
Bonnie Simmonds
Senior Associate
MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Bonnie is an employment, whistleblowing, and privacy law expert who acts for public and private sector clients across both advisory and contentious matters. She has broad experience across personal grievances, health and safety, industrial relations, restructures, and employment status disputes, and is known for distilling complex issues into clear, plain English advice.
Bonnie enjoys guiding clients through unfamiliar legal processes and frequently works with offshore HR professionals, helping them translate their experience into the New Zealand context. Her client-focused approach is informed by several in-house secondments to HR and legal teams at large businesses.
Bonnie provides strategic advice on all aspects of the Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act 2020, including internal speak-up procedures and responding to protected disclosures. She is also an expert in privacy law, assisting clients with Privacy Act requests and investigations by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
Bonnie regularly represents clients in the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court, and mediations, including at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Human Rights Commission.
SESSIONS
2:50
Panel: Preparing for Upcoming Employment Law Reforms
Several significant employment law reforms are on the horizon. This panel explores what employers should expect, including the proposed replacement of the Holidays Act and potential changes to allow “protected conversations” when initiating mutual termination discussions. Learn how to prepare for change and minimise risk ahead of implementation.
Auckland:
Charlotte Evans, Special Counsel, Dentons
Georgina McAdam, Senior Associate, Dentons
Rob McStay, Senior Associate, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Jim Roberts, Partner, HeskethHenry,
Wellington:
Katie Alexander, Senior Associate, Dentons
Sally Togher, Senior Associate, Dentons
Bonnie Simmonds, Senior Associate, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Megan Vant, Partner, Dundas Street
