Rising Stars Australia 2022 – GC Powerlist
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Rising Stars Australia 2022

  • Industries

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Ainsley Reid-Willett

Head of legal, corporate | BHP

Materials and mining

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Rising Star

Aisling Cooney

Senior legal counsel | UGL

Industrials and real estate

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Alexandra Nelson

Associate general counsel | Deloitte

Commercial and professional services

Alexandra Payne

Senior legal counsel | Plenti

Financials

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Alexia Marinos

Assistant general counsel | Chartered Accountants, Australia and New Zealand

Commercial and professional services

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Ali Amer Asfi

Director, deputy general counsel | Nearmap

Information technology

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Alicia Cox

Paralegal | KOOKAÏ

Consumer products

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Aliesha O’Malley

Associate general counsel Asia | McKinsey & Company

Commercial and professional services

Amy Spira

Head of legal - group corporate | Domain

Industrials and real estate

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Andrejka Kapusta

In-house counsel | Wesfarmers

Consumer products

Andrew Chan

Head of legal - corporate and energy | ENGIE - Australia and New Zealand

Energy and utilities

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Andrew De Celis

General counsel - products and propositions | Telstra

Telecommunication services

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Andrew Harrington

Deputy general counsel - underwriting | QBE Insurance

Insurance

Andrew Thomas

Head of legal, funds and asset management | Lendlease

Industrial and real estate

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Anita Panikkar

Executive director legal - project delivery | Sydney Metro

Transport and infrastructure

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Anna Reoch

Director, head of employment legal, Asia Pacific | Cognizant

Information technology

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Anthony Holmes

Associate general counsel - Australia | South32

Materials and mining

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Anthony Sciuto

Governance specialist - disclosure and risk and audit committee | BHP

Materials and mining

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Apoorva Suryaprakash

Senior specialist lawyer - corporate | Insurance Australia Group (IAG)

Insurance

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Ariana Prilis

Senior legal counsel | I-MED Radiology Network

Healthcare

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Ashley Tao

Senior legal counsel | Chartered Accountants, Australia and New Zealand

Commercial and professional services

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Belinda Montgomery

Group manager - legal | SHAPE Australia

Industrials and real estate

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Brodie Same

Executive manager, legal | REA Group

Sports and media

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Callum​​ McNair

Legal counsel | Adbri

Materials and mining

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Camila Chirichella Costa Godfrey

Associate general counsel/director | Capgemini

Information technology

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Carla Alviano

Deputy general counsel | G8 Education

Education

Caroline Corish

Deputy general counsel, Ocenia | MUFG Bank

Financials

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Christian Baldock

Deputy general counsel Australia | Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

Food

Christopher Doherty

Senior legal counsel | Virgin Australia

Transport and infrastructure

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Claire Yang

Associate general counsel | TE Connectivity

Industrials and real estate

Clare McNeill

Legal counsel | Wesfarmers

Consumer products

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Clarissa Qasabian

Managing counsel | Goodman Group

Industrials and real estate

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Colin Chang

General counsel for New Zealand and senior legal counsel for Australia | HP

Information technology

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Courtenay Whitford

Associate general counsel, Asia Pacific privacy legal | Meta

Information technology

Courtney Dick

Senior legal counsel | Nano Digital Home Loans

Financials

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Crystal Antica

Senior legal counsel | Woolworths Group

Consumer products

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Danielle Healey

Head of legal, upstream and development | Origin Energy

Energy and utilities

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Danielle Rossitto

Associate general counsel, Asia Pacific | CSL Seqirus

Healthcare

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David Britton

Executive director legal - construction and major projects | Transport for NSW

Transport and infrastructure

David Nguyen

Deputy general counsel | Woods Bagot

Industrials and real estate

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Ed Gomes

Deputy chief legal officer | Western Sydney Airport

Transport and infrastructure

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Eliza Morgans

Legal counsel | Wesfarmers

Consumer products

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Ellie Harding

Associate general counsel | Nearmap

Information technology

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Emily Arnberg

Deputy general counsel, office of general counsel – defence legal | Australian Department of Defence

Non-profit / public sector

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Emily Jackson

Head of legal - Australia and New Zeland | FIFA Women's World Cup Australia - New Zealand 2023

Sports and media

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Emma Bryan

Deputy general counsel | Tabcorp

Sports and media

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Eylem Kamerakkas

Head of anti money laundering operations | Macquarie Group

Financials

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Fiona Darwen

Senior corporate counsel and assistant company secretary | Nestlé

Food

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Gemma Tually

Group manager legal | Fortescue Metals Group

Materials and mining

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Hien Doan

Senior legal counsel, corporate | Orica

Materials and mining

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Ian Beken

Legal manager and senior lawyer, corporate advisory | Suncorp Group

Financials

Jaclyn Masters

Legal counsel | GeelongPort

Transport and infrastructure

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Jacqueline Bruce

Senior legal counsel | Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Financials

