I started my career as a real estate lawyer in a top-tier firm in Auckland, New Zealand, specialising in retail leasing for major landlords such as Westfield.
After relocating to the UK ten years ago, I continued in Commercial Real Estate at a leading London law firm before moving in-house to the Real Estate Legal team at Marks & Spencer. From there, I took on a broader commercial and real estate role at McArthurGlen, where I headed up the UK and Canada legal teams. My final legal position was as sole legal counsel (interim) at Moonpig.
As my interim role was coming to an end, I was offered the opportunity to transition into a new challenge—joining the Security team to lead Technology Risk and Compliance. Making the move from law to security governance required a shift in mindset, adaptability, and a willingness to quickly build fluency in a new technical and regulatory landscape. I drew on my legal training—particularly my experience managing risk, navigating complex regulations, and communicating with stakeholders—to bridge the gap and bring a fresh perspective to the field.
This transition has been immensely rewarding. It’s given me the chance to work at the intersection of legal, security, and technology risk—areas that are increasingly critical in today’s business environment. I now apply my legal expertise in a new context, helping drive strategic decisions and shape frameworks that enable innovation while protecting the business. It’s a path I hadn’t planned, but one that continues to challenge and inspire me.
