Well, what a time. We've finally been able to break away from being trapped behind a screen, and were able to finally meet in person in Brisbane. The ACC Australia 2022 In-House Legal National Conference is always the highlight on my legal calendar, but this year marked something pretty special. Being able to meet people I haven't seen in person for over three years was incredible and shows the connections which can be made through this association.
Day one started off with a bang. Welcome Drinks at the Star Room were a brilliant way to commence the conference. We were greeted with beers, sparkling and canapes to get us started and a fun souvenir coaster from Bird and Bird. Having downloaded the conference app, I was able to scan QR codes and connect with new friends I made while doing the mandatory mingling.
Thursday kicked off with the brilliant Dylan Alcott OA sharing messages of inclusion and diversity and how important it is for businesses to consider. I know I walked away from that with a lot of learning and new ways of thinking. The day continued on, and I joined some roundtable discussions where I got to chat about how to create a connected legal function and creating a positive environment as the legal leader in my organisation.
Thursday night was a particular highlight. Having been the Chair of the Awards Committee, I was so proud to see the incredible talent who were nominated and won at the 2022 ACC Australian Corporate Lawyer Awards. The night continued with some dancing, lots of laughs, and a few blurry selfies on my iPhone to laugh at the next day.
Friday kept going from strength to strength, including a mind blowing talk by Dr Catherine Ball. The fun continued where I joined some more roundtables, the first being learning about cultural toxicity as we move forward from the pandemic. The next roundtable I got to facilitate with Krystal Kovac on the Highs and Lows of YOLO (You're the Only Legal Officer). We created an action plan for those who are the lone legal wolf to create the best place for themselves in their workplaces.
We concluded the day with two insightful keynote presentations. I'll certainly be thinking about the key lessons for leadership that we learnt from Mark Berridge and Catherine McGregor. The day didn't end there - I joined the post-conference drinks at the Soleil Bar at Rydges South Bank to celebrate an amazing conference with everyone.
I've already locked the dates for 2023's conference and am excited for Canberra already.