About Susanne

Susanne joined Maddocks as a lawyer in 2019, having previously worked as a qualified senior archaeologist and anthropologist, specialising in Indigenous engagement, land access, cultural heritage and native title. Her deep experience advising on mining projects, infrastructure projects, land access, native title, cultural heritage and stakeholder engagement provides Maddocks clients with a unique perspective, that is commercially focused whilst being culturally appropriate.

Susanne has worked across Australia and has experience managing state agreements, regulatory approvals and agreements, land access, native title, landowner and heritage approvals. She has developed and implemented land access approvals systems for mines in WA, and negotiated, drafted and implemented regional-wide native title agreements, cultural heritage management plans and mine closure plans.

Susanne is experienced in environmental litigation and prosecutions, and environmental advisory. She has extensive project management experience undertaking management of approvals for a number of large infrastructure and mine projects while working at Rio Tinto and Melbourne Water.

Susanne brings a unique skillset and ‘in the field’ experience from her time practicing as an anthropologist and archaeologist all over Australia, including in remote, rural and city communities.

Experience

• NSW Local Councils – Native Title Advisory

  Providing advice to NSW Local Councils on their obligations as Crown Land Managers in relation to native title and cultural heritage, including site specific advice on whether a parcel of land is subject to native title, and if so, how to deal with the issue of native title to enable the Council to carry out necessary public works as well as reviewing Council Native Title Manager advice.

• Water Infrastructure NSW

  Providing advice on a Triparted Agreement affected by an Indigenous Land Use Agreement.

• Department of Regional NSW

  Providing at the Department’s request comments to the new Department Guidelines and processes, such as Right to Negotiate Guidelines.

• Mount Alexander Shire Council

  Advising Council on options available to Council to meet its obligations under the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 (VIC) and Dja Wurrung Land Use Activity Agreement in relation to third party approvals and activities.

• Origin Energy

  Advising on due diligence aspects relating to heritage, Crown land and native title in relation to the acquisition of an early stage solar farm development, for an early stage 450MW – 900MW solar farm at in NSW and VIC.

• Essential Energy

  Acting on compliance with the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) for the replacement of telecommunications infrastructure in NSW, for land that was the subject of a native title claim.

• Vestas

  Providing advice on Crown land approvals, native title and heritage in relation to wind farm project in NSW.

• Warrabinga Native Title Claimants Aboriginal Corporation

  Acting for the Warrabinga native title claimants in their Federal Court claim, We are also acting for the Warrabinga native title claimants in a number of negotiations with proponents of future acts, in relation to major renewable projects and mining grants.

• Wagonga Local Aboriginal Land Council – Native Title litigation

  Acting for a Local Aboriginal Land Council in a non- claimant application opposing a native title claim over land granted to the Local Aboriginal Land Council.

• Wajarri Yamaji Aboriginal Corporation RNTC (Ngoonooru People)

  Reviewing native title and heritage agreement with a mining company on behalf of the native title holders and providing specialist native title and heritage advice.

• Powder Family Group (pro bono)

  Advising the native title holders in relation to their rights to payments under an Indigenous Land Use Agreement.

• Gove Peninsular and Yolngu Groups

  Advising and assisting individual Indigenous Respondents in Northern Territory to seek funding to defend their native title rights and interests.

• Renewable Energy transaction

  Advising on environmental, native title and cultural heritage matters, acting for the vendor on what is currently the largest renewable energy transaction in Australia.

• CBRE

  Drafting and updating an Energy Efficiency Tracker for CBRE sites in Queensland, NSW and Victoria.

• Confidential private clients

  Assisting in major acquisition due diligence projects for multiple global law firms in relation to native title, Aboriginal land claims, Crown land and heritage.