Iresha Herath

Special Counsel

Phone:1800 720 720 Email: iresha.herath@irlegal.lawyer

Iresha Herath is a highly respected senior lawyer and executive with extensive experience spanning top-tier private practice and senior in-house leadership within the Victorian public sector. She is widely regarded for her ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and deliver clear, strategic advice on high-stakes legal matters for public, private, and not-for-profit organisations.

Iresha has held senior legal and executive roles, as well as General Counsel, Executive Director, and Head of Legal positions within major public sector organisations such as Western Health, Transport Safety Victoria, the Department of Justice and Community Safety, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, and the Social Services Regulator. Her practice encompasses regulatory enforcement and compliance, corporate and commercial advisory, employment law, insurance matters, and complex litigation, with a strong emphasis on governance, risk management, and executive decision-making.

Known for her practical, solutions-focused approach, Iresha is a trusted adviser to boards and senior executives on complex statutory obligations, sensitive employment and governance issues, and organisational risk. Her experience includes ministerial advising and leadership roles within the Law Institute of Victoria, reflecting a deep commitment to legal excellence, ethical leadership, and meaningful sector reform.

Key Achievements

• Established and led a legal team that won the Lawyers’ Weekly Corporate Counsel (Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and Biotech) Team of the Year Award in 2019

• Led the implementation of Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation at Western Health, including the delivery of a landmark grand round attended by more than 3,000 staff members

• Served as a subject matter expert in public sector governance and internal compliance, designing and implementing strategies that materially reduced legal, financial, and commercial risk

In addition to her role at IR Legal, Iresha is the General Counsel and Company Secretary of the Love Your Sister Charitable Foundation, where she supports the organisation’s governance, regulatory compliance, and strategic objectives. She is a values-driven leader with a proven track record of building high-performing, award-winning legal teams.

Iresha holds a Bachelor of Laws from Monash University and the University of Melbourne, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne.

Areas of Practice:

• Regulatory Law & Governance

• Employment Law

• Corporate & Commercial Law

• Insurance Law