Berina Colakovic, wife of NRL star Jai Arrow, is suing her employer, AI advertising platform StackAdapt, in Federal Court, alleging discrimination and denial of procedural fairness. Colakovic was suspended from her role as director of sales on the same day she returned from maternity leave, just days after her husband was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Colakovic, who transferred to StackAdapt's Australian office in February 2022 and was promoted to director of sales in July 2024, claims her superior threatened her in September 2024, demanding organizational changes and potentially unlawful employee terminations. She raised these concerns with the company's human resources department. Later that year, she informed StackAdapt of her pregnancy, with her first child due in April 2025. The company allegedly assured her that her position would be covered during her maternity leave, which began in March 2025.
According to court documents, a superior announced a new director of sales had been hired in a Slack message to staff on March 27, 2025. Colakovic alleges this message did not mention her or the fact that the new hire would be covering her maternity leave. She had initially planned to return to work in September 2025 but extended her leave until May 1, 2026. In early April 2026, a StackAdapt representative reportedly informed her that she would resume her director of sales role. However, two days later, she was allegedly told that while she would return to the position, an investigation into her workplace conduct would resume, and her team would no longer report to her.
Colakovic was then instructed not to report to work at her usual time on May 1, 2026, but to attend a midday meeting where she was suspended. She was forbidden from contacting colleagues, clients, or stakeholders during a disciplinary process. Colakovic stated she was unaware of the specific complaints against her, describing them as vague and lacking detail, and believes they provided no basis for suspension.
Her lawyers contacted StackAdapt three days later, labeling the suspension an ambush and asserting a lack of procedural fairness. StackAdapt denies unlawfully suspending Colakovic or taking adverse action, contending that complaints from other staff justified its decision. The company also denies Colakovic was threatened by her superior and claims she expressed satisfaction with the outcome of her HR complaint. StackAdapt alleges Colakovic demonstrated a pattern of disengagement, was unreceptive to feedback, lacked empathy, and that some employees felt unheard when working with her.
Jai Arrow announced his retirement from rugby league on May 20, 2026, following his motor neurone disease diagnosis in April. Colakovic, who remains employed and is being paid during her suspension, initiated her lawsuit on June 2, 2026. She stated her action is about the principle of fighting workplace discrimination, particularly against women on maternity leave.
Colakovic's lawyers are seeking for StackAdapt to withdraw its allegations, end her suspension, and reinstate her to her former position. StackAdapt has not complied with these requests and denies that the investigation or suspension constitute adverse action. Colakovic expressed concern about the possibility of both she and her husband being unemployed while raising their daughter. Arrow stated he would support his wife in her legal fight, mirroring her support during his illness.
On July 10, 2026, Justice Craig Lenehan ordered Colakovic and StackAdapt to engage in mediation.