-person independent review committee to review the state's Climate Change Act 2010 and make recommendations to place Victoria as a leader on climate change.

Reacting to her inclusion in the AFR list, Rosemary said: “I feel honoured to be in the company of such a diverse group of dedicated women who are making contributions to society in so many different and important ways.”

Sydney Law School alumni Jane Alver, Rosemary Sinclair and Sanushka Seomangal were also announced as nominees.

Rosemary Sinclair AM (BA’74 LLB’76) has been a champion for Australian consumers for more than 30 years, particularly in communications and energy services. Nominated in the Public Policy category, she is currently chief executive of Energy Consumers Australia, an independent body established to provide a voice for consumers in Australia's energy market.

Activist, PhD student and gender-equality advocate, Jane Alver (LLB’95 BA’92) has also been recognised in the Public Policy category. Jane worked as a lawyer in Australia, England and Kiribati for 20 years and is an admitted solicitor in all three jurisdictions. She is an advocate for increasing the number of women on boards and increasing the number of women in local government.

Sanushka Seomangal (MBL’11) is a co-founder and director of the School of Policy and Governance, a non-profit private university aimed at building a better India and world through high-quality educational programs in public policy, law and governance. Now working for independent law firm Thomson Geer, Sanushka has been recognised in the Global category of the awards. 

This year's list, chosen from a record 850 entries, were selected by executive search firm Korn Ferry and a panel of judges, including two previous overall winners of the award, Ann Sherry, executive chair of cruise company Carnival Australia, and Moya Dodd, lawyer and soccer official. 

The winners of each of the 10 categories and the overall winner will be announced at the awards dinner in Sydney on 17 October.

View the 2018 100 Women of Influence list here.