Ms Wilson, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, formerly served as president of the Gippsland Law Association. She has worked as a regional practitioner in Gippsland for most of her career, but recently established a food and seafood sector consulting company.

“With my diverse background and a non-traditional career progression in the profession, I hope to inspire others to take a different approach to how they view the law and engage with clients, and challenge current perceptions, while embracing innovation and technology,” Ms Wilson said of her appointment.

The 2012 LCA Victorian Young Property Lawyer of the Year and the LIV 2011 Regional Lawyer of the Year are among the feathers in Ms Wilson’s cap. She has a strong background in corporate governance and is a director of the Victoria Law Foundation.

CEO Nerida Wallace thanked outgoing president Steven Sapountsis for his work, his support of cultural diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, his stand against mandatory sentencing and his work on the regulation of lawyers, in particular.

Tom May of Madgwicks Lawyers; Simon Libbis, who was re-elected; Caroline Counsel, past president and LIV family violence portfolio chair; Carrie O’Shea of Victorian Legal Aid; and John McPherson of Arnold Dallas McPherson in Bendigo will join the LIV council in 2017 as councillors Louise Akenson and Cameron Forbes and past presidents Michael Holcroft and Katie Miller retire.

Ms Wilson will officially take up the role on 1 January next year.