Her story

Alison is a Special Counsel at McCullough Robertson Lawyers.

Without mentioning your job title, how would you describe what it is you do now (whether at home, work, in the community, etc.)?

I work in the mining, resources and renewables industry. No day is ever the same and I can find myself working on a land access agreement or contract at one moment, then pivoting and participating in a traditional owner meeting the next.

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What are the first three words you think of when you hear the word ‘diversity’?

Inclusion, respect and collaboration.

What do you think it will take to develop truly diverse thinking within the legal industry?

Developing truly diverse thinking within the legal industry will mean shifting mindsets. It will also take humility, recognising that no single background or pathway produces all the answers. Diverse thinking grows when people feel safe to contribute their lived experiences. It will also take courage - courage from leaders to encourage practitioners to speak up, and courage from the profession as a whole to evolve in ways that are different from the past.

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What was your main driver to enter the legal industry?

My main driver was always that I felt it was a career where I could help people. I always wanted to make a difference, and I felt that a career in law would give me the opportunity to stand up for people who couldn't advocate for themselves.

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