TOPIC
Join us for an engaging online seminar exploring a practical, holistic approach to organisational structuring for faith-based organisations. We'll look beyond financial considerations to examine how the right structure can help deliver mission. Topics will include:
Unincorporated vs incorporated entities: benefits and drawbacks
Understanding the powers and limitations of statutory religious corporations
Single vs multiple entities: key considerations
Best practices for managing risk while advancing charitable purpose
We will also explore case studies on two significant 2025 court decisions involving the Uniting Church in NSW and the Presbyterian Church of Queensland, and the lessons they offer for all religious denominations.
Speaker Bios
Vera Visevic has over 30 years’ experience in acting for numerous charities, religious and not-for-profit organisations and is a partner in the Charities and Purpose-driven Institutions team at Mills Oakley. She is ranked “Band 1” by Chambers & Partners, an independent ratings agency, which distinguishes her as one of the best lawyers in Australia in the “Charities” field. Vera acts for a range of Catholic organisations and associated not-for-profits, and provides a full suite of commercial services, including protecting commercial arrangements through drafting service agreements, privacy policies, internal policies and procedures, and reviewing grant and other government agreements. Vera is a sought-after speaker throughout Australia. In the last year she has presented at the Better Boards Conference, and Legalwise and TENS seminars on not-for-profits. She has also authored a chapter within the Charity Global Guide (2018) published by Thomson Reuters, and a paper on lessons not-for-profits should learn from the recent Royal Commissions published by Pro Bono Australia. Vera is a member of the Cannon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand and Christian Women in Governance
Elizabeth Shalders is a Special Counsel at Mills Oakley. She is a recognised expert in not-for-profit and charity law and governance, and has been practising solely in this field for over 15 years. Her extensive professional experience is supplemented with notable academic writings, including contributions to an academic textbook on public benefit, and peer-reviewed journal articles on charity tax concessions. More recently, she was an expert panel member on a major research project conducted by Professor Rosemary Teele-Langford of the University of Melbourne Law School on “Restoring public trust in charities – reforming governance and enforcement”. Current work projects of Elizabeth’s include:
Judicial advice application in relation to a religious charitable trust
A cy-pres application for an organisation that has numerous historical bequests
Defending a religious organisation against proceedings commenced against it by a former executive employee in the Supreme Court
Advising on structuring for a merger
Payroll tax exemption advice
Event Details
Date:
Thursday, 20 August 2026
Time:
WA: 9.30am – 10.40am
SA, NT: 11.00am – 12.10pm
NSW, VIC, ACT, TAS, QLD: 11.30am – 12.40pm
Format:
Online
Audience:
Leaders, leadership team members and business managers
Registration
Fee:
Free
RSVP:
Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Enquiries: Natalia López Plata Ph: 02 9557 2695