What are the most significant cases and/or transactions that you have been involved in over the past year?

Ansell’s acquisition of Kimberly-Clark’s global personal protective equipment (PPE) business was one of Ansell’s largest acquisitions, completed in April 2024 and involving the purchase of Kimberly-Clark’s global PPE business in North America. In my capacity as Lead Counsel for Operations, I am now overseeing post-closing activities and collaborating directly with our new Kimberly-Clark business unit team. I am responsible for managing all operations-related legal aspects of the transition and initial integration of the business into Ansell. This includes the mass migration of suppliers into Ansell’s systems and contract processes, ensuring accurate reconciliation across key aspects for all parties involved. Integrating two large corporations presents challenges, but this has been a valuable experience and will continue over the coming year as we work towards full completion. The integration follows a carefully structured timeline, balanced with the urgency required for seamless post-integration processes.

Another notable project is the Biomass Project in Thailand, based at one of Ansell’s three largest manufacturing sites globally, where Ansell Thailand currently operates on 54% renewable energy from biomass. Thermal energy generation using biomass technology is more complex and capital-intensive than traditional fossil fuels. This extensive contract negotiation took nearly a year to ensure all critical parameters were met, ultimately enabling a replacement boiler project managed by an expert third-party operator to improve efficiency and reliability. This project aligns with Ansell’s goals for increased renewable energy use and is integral to achieving the Ansell 2040 Sustainability Action Plan, which targets reduced greenhouse gas emissions to support a zero-carbon future for a healthier planet.

The Contract Management System Solution was launched by the Ansell Global Legal Operations Team and automates the production of frequently used contract templates. By reducing contract review time, especially for pre-approved templates, this solution frees up time and legal resources for other key initiatives.

Based on your experience, what is the key to collaborating successfully with business partners? 

The key definitely lies not only in working in isolation upon receipt of legal requests via emails or general meetings but in taking the time to meet all business partners individually, face-to-face, on a regular basis; this can be through lunch meetings or informal catch-ups. The purpose of this is to understand each department’s needs from their perspective and to gain visibility on any upcoming matters or projects where the legal team can become involved from the outset. This ensures that proactive, planned steps are taken rather than reactive measures, allowing projects to proceed smoothly with minimal legal risk. It also strengthens the role of the legal team as the go-to partner for all legal needs within the business unit, so that business partners feel confident in consulting legal immediately rather than resorting to fire-fighting after an event. This is one of the key indicators of a high-performing legal team that not only works closely with the business but is fully integrated into it. 

What is a cause, business-related or otherwise, that you are passionate about, and why? 

I am very passionate about the workforce behind Ansell, particularly the production workers – both local and foreign – who work tirelessly in our manufacturing facilities, primarily located in the Asia-Pacific region: Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, China, and Sri Lanka. These workers, along with other functions, are dedicated to ensuring that only top-grade products are shipped worldwide. They are the backbone of any organisation, and I am privileged to be in a legal role that enables me to advocate for them, given that my stakeholders in Global Operations include our employees and suppliers.

The manufacture of consumer goods is often shift-based to maximise production, which can sometimes lead to risks of exploitation through long hours and excessive overtime. For a global manufacturing company like Ansell, it is crucial to mitigate these risks by empowering our business stakeholders to listen to their employees and, beyond merely upholding labour standards, to set them. I work closely with Ansell’s Responsible Sourcing Team within Global Supply Chain to ensure zero tolerance for all forms of modern slavery, while ensuring wages are paid at or above local legal requirements in each country where we operate.

Migrant workers, in particular, are more vulnerable due to their temporary migration status, language barriers, limited access to social infrastructure and recourse, and dependence on their employer for the legal right to work. My role allows me to work closely with the Human Resources Division to maintain robust checks and balances across all countries where Ansell relies on foreign workers.

I also work alongside our Ethics and Compliance Manager to ensure, through our ethics compliance portal, that formal, transparent grievance mechanisms are available and that workers can report issues without fear of retaliation. Protecting their identities and ensuring that grievances are meaningfully addressed is key, including engaging with external counsel as needed to collaborate with unions or advocacy groups authorised to raise collective concerns.