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

While I have advised on a wide range of real estate, general commercial and procurement matters during my time at SJGHC, I am most proud of my involvement in supporting the community and social outreach arm of our organisation. Some significant successes include supporting St John of God Outreach Services (SJGOS) in their partnership with the WA Primary Health Alliance to deliver a new adult mental health centre in Midland, Western Australia, which opened in March 2022; documenting the partnership between SJGOS and Anglicare Victoria, to provide accommodation and support to young people at risk of homelessness within the Campaspe region in Victoria; and assisting St John of God Marillac in securing and developing new sites in the Greater Melbourne area with purpose-built specialist disability accommodation, for people with disability.

It is a privilege to work with and alongside SJGHC’s dedicated and passionate caregivers on these complex transactions and partnerships to have a meaningful impact on the lives of Australians suffering from disability and disadvantage.

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

In my opinion, being approachable, having a pragmatic and commercial mindset, and excellent communication skills are crucial to the formation of a strong legal team. SJGHC is committed to excellence in the care and services it provides. Delivering on this commitment requires a culture of the legal door always being open, that our lawyers be willing to balance commercial considerations with legal risk and being capable of delivering and explaining legal advice to the organisation in a way that is easy for others to digest.

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

Maintaining patient privacy and cyber security remains a key risk to the healthcare sector, particularly given the increased use of technology in clinical and administrative systems and processes. The legal team’s role in identifying and addressing cyber risk in agreements with suppliers and increasing caregiver awareness on security best practices are important risk mitigation steps.

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

To get to the position I am in today, I have had to overcome the challenge of maintaining a corporate city career while living in a regional part of Victoria. Early in my legal career, and before the cultural shift to remote working that was brought on by Covid-19, I relocated to a family farm nearly halfway between Adelaide and Melbourne with my husband. With the support of some incredible mentors and my employer, I have now managed to successfully combine my corporate legal career with my passion for farm life, maintaining my vegetable garden and riding my horse, Suki.