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Jacqueline Foord

Associate general counsel | Autralian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

Sports and media

Jacqueline Oliver

Senior legal counsel | ASX

Financials

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James Slimnicanovski

Group counsel – commercial and technology | Ausgrid

Energy and utilities

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Jamie Stollery

Vice president, legal - disputes and regulatory | BHP

Materials and mining

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Janet Courtis

Deputy general counsel | Services Australia - Commonwealth Government

Non-profit / public sector

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Janine Steinhardt

Deputy general counsel | carsales.com

Consumer products

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Jared Pereira

Senior corporate counsel | Fonterra

Food

Jaryd Chetty

Deputy general counsel - personal lines | QBE Insurance

Insurance

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Jason Byrne

Group counsel | Ausgrid

Energy and utilities

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Jelena Nikolic

Manager legal - projects | Fortescue Metals Group

Materials and mining

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Jennie Vu

Associate general counsel and board secretary | Deloitte

Commercial and professional services

Jenny McCabe

Vice president legal, minerals Australia and employee relations | BHP

Materials and mining

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Jeremy Weeks

Senior legal counsel | NTT Australia

Information technology

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Jessica Robertson

Senior legal counsel | UGL

Industrials and real estate

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Jessica Salvato

Senior legal counsel | Scentre Group

Insutrials and real estate

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Jillianne Osborn

Deputy general counsel | Vocus

Commercial and professional services

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John White

Head of legal - Australia | Standard Chartered Bank

Financials

Joshua Hunt

General counsel - M&A, treasury and corporate services | The Lottery Corporation

Sports and media

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Justine Gainsford

Associate general counsel | Pacific Equity Partners

Financials

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Karen Grumley

Manager - corporate governance and compliance | Pacific National

Transport and infrastructure

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Kari Bergsson

Deputy general counsel - claims | QBE Insurance

Insurance

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Kate Hasbani

Head of legal - Pacific | WeWork

Industrials and real estate

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Kathrine Fordham-King

Head of legal - private wealth | National Australian Bank

Financials

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Kelly Zhan

Deputy general counsel Asia Pacific and Latin America | Cochlear

Healthcare

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Ken Wong

Senior legal counsel | UGL

Industrials and real estate

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Keya McGeown

Lawyer | SBS

Sports and media

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Kieran Sheehan

Legal counsel | Time & Place

Industrials and real estate

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Kimberley Lloyd

General manager - legal | Nissan Motor Co. Australia

Consumer products

Kylie Lowder

Head of strategy and operations, and senior legal counsel | AMP

Financials

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Lachlan Slattery

Senior corporate counsel | Vocus

Commercial and professional services

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Lena Vanmali

Associate general counsel, competition and regulatory | Meta

Information technology

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Libby Carmichael

Group counsel | Canstar Group

Financials

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Lisa Baird

Senior legal counsel, major construction projects | ARTC

Transport and infrastructure

Lisa Rodgie

Senior legal counsel, commercial litigation | AMP

Financials

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Liz Edwards

Legal manager | Flinders Port Holdings

Transport and infrastructure

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Lori Lim

Senior legal counsel | Western Power

Energy and utilities

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Lucy Siebert

General counsel, corporate and international | Telstra

Telecommunication services

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Maggie Hung

Senior legal counsel | Plenti

Financials

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Marc Hertz

Group head of legal, regional hub | Asahi Beverages

Food

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Matthew Butt

Deputy general counsel | Port Authority of New South Wales

Transport and infrastructure

Meadhbh Cacciaguidi-Fahy

Senior legal counsel - Hunter Valley and Interstate | ARTC

Transport and infrastructure

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Megan Bengston

Deputy general counsel and company secretary | G8 Education

Education

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Melanie Williams

Vice president legal | South32

Materials and mining

Michaela Jenkin

Legal counsel | Wagners Holding Company

Materials and mining

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Mirela Leko

Group senior legal counsel | Ramsay Health Care

Healthcare

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Natalie Drew

Legal manager, Australia | Yara International

Consumer products

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Nick Brodribb

Head of legal | Qantas Airways

Transport and infrastructure

Nick Gowans

Managing legal counsel | Coles Group

Consumer products

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Nick Phillips

Senior legal counsel - Australia | Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

