Experience

Pactum Dispute Resolution
• Australia
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Principal Mediator

  • Jul 2023 - Present


Interrelate

• Australia
• Non-profit Organizations
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and General Mediator

  • Feb 2022 - Apr 2023

  I had the privilege of working with many, many NSW Central Coast separated parents and families at this almost 100 year old, high work volume Family Relationship Centre. My clients had varying needs and as a nationally accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP), I assisted them through their post-separation journeys by helping to resolve parenting and property disputes through FDR. I conducted thorough intake interviews with parties; made determinations for appropriateness of cases to proceed to FDR; conducted FDR in person, phone, by Zoom and shuttle; drafted Parenting Plans; and issued section 60I certificates. I conducted Child Inclusive Practice FDR with qualified Child Consultants including managing the child feedback process to parents. As FDRP, I dealt with two party and multi-party disputes, cases involving complex issues including safety, drug and alcohol, child protection, family violence, mental and physical health concerns, family cultural and religious factors and cases with existing Court Orders. I participated in regular team meetings and peer supervision sessions which exposed me to the wide range of cases for the whole FDR Team. Experienced in conducting online FDR, I also worked with families in Sydney and regional NSW. I took a case management approach to FDR consistent with the Interrelate FDR practice model, ensuring that family support services and appropriate professional referrals were made to assist clients through their post-separation journey. Show less



NSW Police Force

• Australia
• Law Enforcement
• 700 & Above Employee

• Solicitor

  • Apr 2012 - Dec 2021

  In almost 10 years of service, I worked in a variety of legal and executive advisory roles. I defended civil claims for the organisation, advised on law reform proposals including Cabinet minutes and draft legislation related to police powers, reviewed and advised on criminal briefs of evidence, attended and trained for major incidents to give on-the-ground operational legal advice. I also provided high level strategic briefings to police at the senior executive level (Assistant Commissioner and above). I gained in depth experience and knowledge into how police respond to, investigate and strategically plan for crime and community safety including family violence and sexual assault. I experienced the good and the very bad culture of this 160 year old workforce which employs over 21,000 staff. I've spoken publicly on my podcast The Lawyer, The Sniper & the NSW Police about what needs to change so that people from within can speak up safely about the system. I was raped by a police officer at a work social function. I was demoted and transferred while the perpetrator stayed in his job throughout the criminal investigation. Soon after, my job was made redundant, he was not charged, he was not disciplined in any way while I was called to a meeting to be informed that our employer had decided he'd done nothing wrong. I applied for workers compensation and my employer served me with a notice to commence legal proceedings in the highest Court of NSW. I sued for sexual harassment, discrimination and victimisation. I agreed to end this dispute and refused to be silenced about what happened to me. From this decade long period of employment, I bring hard-earned knowledge and skills to negotiate through disputes with fierce independence, help parties as a neutral mediator to navigate complexities of legal, non-legal, professional and personal issues to help bring an end to disputes on terms that they agree to and to move on with confidence. Show less



Youth Law Australia

• Australia
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Principal Solicitor

  • Jan 2010 - Feb 2011

  Known as the National Children's Youth Law Centre at the time, I managed the online legal service for children and young people who had legal questions from around Australia about all matters affecting their lives - family, school, work, community, police, health. We had a small team and were supported by 100+ volunteer lawyers and law students. I supervised the work of our volunteer legal team including the lawyers from our national corporate partner, Mallesons Stephen Jacques, law students from the University of New South Wales as well as international law students on placement from Harvard Law School. I'm proud to have led the passionate legal team who delivered excellent, useful, well-communicated legal advice and information to our young clients in a delivery model that was ahead of its time. Show less



Department of Family and Community Services, Community Services

• Hospitals and Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Solicitor

  • Oct 2003 - Jan 2010

  I appeared for the NSW Minister, Community Services and Director-General of the Department in care matters in the NSW Children's Court. I also had carriage of cases in the NSW District Court, NSW Supreme Court, Family Court of Australia and international abduction. I was also responsible for the legal claims of children and young people under the parental responsibility of the Minister. In this role, I worked on the most tragic, severe cases of child abuse, neglect and family violence where children were no longer safe to be in the care of, or under the legal responsibility, of their parents. I advised on very challenging legal parenting decision making for the Department including when to remove children from their families; whether, how and under what circumstances to restore children to their parents' care; safe contact with family members; circumstances involving the death of children in care including end-of-life decisions. In the 3,000+ cases I advised on, most children's circumstances involved multiple complexities of trauma, drug and alcohol, crime, family violence, mental health and cultural considerations often involving the over-representation of First Nations children in care. Show less


Ashurst
• United Kingdom
• Law Practice
• 700 & Above Employee
• Legal Manager

  • Sep 2001 - Mar 2003

US Congress
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee
• Intern

  • Sep 2000 - Dec 2000