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

I am a senior and experienced M&A and corporate lawyer and I have worked in four different countries in the course of my career (London, Paris, Melbourne, and Mumbai). I have worked at magic circle and top tier law firms, the largest real assets manager in Europe, in-house for a sovereign wealth fund and an ASX listed corporate. I specialise in international M&A transactions, joint ventures, and corporate and structuring work – and have worked on transactions across Europe, Australia, the US, Latin America, and Asia. I enjoy advising internal stakeholders strategically and on the mitigation of risks whilst being commercial. I am skilled at negotiations and solution oriented. The key aspect for me is keeping the best interests of stakeholders in mind. As Senior Legal Counsel, M&A at Orica, I was the legal lead on the M&A aspects of the recent AU$350m acquisitions of Axis Mining Technology by Orica. In my previous role as Senior Lawyer at AXA Investment Managers – Real Assets, I was the legal lead on the AU$2.2bn acquisition of the largest student housing portfolio in Australia; and the AU$1.67bn acquisition of one of the largest logistics portfolio and developments in Australia. I have worked on landmark acquisitions and joint ventures in Europe – the largest student housing portfolio in Spain; and UK’s largest private residential scheme.

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

Having integrity, compassion and a strong emotional quotient are to me the most important attributes of a good leader. It is also important to be genuine, courageous, encourage open and transparent communication, provide opportunities to support and develop team members and appreciate differing points of view. Being open-minded and having an international mindset helps attract a diverse talent pool. A legal team should be aligned on the values it upholds as a team and as part of an organisation.

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

Ensuring that ESG thinking is incorporated in business decision-making is the biggest challenge facing organisations at this time – particularly addressing climate change, mitigating our carbon footprint, and operating businesses in a sustainable manner and engaging with communities where the business operates. Innovation is crucial to address these matters.