(Community Recognition Statement, 19 March 2024, Legislative Assembly, NSW Parliament)

On behalf of the Sydney electorate, I recognise Karen Iles who has been a leading voice for sexual assault survivors, women, First Nations people and social justice. Karen is a Dharug Aboriginal woman, and the Founder and Principal Solicitor of Violet Co Legal & Consulting, a woman‑led, Indigenous-led, social enterprise. Violet Co works to provide just and fair outcomes for women and First Nations people and helps them to navigate the legal system. Most notably, Karen, with her lived experience, has campaigned to create legally enforceable duties to ensure aggravated sexual assault and other crimes are investigated by police. Karen has numerous Non-Executive Director board roles including The National Justice Project, First Australians Capital, Our Watch and Marist180. Karen was also appointed to the Australian Catholic Safeguarding panel in 2022 to review claims of sexual assault within Catholic Church institutions and is a current appointee to the New South Wales Law Society Employment Law Committee and advisor to Teach Us Consent. I thank Karen for her tireless work and her fierce commitment to social justice and for her contribution to Sydney and to vulnerable members of the community.