Sparke Helmore’s Commonwealth Executive Forum is an annual gathering directed at senior Commonwealth lawyers, with each instalment focused on a topic of particular interest to the legal leadership of the Commonwealth. The Forum is held in Canberra and intended to provide a space for the open exchange of ideas and insights amongst Executive and Senior Executive-level lawyers across Commonwealth agencies. The event is not recorded, and discussions are held under the Chatham House Rule.

Our 2026 Forum: Beyond the Sandbox: Commonwealth adoption of AI and the role of the Commonwealth lawyer was held on Monday 21st September. It commenced with opening remarks from Attorney General the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, which was followed by a series of panel sessions involving senior stakeholders from the APS and private sector, and a keynote address from Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy the Hon Dr Andrew Charlton MP. The Forum provided an opportunity for 60 senior lawyers from more than 25 Commonwealth agencies to share learnings from their experience in helping agencies navigate the legal, security, governance and capability challenges associated with AI experimentation and adoption. The discussion highlighted not just the pitfalls and challenges, but also best emerging practice in in-house legal support for AI adoption.

If you are a Commonwealth lawyer at SES, EL2 or EL1 level and would like to register your interest in attending next year's Forum, please do so here.

If you have any questions about the Forum, please contact Karwan Eskerie or Caitlin Catalano.