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Kirsten Sugden Rhea Bhagat Zach Dettman
(2011) I was (2012) On (2017) Former
born in the completing JCH Student
Netherlands her Club Vice
and very undergraduate President, Zach
shortly Commerce reflects on his
afterwards my degree in semester abroad
family moved 2014, Rhea at the University
to Hobart, joined the of St Andrews in
Tasmania graduate Scotland.
where I grew up and finished my program at ANZ Institutional bank.
secondary school studies at St As a graduate, Rhea worked on major My time at St Andrews has been
Michael’s Collegiate School. I moved renewable energy projects, including phenomenal. Despite being the home
to Melbourne and started at JCH in wind farms in Victoria and NSW. of golf and home to a world class
2011 and commenced studying for a university, St Andrews holds on to its
Bachelor of Environments. I lived in She then spent three years as integrity as a sleepy seaside town. With
JCH for four years, including my whole a relationship manager at ANZ cobbled streets and little laneways, the
undergraduate course and the first year Institutional, covering a diversified campus oozes history. Attending lectures
of the Juris Doctor. portfolio of universities, governments in buildings from the 16th century and
and healthcare providers. In this role, lunching under a tree said to be planted
I had always wanted to travel and had she worked with major Australian by Mary Queen of Scots, daily life is a
the opportunity to do so through the universities to finance their campus little different from Melbourne!
Juris Doctor program. I spent my last upgrades and student accommodation.
semester of law school in 2016 living She also worked with the Department With the Highlands on my doorstep, I
and studying in Amsterdam. I was lucky of Foreign Affairs and Trade to joined the mountaineering club, taking
to travel to many countries while in improve the security of their global the opportunity to walk and explore the
Europe, including a trip to Norway to payment systems. rugged countryside whenever I could.
see the northern lights in Tromso, and I’ve also taken the opportunity to trace
a summer road trip through Italy and to Whilst at ANZ, Rhea found time to some of my family history in Scotland.
the south of France. Meanwhile, I was pursue her passion for creative writing, Getting to know some of the traditions
studying at the University of Amsterdam contributing extensively to Australian such as dances, kilts and, of course,
Law School in International Trade and literary journals and performing her bagpipes has been wonderful.
Investment Law with master’s degree work at literary festivals.
students from many different parts of As a student of International Relations,
the world. In 2018, she pivoted away from I’ve been studying national borders this
finance and began a Master’s of semester. Studying this in Scotland, in
Upon returning to Melbourne I International Relations full time at the light of looming Brexit, has been
commenced working at national law the University of Melbourne in order fascinating.
firm HWL Ebsworth in the Environment to explore her interest in politics
and Planning team. There I pursued my and history. I’ve learnt a lot during my time here
interest in the areas of environmental and have made friends for life. Europe
law, climate change and sustainability. Rhea balances her studies with doesn’t seem quite as far away as it
In 2018 I moved to global law firm her work at a thinktank, where she once did!
White & Case where I work for public collaborates with a former Harvard
and private sector clients, on Australian Professor who is distinguished in the
and cross-border transactions in the field of corporate governance and
infrastructure space, including solar regulation. Rhea writes topical ‘insight’
and wind projects, rail, road and other pieces that are intended to inform
major energy projects. I’ve also been policy and bridge the gap between
able to work on some really interesting academia and industry.
pro bono work at White & Case. Last
year I was able to be part of a team of Rhea is currently undertaking an
lawyers working with the International exchange program at the Institute
Union for the Conservation of Nature of Political Sciences in Paris, with
and the World Commission on a focus on post-conflict justice and
Environmental Law, in connection international migration. She is also
with its efforts to support the working on her first novel titled Dr Lizzie Barnes-Keoghan (2012),
United Nations Global Pact for the Parachute, which is set on a university in yellow dress, now a practising
Environment, a proposed international campus and inspired by Zadie Smith’s physiotherapist, was joined in Tasmania
environmental treaty. On Beauty and Donna Tartt’s A Secret by fellow JCHers Tom Stegink, Grant
History. Hardisty, Laura Main, and Sharni
Brampton for her wedding to her
partner Rob.

24 LUCE Number 18 2019