At the Law Institute of Victoria’s annual awards ceremony in October 2025, Elena Pappas, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Law and Advocacy Centre for Women (LACW), was recognised with the prestigious Stephen Myall Award.
The honour, conferred by the Victorian Magistrates’ Association, celebrates individuals who demonstrate an ongoing commitment to social justice and inspire others to do the same.
Ms Pappas has dedicated her career to prison and sentencing reform in Victoria, collaborating with community organisations to reduce criminalisation and improve outcomes for women in the justice system. Her work reflects the compassionate and reform-minded approach that defined Stephen Myall’s legacy.
With professional experience spanning criminal law, workplace relations, and systemic justice advocacy, Ms Pappas has become a leading voice for reform and rehabilitation in the legal sector.
“It is particularly humbling to have the work of the Law and Advocacy Centre for Women Ltd recognised in this way by the Magistrates who witness the tireless work of our lawyers and case managers on the front line of the justice system every day,” Ms Pappas said.
Of Kastellorizian heritage, Ms Pappas is the youngest of four daughters of George Pappas AO and the late Jill Pappas. Her father, a distinguished community figure, was named Kastellorizian of the Year in 2015. Her grandmother, Panayiota Voyiatzis, was born on Kastellorizo before moving to Rhodes, where she married Stamati Papageorgiou.
Honouring the legacy of Stephen Myall
The Stephen Myall Award, first presented in 2023, commemorates the late Magistrate Stephen Myall, a respected member and former chair of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Criminal Law Committee.
Known for his fairness, compassion, and genuine concern for those appearing before him, Magistrate Myall left a profound mark on Victoria’s legal community.
In introducing the award in 2023, then LIV President Tania Wolff remarked that appearing before Magistrate Myall “was a lesson in how to be a magistrate – with fairness, compassion and genuine regard and concern for those who appeared before him.”
Through her leadership and advocacy, Ms Pappas continues this tradition of empathy and justice, shaping a fairer and more humane legal system for all Victorians.
