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| 11 May 2026 | |
| Written by Barbara Hoffman | |
| 2026 Alumnae Award Recipients |
Lauren Stefanou is a purpose-driven executive leader with experience across the legal, media, community and public sectors. She is currently a Principal Solicitor at the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT.
Lauren completed her schooling at MLC School, which she says was "made possible by generous academic scholarships and the support of the School". She was an all-rounder, involved in fundraising for charities, music, basketball and cricket, and received external awards for English, Chemistry and Computing Studies.
As a solicitor, Lauren has worked exclusively in the legal assistance sector, first in police accountability and administrative law at community legal centres before joining the Aboriginal Legal Service as a criminal lawyer, where she has represented children and adults in NSW courts of all levels and led the implementation of new, holistic service delivery programs.
Since her appointment to her current role in 2023, Lauren has overseen significant policy and law reform and public advocacy which platforms the experiences of clients and communities served by the Aboriginal Legal Service. She also plays a key role in government relations and oversees delivery of Closing the Gap justice initiatives in partnership with the NSW Government.
Lauren has undertaken senior executive roles, including acting as Principal Legal Officer of the Aboriginal Legal Service and as General Manager of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS). She sits on a number of committees and advisory boards.
Alongside her professional work, Lauren is a Teaching Fellow in the Faculty of Law and Justice at UNSW. Through her teaching and mentoring, she is committed to raising the profile of career pathways in the legal assistance sector and encouraging the next generation of lawyers to engage with work that drives social change and aligns with their values.
Before entering the legal profession, Lauren worked in the media for over a decade, primarily in public broadcasting at the ABC following earlier roles at Network Ten and Channel Seven.
