Profile
“My strongest professional quality is my ability to build trust and long-term relationships, whether with clients, colleagues, or stakeholders”
Danny Ibrahim,
KeyRate Mortgage
When Eugenia Mitrakas opened her practice in South Melbourne in 1972, she was breaking new ground. Only five months after her admission to practice, she became the first Greek female solicitor in Australia, serving a community where few women had established professional roles.
That decision set the tone for a career that has now spanned more than five decades and earned her recognition on Australasian Lawyer’s 2025 Elite Women list.
Identity and purpose have guided her path from the outset. Born in a mountain village on Lesvos, she once thought she might become a doctor, but her father encouraged law. She embraced it fully, building a career that fused legal practice with community service.
Her firm, EMR Mitrakas, grew as the surrounding Greek community settled and expanded, and she became a trusted adviser for families balancing migration, property, family matters and Greek Law. She is also admitted in England and Wales and was appointed a Notary Public by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Leadership decisions have been decisive in the firm’s trajectory. Remaining a sole practitioner for much of her career gave Mitrakas control over the standards she wanted to set. She introduced the modern Greek language at the University of Melbourne, supported community initiatives and mentored students who later built legal careers of their own.
She also entered professional leadership as the first female, ethnic and sole practitioner elected to the Council of the Law Institute of Victoria, where she served for nine years and chaired committees that pushed for greater representation. She was the first woman to chair the Legal Admissions Board.
Achievements followed a consistent pattern of service. She founded welfare organisations and founded the Greek/Australian International Legal & Medical Conferences. She chaired 17 such conferences, 14 in Greece and three in Melbourne, directing more than $500,000 in donations to charities both in Greece and Australia.
The Medal of the Order of Australia and recognition from the Centre for Ecumenical Hellenism in Athens acknowledged the impact of her decades of pro bono work. She describes empathy for the underprivileged as her defining professional quality, one that has carried through every stage of her career.
Her firm’s differentiators lie in its community ties and in her longevity as a practitioner. Clients return because she combines legal expertise with cultural understanding, particularly for migrant families navigating property disputes or estate issues.
Staff development has also remained a priority. Recruiting and retaining good lawyers is challenging for small practices, yet Mitrakas has consistently trained and supported graduates, with many female clerks and trainees moving on to successful careers.
“I have always mentored and inspired young women in law, both formally and informally,” she says, a commitment reflected in her decades-long sponsorship of the annual Legal Prize at MacRobertson Girls’ High School.
For the broader profession, her influence lies in her advocacy for structural change. She has called for equal pay and promotion, improved childcare support and flexible work arrangements to reduce the career-family trade-offs that still weigh on women. These priorities are issues she has addressed directly through council work and personal example.
Future direction for EMR Mitrakas is measured by her intent to sustain the firm’s independence while ensuring its services remain relevant to a multicultural client base. She continues to focus on mentoring and on supporting underprivileged groups through legal work and community involvement.
“I wish to be remembered as a lawyer who devoted her life to serving the disadvantaged and the legal profession,” Mitrakas explains, summing up the legacy she wants to leave.
62 Bevan Street, Albert Park, Vic 3206
03 9690 2033
eugenia@mitrakas.com.au
linkedin.com/in/eugenia-mitrakas-oam
mitrakas.com.au
Eugenia Mitrakas
Managing Partner EMR Mitrakas
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“I’ve always believed that if you love what you do, you’ll never settle, and that attitude has guided every decision I’ve made”
Danny Ibrahim,
KeyRate Mortgage
1972–1988
1989–1990
1997–2000
2002
2025
1972: Admitted to practice in both the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia; established a sole legal practice in the same year
1984: Elected as the first female member of the Council of the Law Institute of Victoria, serving a total of nine years
1988: Admitted to practice law in England and Wales
1972–1988
1989: Appointed Notary Public by the Archbishop of Canterbury
1990: Received the Hellenic Distinction (Professional Category)
1989–1990
1997: Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia
2000: Commenced practice as an International Lawyer in Greece, specialising in Greek law
1997–2000
Received the Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award
2002
Honoured by the Ecumenical Hellenism Foundation
2025
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
As a founding member of WOW! (Women. Opportunity. Winning.), an employee resource group created for all women of Ryan Specialty, Phillips Topping has long championed for women in the industry.
“It’s very important to set an example and to not only inspire but mentor other females,” she adds.
In addition to her sharp marketing eye, the key to Phillips Topping’s success lies in her high-energy approach and positive attitude.
“As the leader of a team, it’s important to motivate and encourage your team members. People work very hard and do their best and it’s important to recognize these efforts. For my career overall, my attitude has been one of curiosity. The more you can learn, the better you’ll understand the business, and then the deeper your knowledge will become, making you a better team member.”
Chief underwriting officer of executive risk at Chubb
President of financial insurance solutions at Kemper
Chief underwriting officer at Axis Capital
CEO of global Insurance at Endurance
CEO of global Insurance at Sompo International
A significant part of his focus today is staying ahead of regulatory change while maintaining a seamless client experience. He tracks updates from regulators and lenders closely and works with his teams to adjust systems as needed.
“My approach to my role and my career has always been rooted in passion, focus, and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” he says. “I’ve never been driven solely by profit or business metrics. I believe in hiring great talent, trusting them, and pushing boundaries because innovation doesn’t come from playing it safe.”
His experience isn’t limited to Canada. Ibrahim has worked in the US and UAE, which shaped his global perspective and comfort with adapting to different markets. He thrives on risk, viewing setbacks as stepping stones to progress.
“I’ve always believed that if you love what you do, you’ll never settle, and that attitude has guided every decision I’ve made,” he adds.
That outlook continues to guide his work and reflects his broader goal of helping move the industry forward. Through his brokerage, lending company, and legal services, Ibrahim is focused on creating long-term value for his clients, his teams, and others working in the field.