AHWC Immigration Law has a team of exceptional immigration lawyers & registered migration agents who all share the same passion and focus – helping people like you to migrate to Australia.
Welcome to our About Us page, where we proudly introduce you to our dedicated team of immigration experts. Our firm specialises in navigating the complexities of Australian immigration law, tailored specifically for our corporate and individual clients. We understand that successful business operations often hinge on securing the right talent and ensuring compliance with immigration regulations.
Our passion lies in assisting employers like you with staff sponsorship and Labour Agreements, streamlining the visa application process to help you focus on what matters most—growing your business. With years of experience under our belt, we have developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by corporations in today’s competitive landscape, and we are here to help you navigate them.
We are committed to providing exceptional service, ensuring that each client receives personalized attention and expert guidance. From preparing Labour Agreement applications for our corporate clients to health waivers and character submissions, we also offer strategic advice on immigration policy changes. Our team is here to support you every step of the way.
By choosing us as your partner in immigration solutions, you’re not just getting a service provider; you’re gaining a team that genuinely cares about achieving positive outcomes for your organization. We are here to help you build a brighter future for your workforce and your business in Australia.
Registered Migration Agent MARN 0901684
Seamus grew up in Coolaney in the west of Ireland where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. He moved to South Africa in 1980 and lived there until 1987 .
Seamus moved to Australia in 1987 and became a citizen in 1992.
Seamus founded AHWC Immigration Law (originally known as Australia Here We Come) in 2010. He founded LORG Talent “Your One Stop Shop For International Recruitment” in 2022. LORG Talent provides end to end services for Australian employers and global candidates. Via the synergy between LORG and AHWC, Seamus supports employers and candidates throughout the entire process, connecting Australian employers with the best global talent, and providing employers and candidates with seamless Australian visa solutions.
Seamus is particularly good at assessing complex situations and finding unique solutions that work. In really complex situations he will often find a solution that no one else has thought of.
Seamus provides strategic advice in relation to employer-sponsored visas, including Subclass 186 Employer Nominated (ENS) visas, Temporary Skills Shortage, Subclass 482 (TSS) visas, and Labour Agreements.
Seamus is passionate about AFL and is a Melbourne Demons tragic still living the dream of his team winning the 2021 Grand Final!
Maggie is a dedicated immigration law professional with a diverse background. Born in the United Kingdom, she spent her early childhood in India before immigrating to South Africa with her family. In 1987, Maggie made Australia her home and became a citizen in 1992.
Maggie always wanted to study law, and earned her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) (Hons) from Deakin University in 2002, earning the Supreme Court Exhibition prize in her final year. After being admitted as a solicitor in 2004, she advanced her career by signing the Bar Roll in 2008.
Before joining AHWC Immigration Law, Maggie held several senior legal positions, including serving as a senior associate at a prominent Melbourne legal firm and practising as a barrister at the Victorian Bar as a member of Dever’s List. Her extensive experience has equipped her with the skills to navigate complex immigration matters effectively.
Maggie is the go-to expert for intricate immigration legal challenges and she has an impressive success rate with reviews of adverse decisions, including AAT appeals. At AHWC, Maggie remains committed to advocating for those navigating the complexities of the legal system.
Registered Migration Agent MARN 1573740
Xiaodan is AHWC’s highly experienced Senior Manager and expert Migration Agent with over 15 years of expertise in the Australian migration industry, both in China and Australia. Born in Beijing, Xiaodan immigrated to Australia with her family in 2014, bringing a personal understanding of the migration journey that many families face.
In 2015, she completed a Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice and quickly established herself as a trusted professional in the field.
Xiaodan has extensive knowledge of all visa types, with a particular focus on Employer-Sponsored Visas. She is recognised for her skillful ability to obtain Labour Agreements for corporate clients, showcasing her commitment to facilitating smooth migration processes for clients needing overseas workers whose occupations are “off-list.”
