In Principio v18 no1 (2007)

Richard Johnson Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Bachelor of Business 2002 My relationship with Notre Dame began in mid-1997 when I was awarded a full academic scholarship to study Law and Business. After five challenging and thoroughly enjoyable years, I graduated and accepted a job with national commercial law firm, Minter Ellison. I completed all of my pre-admission training with the firm, and was admitted to practise as a Barrister & Solicitor in February 2004. Following an initial experience in the commercial property team in early 2003, I decided to base myself in Minter Ellison's Insolvency & Reconstruction team. As insolvency and restructuring is a dynamic area of law and one that I am passionate about, I have undertaken specialised postgraduate study in recent years and am two thirds of the way through a Master of Commercial Law with a specialisation in insoh 1 Pr>0, 1 .Jnd G.Jrporate law...I am slowly but surely turning into the perpetual student that I promised both myself and my w ife I would never become! One of the most pleasing moments that I have experienced in my time at Minter Ellison came on 1 July 2005, when I was advanced from the position of Lawyer to that of Associate. My advancement came a year and a half after my admission (such an advancement usually occurs three to six years following admission) and was the fastest advancement to that position in the history of the firm's Perth office. It is a source of some satisfaction that it took a Notre Dame graduate to break the record! I love my job and the people that I work with - I have Not re Dame to thank for that given that my initial interest in insolvency law (and perhaps law in general) was triggered by a class that I took with Head of the School of Law, Celia Hammond, back in Semester Two, 2000. Stephanie Forrester (nee McManus) Bachelor of Arts 2000 Following a year on Rotary Exchange in Canada in 1997, I commenced a Bachelor of Arts majoring in History and Politics at Notre Dame's Fremantle Campus in 1998. Throughout my final year at university I applied for a number of positions with the Federal Government. Luckily, by the end of 2000, I was able to choose between positions with a number of departments. I made my final decision based on the fact that I thought it would give me the opportunity to be involved in policy issues that have an impact on the make-up and direction of Australia. Therefore, in 2001, I moved to Canberra as part of the graduate program w ith what was then the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Immigration turned out to be a fantastic choice for me as I found the subject matter is both interesting and challenging. After five years working with the Department in Canberra in a range of policy, corporate and operational areas, I was lucky enough to be posted to Taipei, Taiwan as Deputy Director of Australian Visa Services within the Australian Commerce and Industry Office (ACIO). ACIO represents Australia's interests in Taiwan. Australian Visa Services (amongst other things) makes decisions on Australian visa applications lodged in Taiwan. I currently manage a team of eight local (Taiwanese) staff and my day-to-day Job is busy and very rewarding. I am aware that with every decision I make, I am having an impact on the direction of people's lives. Making lawful yet reasonable decisions that take into account people's circumstances has been, and continues to be, a huge challenge and an important achievement. My time at Notre Dame trained me to be an analytical and questioning thinker, which really helped to prepare me for my work with Immigration . My connection with Notre Dame did not fi nish when I graduated. I married my husband (a charming young Canadian that I met during my Rotary Exchange in 1997) in the Holy Spirit Chapel in 2004. r Brook Devine Environmental Management and Marketing 2005 Originally from the Western Australian (WA) country town of Kojonup, I attended secondary school in Pert h and then continued my education at Notre Dame, undertaking an Environmental Management and Marketing degree. I had been inspired to work in the area of environmental science after spending my youth working on farms and in particular, tree planting, an important initiative in the fight against salinity, which is a real issue for rural WA. My degree covered practical measures that can promote sustainable ways of living and working through environmental issues with people while facilitating their needs at the same time. On completing my studies at Notre Dame my first position was working as an Environmental Education Officer on Rottnest Island. This position involved educating school groups and visitors about the natural environment on the island. It was a great opportunity and furthered my knowledge and understanding about a working environment which has helped me pursue my career as a Natural Resource Manager (NRM). In 2006, I successfully applied for the position of Natural Resource Community Support Officer with the Shire of Harvey. The position has a great deal of variety, which I love. Day-to-day tasks range from providing community support to avoid and manage acid sulphate soils, working through the issues associated with development proposals, mapping pathways to carry out on-ground implementation of management plans, working through funding opportunities, attending local community group meetings, and perhaps the most challenging of all, developing a NRM communication plan to provide the vital link to facilitate the relationship between State agencies and the activities within the Shire of Harvey. 27 • )> r C ~ z

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