“It seems to me that there is huge potential for people to change careers these days, so don’t let your dreams hold you back.”
Do you have any standout memories from your time at LHS?
I had a great time at school. The stand out memory is the friendships I made and the fun we had. I think I was quite naughty for a period and I do remember looking at Miss Hadley’s carpet more than once as I got a dressing down. But I must have reformed and it all turned out okay as I was made deputy-head girl in my last year, with Clare Littlejohn as head girl. I was also a weekly border for a term in my last year, which I loved.
The sixth form was particularly memorable. We had a great common room in one of the old houses off Burton Street. Despite loving being able to wear our own clothes in the sixth form, on 1 April we all turned up squeezed into our old school uniforms and there was a lot of unseemly laughing in assembly. The garden was amazing in the summer. And of course there was a heat wave in the summer of 1976. And after our A levels we got to work in the school canteen for a fortnight while most of the staff took the “Leicester fortnight” off. I think that’s a thing of the past now.
Are you still in touch with any of your school friends or teachers today? If so, who?
I’m still in touch with Clare Littlejohn, Clare Jordan (now Stroud) who was my best friend at Fairfield, Sarah Lawson, Kathryn Edwards and various others, including ex-LGS pupils. I had three brothers at LGS, so made friends with their friends as well. My great friend, Rona Lindsay, who had sisters Kate and Mandy at LHS married my brother, which was an extra incentive to keep in touch. Sadly she died in 2020. I didn’t keep up with any of the teachers but I have fond memories of many of them, especially Mr Hammond (Latin) who said in a school report that I was “mercurial” (I had to go and look that up), Mrs Hammond (geography), Mrs Pakes (science), Miss Chipperfield (French), Miss Roberts (art), Miss Button (French) and Mrs Harvatt (History), who encouraged me greatly.
Alumni Career Wisdom
What led you to choose your career path?
Actually, my father, who had been called to the bar in Northern Ireland, but never practised, told me that he thought all lawyers were crooks and he didn’t want any of his children becoming lawyers. That was enough of an incentive (always trying to be the rebellious child) to cement my applying to do law university. My mother did however think it was a good idea and was the one who heard about the Law with French course at Birmingham that appealed to me. I still wasn’t quite sure I wanted to go to university but I applied for “deferred entry” which was quite unusual then and spent my gap year working as a nanny in Canada. I had a fantastic year but it convinced me that that wasn’t my life ambition and I wanted to study more!
Could you provide an outline of your job role?
Most of my work as a barrister was not in court but advisory. I did a lot of work in relation to the Public Finance Act when at The Treasury and subsequently, but more latterly have been involved in investigations and reviews, including being Counsel assisting for two Royal Commissions. I still do some legal work, but most of my time is now taken up with board positions, mostly in the public sector. I was the Chief Commissioner of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission for almost 10 years (the UK equivalents are the Air, Maritime and Rail Accident Investigation Boards) and am now the Deputy Chair of New Zealand’s Electoral Commission, which is responsible for delivering New Zealand’s general election every three years, and also on the board of the New Zealand Film Commission, amongst others.
What are your career highlights?
I’ve always loved working and all the jobs I’ve had (even those weekend and summer jobs I had at school, which included working at Cossington Mill, in a pub at Woodhouse Eaves and for Walkers Crisps). Every job teaches you something new, sometimes about yourself.
I was thrilled to get a place as an articled clerk (as it was then called – they are now called trainee solicitors) at Slaughter and May in London, one of the “magic circle” firms. I was made a partner one of New Zealand’s largest law firms, Bell Gully, at the relatively young age of 32 and stayed there while I had all my three children. I was New Zealand’s Treasury Solicitor for about seven years and then went to the independent bar, which has given me a lot of freedom to do governance roles as well as legal work.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to current pupils thinking about entering a similar role to yourself?
Believe in yourself!
What are the key skills you need for your job role/to work in your industry?
You need to have an analytical brain, but you also need to be a good listener. It’s amazing what people will tell you….
Final notes
Do you have any advice for current pupils/graduates who don’t know what career path to follow?
Well, like me, you can always give yourself a bit of time to make that decision. Doing a gap year in Canada cemented my desire to go to university. It seems to me that there is huge potential for people to change careers these days, so don’t let your dreams hold you back.
Do you have any hobbies that keep you busy in your spare time?
I’m a keen gardener, and love the ballet.
