Barrister Sophie York and solicitor Namoi Dougall were named as potential nominees by The Australian newspaper today, along with Menzies Research Centre Director Julian Leeser, PBL executive David Coleman and business lobbyist Paul Ritchie.

Young is a barrister at the NSW Bar, operating from the Sir James Martin Chambers. She is also a legal officer in the Royal Australian Naval Reserves, and Dame of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. She has lectured over the last decade at various law schools, including Sydney University and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), and is currently a lecturer at The University of Notre Dame.

Namoi Dougall has worked at most of Australia's top law firms, including Corrs Pavey Whiting & Byrne, Clayton Utz, Middletons Moore & Bevins, and Allen Allen & Hemsley. She has served on The Migration Review Tribunal (the MRT) and the Refugee Review Tribunal (the RRT), as well as a number of state tribunals, including as a member of the Equal Opportunity Tribunal.

Dougall has also served as a member of the Board of the NSW Chamber of Commerce, director of the Northern Area Health Board, a policy adviser to a federal cabinet minister, and the NSW and Victorian representative on the Prime Minister's Republic Advisory Committee.

Nelson has yet to submit his resignation to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, but will give his valedictory speech on Wednesday.

Nominations open tomorrow and close on Wednesday.