Australia – Event: The Government’s COVID-19 Response: Legal advising in the middle of a pandemic

Event description

Join Stephen Bouwhuis for an informal Q&A on his experience as one of the lead public servants working on the Commonwealth Government’s response to COVID-19. The discussion will cover day-to-day challenges and successes in coordinating the Government’s response to COVID-19, the Department of Health’s role in responding to the pandemic (including coordination with states and territories and international bodies), and decision-making and emergency measures adopted under the Commonwealth’s Biosecurity Act 2015. Questions from the audience are encouraged.

Registration is essential for this event via Eventbrite as social distancing requirements of 1.5m means that the capacity will be limited.

Stephen Bouwhuis is General Counsel in the Department of Health.  His current responsibilities include designing the legal instruments for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. His previous roles include Senior Counsel (International Law) in the Attorney-General’s Department, the Legal Counsel of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London and the Trade Measures Review Officer for Australia.  Stephen holds a Masters of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government and a Masters of International Law from the Australian National University.