Could you tell us a bit about your significant successes in your role?

Tabcorp demerged its high-performing lotteries and Keno businesses in 2022 via scheme of arrangement. This transaction created The Lottery Corporation, a large ASX-listed entity which now operates independently of Tabcorp.

I led the transactional component of the demerger from a legal perspective and worked for close to 12 months with a team of extraordinarily talented legal and regulatory colleagues, internal stakeholders and external advisers to deliver the transaction successfully and on time.

The demerger involved many regulatory, stakeholder, shareholder and court approvals, a broad range of complex legal arrangements and restructure and separation activities, the transfer of c. $1.8bn of US private placement debt, as well as the establishment of significant finance facilities for both organisations.

Outside of the demerger, and the strategic review that preceded it, I was fortunate to have been involved in delivering a number of other significant corporate transactions at Tabcorp, including its $600m entitlement offer in 2020 and other important COVID-related capital management activities, a $1.8bn US private placement note issue in 2018, Tabcorp’s $11bn merger with Tatts Group in 2017, including an associated $4.35bn bank financing package, the divestment of Tabcorp’s Odyssey Gaming business and the $128m acquisition of Intecq Limited via scheme of arrangement in 2016.

In your opinion, what are the qualities and skills needed to form a strong legal team?

A well regarded in-house legal team will have pragmatic and resilient lawyers who take a commercial and customer-led approach and have a deep understanding of the business and its strategies. Diversity is also important and will always make a team stronger.

What is the biggest risk to your industry or organisation and how are you contributing to prepare your organisation for this?

The Lottery Corporation is now a standalone organisation; however, the demerger program continues to involve several ongoing separation activities and a broad range of transitional service arrangements. While perhaps not the biggest risk to the organisation, as there are many, the timely and effective management of the separation program is a priority for both organisations. Many of the legal and risk team members support this ongoing program and help manage the associated risks.

What challenges have you overcome to get to the position you are in today?

While not at all unique to my career, economic downturns, global pandemics and other macro events have created some challenges for the organisations I have worked for. However, these have also created some of the most interesting and rewarding legal work of my career and presented several growth opportunities.

Change has been a constant challenge in the corporate environment. At a personal level I like the challenge that comes with organisational change, but I have certainly learnt a lot as a leader throughout sustained periods of change.