The family of Sydney siege victim Katrina Dawson says a new charity will honour her memory by supporting education opportunities for women.

Ms Dawson, 38, was regarded as one of the “best and brightest barristers” at the NSW Bar before she was killed in the Martin Place siege on Tuesday.

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Former Governor-General Dame Quentin Bryce was named as the founding member of the Katrina Dawson Foundation.

Its launch followed the establishment of a memorial fund for Lindt cafe manager Tori Johnson, which has so far raised more than $65,000 for mental health organisation Beyondblue, including a $51,000 donation from Lindt Australia.

Lawyer and mother of three Katrina Dawson was killed in the Lindt Cafe siege.

In a statement, Ms Dawson’s family said the mother-of-three had “inspired so many people to ask us what can be done to preserve and honour her memory”.

“Katrina was a light in so many lives,” the statement said.

“She shone in so many ways. And she made the most of every opportunity she had.

“It is our hope that out of her senseless death we will, through the opportunities the foundation will provide, bring meaning to the lives of other amazing young women.”

A memorial service is planned for next Tuesday at Sydney University, where Ms Dawson studied law and Dame Quentin was principal and chief executive officer.

Ms Dawson’s family has requested those attending wear “a splash of aqua”, which was Ms Dawson’s favourite colour, and donate to the foundation instead of bringing flowers.

The university’s Women’s College said in a statement that members of its community were “keen to honour Katrina’s memory in a purposeful and special way”.

“We know our college community will wish to support the foundation given the many emails and calls we have received from alumnae and friends,” the college said.

Police Commissioner reveals family visited cafe before siege

New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said his wife and daughter visited the Martin Place cafe and met Mr Johnson shortly before the siege began on Monday.

A makeshift memorial at Martin Place in Sydney. Photo: Getty

Mr Johnson showed Commissioner Scipione’s wife Joy and daughter Emma through the Lindt chocolate shop “about an hour” before Man Horan Monis took 17 staff and customers hostage, the commissioner said.

“They were going to do a little bit of Christmas shopping – mother and daughter have a bit of a tradition of coming in and looking around and listening to the carols and looking at the stores,” Commissioner Scipione told Macquarie Radio.

“They, unbeknownst to me, both decided to slip down into Martin Place and have a look around in the Lindt shop.

“The irony of it is that they were showed through the shop, all of the chocolates, all of the things that you would go there for by Tori Johnson.

“It’s been a sad place, my house, because particularly my wife Joy reflected on this young man and she said: ‘Andrew, he was so open and so caring, he was very warm, friendly, and he’s no longer with us.’

“That still causes many a tear to flow and she has been emotional.”

Commissioner Scipione said he was still unable to speak in depth about the police strategies used during the siege, but the public would be proud of the officers who stormed the cafe once the full details were revealed.

“They went through the door not knowing what was to confront them,” he said.

“What we do know is if the fellow with the backpack on had, in fact, explosives in that backpack and was able to detonate them, the reality is all of those men that went through that door would have been dead.

“I am sure that when this story does unfold through the coronial process, Australia will be proud of what these young men did.”

US issues worldwide travel alert for holiday period

Meanwhile the siege prompted the US State Department to issue a worldwide travel alert urging its citizens to take extra care while abroad.

The rare alert said the “lone wolf attack in Sydney” was a reminder travellers should take steps to protect themselves from terrorists.

“An analysis of past attacks and threat reporting strongly suggests a focus by terrorists not only on the targeting of US government facilities but also on hotels, shopping areas, places of worship and schools, among other targets, during or coinciding with this holiday period,” said the alert, which is due to expire on March 19.

“US citizens abroad should be mindful that terrorist groups and those inspired by them can pose unpredictable threats in public venues.”