Gina de la Cruz

Director

ANZ

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Her story

Gina is a Director in the Loan Structuring & Execution team at ANZ.

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

Assist with structuring, negotiating and executing bespoke and complex bilateral, club and syndicated loan facilities.  I liaise with bankers, the credit team and external counsel to ensure that a transaction complies with all of our policy and credit requirements.  

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

Inclusivity.  Richness.  Acceptance.

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

To achieve diverse thinking, we need diversity in people and views.  I started working as a law graduate in 2002.  I think we have come a long way in 20 years.  Companies and law firms have been implementing diversity training for some years and I can see there's been a real change in legal teams, with far more senior women and a greater mix of people from different backgrounds.  

What we need now are strong leaders that genuinely want to take things further by recognising there are still barriers to diversity in the legal profession and who are committed to making changes to address these barriers.  

We also need leaders who are confident enough to actively seek different views or constructive feedback and who create an environment where their teams feel safe and empowered to raise issues or different opinions.  You can't expect innovation and collaboration when people feel the need to keep their mouth shut.  

What was your main driver to enter the legal industry?

I was previously a registered nurse and had plans to do law so that I could get into medico-legal law.  I was no good in a health setting as I kept fainting at the sight of blood so I knew that an office job was more up my alley.  

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