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A l umni News A l umni News

light to issues that are in the public many wonderful experiences. I took In 2020 I started a clerkship at the
interest, is what drives me to pursue six months and went backpacking in Constitutional Court of South Africa.
this career. Africa and Europe before joining Rio The Constitutional Court is South
Tinto and working as a Mining Engineer Africa’s highest court and will hear any
What I owe in particular to JCH is in remote Western Australia for a few matter provided it is in the interests of
the lifelong friends I made. It is they years. I then realised that living in the justice to do so.
who helped foster my confidence middle of nowhere in my 20’s was a
in pursuing a media career while at little lacking… I had planned to subsequently travel
uni and the support they give to this around Africa but my plans changed due
day is why I value so highly all the I joined an American Engineering to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the
experiences I had in College. company Kaiser Bechtel where I height of lockdown I was offered a job
worked in India on a large project. as an associate to Justice Kate McMillan
James Yorston Upon returning to Australia, I joined at the Supreme Court of Victoria. Justice
(1991) PricewaterhouseCoopers as a McMillan was then the Judge in Charge
I grew up in Management Consultant. This gave of the Trusts, Equity and Probate List and
Yea, a small me great insights into what makes the Testators Family Maintenance List
country town businesses successful and profitable. (her Honour retired early in 2023).
in regional
Victoria. After I next joined a French multinational The types of applications heard before
completing company AXA, which took myself, my her Honour in the Trusts, Equity and
year 12 at Yea wife and two young kids to Singapore Probate List while I was her Honour’s
High School, as an expat. I had a fantastic time associate included applications for:
I enrolled in establishing an in-house university for admission of informal wills to probate;
an Engineering AXA for the Asian region. approval of deeds; declarations of
Degree at Melbourne University. I was equitable interests in property; judicial
the only student from my year 12 class Back in Australia, in 2016 I joined advice; limited grants; passing over;
who gained admission to Melbourne. the University’s Melbourne Business removal of executors; revocation of
School where I have held numerous grants of representation; and summary
I didn’t give a lot of thought to where I roles including Principal Consultant, possession by administrators. I also
would live in Melbourne. As a 17-year- Program Director and General Manager observed hearings in the Testators
old I wasn’t thinking much further than – Executive Education. My current role Family Maintenance List arising from
a day ahead. I had visited JCH a few at MBS is Associate Program Director applications for further provision under
months earlier during O Week and I and I am living in one of the most Pt IV of the Administration and Probate
remember thinking that it felt like home beautiful parts of the country, Bright, at Act 1958 (Vic).
and everyone was super friendly and the foot of the Victorian Alps.
down to earth. I subsequently worked as a Legal
Kathryn A. Officer/Lawyer at Funds in Court, which
Being part of a smaller, intimate St. John (2013) is an office of the Supreme Court of
community was so important in my I was resident Victoria. Funds in Court plays a very
first few weeks at Uni. I got a huge in JCH in 2013 important role in administering funds
shock when I walked into my first while studying paid as compensation to people with a
Engineering lecture. There would Honours in legal disability.
have been 300 plus in the tiered Economics,
lecture theatre. Luckily, I had one of and went I moved back to the United Kingdom
my mates from JCH to sit next to in on to be a mid-2023. I am currently completing
this first lecture. Throughout my five non-resident a pupillage at Wilberforce Chambers,
years of undergraduate life, it was the tutor teaching which is a barristers’ chambers
friendships and bonds that I made with economics specialising in commercial law,
my JCH buddies that were by far the from 2013 until insolvency law, pensions law, property
most important. Thirty years on – they mid-2015. law and trusts, equity and probate work.
are still my closest friends.
It has therefore been more than ten Despite everyone leading very busy
What was also great about being in years since I graduated from the lives, I still manage and enjoy keeping
JCH were the sporting opportunities University of Melbourne and moved in touch with my friends from JCH,
– being in a smaller college I was able out of Janet Clarke Hall. Time since including Alice Pung (Artist-in-
to be in all the various sporting teams, then has really flown by! Residence) and her partner Nick Cadle.
from rowing to footy, and cricket.
It was also great to coach the girls’ In 2015 I moved to the United Kingdom
football team. to study the Bachelor of Laws at
University College London. I graduated
Since graduating with a Commerce mid-2018 and was called to the Bar of
and Engineering degree, I have had England & Wales mid-2019.

J anet Clarke Hall 41