Alumni making waves—Bold moves that make the difference
Growing up on a beautiful lifestyle block outside Palmerston North was idyllic, but at 18, Ellen felt the pull of the big city and the thrill of student life.
“Wellington is the perfect city for students—as well as having an amazing campus, the city’s blend of culture, business, and politics exposes you to so many opportunities while you study.”
Like her father before her, Ellen chose to study at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, where she pursued a conjoint LLB/BCom degree in Law and Management. She spent her first year living at Weir House—a hall of residence—where she “found an instant group of likeminded friends”.
For Ellen, the fun really began in second year when Law classes moved from the Kelburn campus to the Old Government Building in Pipitea. “I felt privileged to be there,” she says, and remembers days spent studying in the library, getting involved in VUWLSS events, and working in various jobs—including at a law firm and part time at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
I absolutely loved my student experience—It was a blur of studying, working, and partying. I remember visiting The Old Bailey pub, on several occasions, to debrief after exams. Looking back, I’m not quite sure how I was able to fit it all in!
During her degree, Ellen joined the Alumni as Mentors programme, where she was paired with a mentor—a lawyer based in Switzerland—who played a pivotal role in shaping her career vision. Together, they designed a five-year plan that included the goal of studying and working abroad. Her mentor encouraged her to stay open to non-traditional paths in law and, above all, to enjoy each step of the journey.
“I’ve achieved much of what I set out to in that plan, and having the support and guidance from a mentor at this stage of my life was invaluable.”
Following the plan, Ellen embraced the opportunity to study law in her penultimate year at Uppsala University in Sweden as part of a university exchange programme—a move that would expand her horizons and alter the course of her career.
“Meeting people from so many countries and diverse backgrounds was fascinating,” she reflects. “Swedes have a unique philosophy on life based on the idea of ‘Lagom’—a word and philosophy that means ‘just the right amount’ or ‘not too much, not too little’. It’s a way of life that encourages balance and moderation and is a key part of the Swedish national psyche,” she says.
From then on, Ellen was hooked on travelling, and once her studies were complete, she moved to London.
Six years on, she has no regrets. Ellen has worked for several technology startups, building a solid foundation in legal technology. Since joining PwC in 2022, Ellen has been mentored by numerous industry leaders, each offering her the opportunity to grow and expand her professional network.
Ellen’s role with the NewLaw team positioned her as an emerging specialist in artificial intelligence and generative AI within the legal profession.
“I love my job—it’s fast-paced, the technology is evolving quickly, and I’m always learning. Last year I attended King’s College Law School and earned a certificate in Generative AI and Prompt Engineering for Legal Practice. London and New York are hubs for legal technology, and I am privileged to be at the heart of innovation in this new field.”
This year, Ellen is capitalising on her growing expertise and began an internal secondment, joining PwC’s Global Tax & Legal, Clients & Markets team. This new role represents an exciting opportunity for her to diversify her skills even further, while collaborating with colleagues from around the globe.
Being away from family has been challenging at times. Ellen recalls being stranded in London during Covid and unable to return home for her admittance to the bar in 2020. “I was the first person in New Zealand to be admitted to the bar virtually. I was standing at 10 pm, in my living room, on a video call with a High Court Judge in a full wig and gown!”
Despite this, Ellen is thrilled to be living in a multi-cultural metropolis like London, with its rich history, its iconic buildings, and its proximity to the continent.
“London is like Wellington on steroids! There is a unique buzz about this city and always something to do. Coming from the New Zealand provinces, this never ceases to amaze me.”
Ellen keeps in touch with her Wellington connections, and over the last two years, many of her university friends have moved to London, making her feel closer to home.
Reflecting on her journey, Ellen acknowledges the guidance she’s received, the opportunities she has taken, and the value that mentorship has brought to her career. Now, she’s determined to give back, sharing her experiences and wisdom with those beginning their own journeys.
“A law degree opens many doors, and you don’t necessarily have to go down the traditional career path. There is a big world out there to explore, and if you have the opportunity to gain some experience overseas, I would really encourage that.”
So, where can Law take you? Watch our Law students talk about the different paths they have taken with their Law degree.
If you wish to share your experiences and are interested in becoming a student mentor, do not hesitate to connect with us at alumni@vuw.ac.nz
Te Kauhanganui Tātai Ture: Finding purpose through a shared community
This year, as always, my brilliant colleagues have produced world-leading research, taught over 2000 extraordinary students, and engaged widely to make Aotearoa and the world a better place. I know of no law school with fewer than 30 academic staff and as many students that manages such excellent teaching and research. Our equally amazing professional staff have done an extraordinary job in not just keeping things working but also making students’ lives just a little easier.
Our students are our future, and I tell them they are better versions of us—in some of the tough times this year, it is they who have helped us get through. I am constantly amazed at what our students get up to after they leave here, and just sometimes I like to claim a little bit of the credit that properly belongs to you!
But Tātai Ture is not just made up of those lucky enough to work or study here in the Old Government Buildings (OGB)—it is made up of all of you, wherever and whenever you get to read this.
We have decided to do V.Alum a bit differently so we can tell stories from within and from outside OGB. Please take a few minutes to read about our wonderful research, student leaders, and the achievements of some of our alumni.
The last couple of years have been unsettled for Te Herenga Waka, and I suspect that the next couple will be challenging for all our universities. The Law Faculty, however, has continued to be a thriving part of a university that is beginning to flourish again. We have five new academic staff who either have just started with us or will soon be here for us to nurture—emerging scholars in international trade, intellectual property, and comparative constitutional law; a leading mergers and acquisitions scholar from the US; and a new Professor of Public Health.
I am still getting used to working in the Dean’s office. Being Dean of the faculty that I have worked in for 30 years is a privilege and an honour but also, to be honest, a bit daunting. I have been amazed by all the goodwill and offers of help that I have received. I genuinely believe that despite the challenges 2025 will bring, we really can build an even better law school for our community. Priorities for next year include emphasising our links with the main University, joining with our friends across Bunny Street in Wellington School of Business and Government to create a unique Pipitea experience at the heart of our capital, emphasising the ‘place-based’ experience of learning law at VUW, and working to raise Pasifika achievement. Next year also is the first year of the new integrated tikanga curriculum that all students will study—we can’t wait to get started.
If we can do all this, it will be in no small part due to the tireless work of my predecessor, Lee Godden, who worked harder than any person I have ever known at the Law School. Lee had to return to Australia in August to care for whānau, but not before she had secured the funding for our new appointments.
It is summer, at least for those in Aotearoa. Just before Christmas, I will be in one of my happy places, Fiordland, walking the Kepler Track with my best man (whom I met in second-year law) and his family. On my to-do list are reading all the books that I missed out on during the year, fighting the ivy in our garden, and mostly just sitting in the sun—which is guaranteed this Wellington summer. I hope to finally make it in February to the top of Angelus Peak in Nelson Lakes. I also plan to catch up on some of my colleagues’ excellent research (really truly!)—you should too! Pick something from the list—it is all great.
One book I’m currently learning a lot from is Zest, written by my old torts student Daniel Kalderimis KC, who courageously writes about his recovery from depression, with the help of not only psychology but also philosophy. Daniel’s book is not so much about how to do law but is a lot about how we should choose to be more purposeful in those things that give us meaning. Daniel reminds me, though, that law is all about the narratives that connect people. Outside my family and friends, it has also been this university and our shared law community that have given me a sense of purpose and meaning. So I can’t wait for 2025.
Whiti te rā
Geoff