Fluent in English and Mandarin, including the Shanghai Dialect, Xiaodan effectively bridges cultural and language gaps for her clients. Now residing in Melbourne, she has also successfully assisted numerous Chinese families in navigating their migration journeys to Australia, reflecting her dedication to helping others achieve their dreams of living and working in this vibrant and diverse country.
Registered Migration Agent MARN 1796787
Wenqian Zhao (Mancy) was born and raised in China. She completed a Master of Professional Accounting in 2014 and then accomplished a Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice in 2016 and became a Registered Migration Agent in 2017.
Mancy has over 5 years’ experience working in the Australian education and migration industry, with the knowledge and expertise across various visa types including General Skilled visas, Employer Sponsored visas, Partner visas and Parent visas and Student and Guardian visa.
Mancy is fluent in English and Mandarin and she enjoys the work as a migration agent.
Maddie joined AHWC after completing her Bachelor of Laws and Criminology at La Trobe University, and was admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2021. Prior to joining AHWC, Maddie volunteered at Community Legal Centres and Victoria Legal Aid, and conducted research for members of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom. It was in these roles that Maddie discovered her passion for administrative law and ensuring legal procedures are accessible to all.
Maddie specialises in employer-sponsored visas and finds her work as an immigration lawyer incredibly rewarding. She takes pride in contributing to the AHWC team and is committed to providing excellent legal support to her clients.
Shelby is no stranger to the Australian visa process as she was born in Zimbabwe and migrated with her family from England in 2006. She understands how important securing a successful visa outcome is, having gone through it herself and helping her own family come to Australia.
With a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business Management from Swinburne, she was admitted in the Supreme Court and High Court of Victoria and has spent her entire legal career in immigration law.
Shelby’s passion for migration stems from her own experiences, as well as her affinity for helping others – she is very passionate about access to justice and legal technology.
Her career goal includes becoming an accredited specialist in migration law, as she enjoys complex scenarios and problem-solving visa pathways.
When Shelby is not in the office, you can find her in the kitchen cooking with her family, or playing netball.
Registered Migration Agent MARN 2117709
Jair Castro is a Senior Migration Agent at AHWC Immigration Law with a deep-seated commitment to transparency and trust. With extensive experience in Australian Immigration Law, Jair specialises in Employer Sponsor and work-related visas.
Jair excels in managing large-scale corporate migration projects, leveraging his skills in retention, compliance, and strategic planning to deliver tailored solutions that meet both transactional and compliance requirements. His involvement in these projects has honed his understanding of corporate immigration complexities, ensuring precise and client-focused outcomes.
Known for his collaborative approach, Jair thrives in team environments and demonstrates strong leadership. He is dedicated to continuous learning and staying updated with industry developments, enabling him to provide clients with the most current and accurate advice. Jair’s results-driven methodology ensures that clients navigate the immigration process with confidence and clarity.
Natalie was admitted to the legal profession as an Australian Lawyer in 2017. She graduated from Victoria University with a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Business (Banking and Finance), Graduate Certificate in Australian Immigration Law and Practice and completed her Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice at the College of Law.
Natalie has a wealth of experience in corporate migration, employer sponsored visas and family visas. She excels in conducting strategic consultations with businesses and private clients, offering tailored immigration solutions and pathway advice. Her knowledge and adept navigation of immigration laws and procedures consistently delivers favourable outcomes for her clients.
Known for her expertise, dedication, and proactive approach, Natalie has earned a reputation as a trusted advisor in the immigration sector.
Kayla holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Global Studies from Australian Catholic University and was admitted as an Australian Legal Practitioner in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2023.
Kayla joined AHWC Immigration Law in 2024 after spending 9 months travelling around Europe.
She has previous experience working with Protection Visas, as well as working in Not-For-Profit Law. Kayla has also interned overseas with a charity in Cambodia, where she helped to develop workshops for School curriculums to combat microfinance and migration issues.