Food

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Nicole Harris

Associate general counsel, real estate and core infrastructure equity | AMP

Financials

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Penny Jones

Head of legal, dispute resolution group | ANZ Banking Group

Financials

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Petrea Draper

Deputy general counsel | icare NSW

Insurance

Prachi Tyagi

Senior legal counsel, M&A | Orica

Materials and mining

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Priyanka Iyengar

Associate general counsel | PacketFabric

Information technology

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Pryce Dale

Legal manager and company secretary | UGL

Industrials and real estate

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Rachel Nemes

Senior competition lawyer | Westpac

Financials

Rehana Seedat

Senior legal counsel | Vocus

Commercial and professional services

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Richard Lewin

Senior legal counsel, disputes | Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Financials

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Richard Sawyer

Deputy general counsel | Meta

Information technology

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Ricky-Anne Lane-Mullins

Head of legal - lending and corporate | Bank of Queensland

Financials

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Sarah Fitzgerald

Head of legal | Arc Infrastructure

Transport and infrastructure

Sarah Friedrich

Senior legal counsel | Pacific National

Transport and infrastructure

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Sarah Robinson

Lawyer | St John of God Health Care

Healthcare

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Shauna McDonald

Deputy general counsel | CBRE

Industrials and real estate

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Sophia Thomson

General manager - legal | BoardRoom Australia

Financials

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Stephen Rostankovski

Associate general counsel | BANXA

Financials

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Stu Kartsounis

Privacy and product counsel | Atlassian

Information technology

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Tara McCormack

Senior legal counsel | Metricon

Industrials and real estate

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Tim Gargett

Senior legal counsel | EBOS Group

Healthcare

Toby Yiu

Executive counsel and deputy company secretary | Nine Entertainment

Sports and media

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Tom Griffin

Associate general counsel | Meta

Information technology

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Tuck Chung

Corporate counsel | Rio Tinto

Materials and mining

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William Georgiou

Legal counsel | nbn™ Australia

Telecommunication services

It was an honour to lead the research for The Legal 500 GC Powerlist: Rising Stars Australia 2022, the first edition after the imposed hiatus of the pandemic. The rising stars theme encapsulates a range of lawyers in a variety of industries, who are all doing incredible work in their field; this edition is an offshoot from our usual research in Australia, The GC Powerlist Australia, a publication which identifies the most senior in-house counsel within Australia. Interviews in this edition have touched upon the risks that counsel face in their industries, how up-and-coming lawyers give support to their legal functions, and challenges that they have overcome on their journeys.  

In spite of the overall uncertainty of global and local markets following the Covid-19 pandemic, esteemed counsel in this publication were delighted to share their success in aiding their organisations to continue to thrive and grow. Caroline Corish, deputy general counsel at MUFG Bank, highlights the importance of flexibility in such uncertain markets, claiming that ‘the qualities and skills needed are flexibility, the ability to create an environment where inquisitiveness and willingness to learn are encouraged.’ Rising stars also highlight the importance of emotional intelligence and forming strong connections with, not only their legal team, but the wider business. Jessica Salvato, senior legal counsel at Scentre Group emphasised the importance of such connections, stating that ‘to be successful you need to have that deeper understanding of your company’s business, especially its commercial drivers and risk appetite, which are always pivoting and evolving.’   

It is crucial to highlight the immense openness that in-house lawyers show in this edition when detailing the obstacles that they overcome to be in the position that they are today; their dedication to their roles and passion for the law is inspiring. Callum McNair, legal counsel at Adbri took inspiration from his parents, stating that ‘I saw through my parents’ commitment and hard work that although the hours are long, and family and personal time is often sacrificed, with commitment and dedication you can be successful and still give love and support to your family and friends.’ Comments like these, among others, touch on the importance of striking a work-life balance while progressing in the legal career, and the importance of having a support network, both of family and within their legal teams.  

An overwhelming theme in this edition are the challenges that ESG pose, particularly relating to ‘climate change, indigenous engagement, water, human rights, and biodiversity,’ as stated by Jamie Stollery, vice president legal (disputes and regulatory) at BHP. The shift towards improvement in these areas has been immense, with numerous individuals featured in this publication contributing to such improvement. Sarah Friedrich, senior legal counsel at Pacific Nation, highlighted one of her most significant achievements being the implementation of ‘a Modern Slavery programme and action plan for the company,’ while Prachi Tygai, senior legal counsel, M&A, at Orica highlighted her efforts addressing climate change, particularly mitigating our carbon footprint, and operating businesses in a sustainable manner and engaging with communities where the business operates.’  

We would like to congratulate and thank all the in-house counsel featured in this edition on their incredible achievements in the legal industry, and on joining the list of hundreds of the most trusted, effective and innovative in-house lawyers across the globe. It was a pleasure to speak to all included and gain insight into the markets of Australia.

 

Elena Lewis | Lead Researcher – GC Powerlist Rising Stars Australia 2022

Francisco Faria e Castro | Lead Researcher – GC Powerlist Rising Stars Australia 2022

Sara Maggi | Research Analyst

GC Powerlist: Australia Rising Stars 2022