Kayla has always aspired to practice as an Immigration Lawyer, and finds this work particularly fulfilling. Outside of Immigration Law, Kayla is passionate about travel, books and Formula 1
Yoonsun Cha (Yoon) was born and raised in South Korea. She completed her Bachelor of Law at Sungkyunkwan University in 2013. Yoon has experience working in a corporate finance team in Singapore.
With over three years of experience in the Australian education and migration industry, Yoon is fluent in English, Japanese, and Korean.
In Australia, she is an avid fan of the NRL Melbourne Storm and enjoys attending concerts and engaging in various leisure activities whenever possible.
At AHWC Immigration Law, Yoon assists our Australian immigration law specialists, dedicating herself to thoroughly exploring and understanding Australian immigration law.
Marise is one of our Legal Assistants at AHWC Immigration Law. Originally from Ireland, Marise has been living in Australia for the last year with no plans to go home anytime soon! She graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 2021 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Law with First Class Honours.
Marise has gained significant experience in the legal sector, working diligently as a paralegal and legal assistant for the last three years. Her roles have allowed her to develop a comprehensive understanding of legal procedures, client management and document review.
Marise is enjoying the work at AHWC and with a strong foundation and interest in Law, she is focused on advancing her career and achieving the goal of qualifying as a Lawyer in the near future.
Outside of the office, Marise enjoys travelling, spending time with friends and trying out Melbourne’s variety of amazing restaurants and coffee shops.
Andrea has lived her life here in Melbourne. In her early 20’s Andrea and her business partner set up a mechanical repair business in Ringwood which they successfully owned and operated for 30 years, employing countless staff over the years. In 2016 the business was sold to allow Andrea’s business partner to retire. Andrea then began subcontracting her services to a variety of companies to assist in running their businesses, contributing her vast experience and knowledge of bookkeeping, business and staff management, and general operating procedures.
Andrea met AHWC owners Seamus and Maggie Taaffe in 2019 and was initially engaged in a casual role which quickly grew to almost full time. Andrea enjoys the variety of work, responsibility afforded to her and of course the working environment at AHWC.
Andrea has 2 sons, enjoys gardening, bike riding and cooking and can always be found on the weekends cheering on her beloved football team.
Michelle is part of the Administration team at AHWC Immigration Law. She has over eight years of administration experience in various sectors including medical general practice, hospitals and publishing. She has extensive experience in customer service and her strengths are in organisation and change implementation.
She comes from an Afghan background and is a first generation Australian with her family immigrating to Australia in the 1990’s. As well as English, Michelle is able to speak Dari and understand Farsi.
Michelle has completed a Bachelor of Commerce at Deakin University with a major in Human Resource Management and since completing her degree, Michelle has joined our sister company, LORG Talent, as a Recruitment Consultant.
Outside of work, you can find Michelle exploring Melbourne’s many food and entertainment attractions with her fiancé and friends or spending quality time with her nephews with a good cup of coffee in hand.
Originally from Ireland, Sinead relocated to Australia a couple of years ago, having visited before and enjoyed the culture. Sinead is very lucky to have family here.
Prior to settling in Australia, she has called Argentina, Malta, and the UAE home, embracing each experience wholeheartedly. With a degree in Politics and International Relations, Sinead brings her knowledge and practise of administration to her career. She has six years of expertise in administration and customer service, demonstrating a strong commitment to professionalism and efficiency.
Outside of work, Sinead cherishes quality time with loved ones, seeking out new culinary delights in restaurants, and immersing herself in the breathtaking landscapes her Australian surroundings.
Founder FCA | Registered Migration Agent | Chartered Accountant
Principal Lawyer BA, LLB (Hons)
Director BA
Senior Migration Agent
Senior Lawyer
Senior Lawyer
Senior Migration Agent
Lawyer
Graduate Lawyer
Legal Assistant
Legal Assistant
Financial Controller
Administration & Recruitment
Office Administrator
Senior Migration Agent