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Spotlight on lawyer’s pro bono work with Indigenous intern program
Brooke Massender has received a gong for her dedication to an internship program that creates opportunities for Indigenous university students.
Melissa Coade
Global head of pro bono for Herbert Smith Freehills, Brooke Massender (pictured) has been recognised by CareerTrackers for her commitment, participation and leadership towards fulfilling the vision of the not-for-profit.
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Three years ago Ms Massender’s law firm was one of 19 organisations to commit to backing the indigenous Internship program. HSF joined corporate clients, including Bupa, Westpac, IAG, Lendlease, CBA and Qantas, to back the national internship initiative whose model was adopted from a similar program in the US called INROADS.
Ms Massender, who also advises the CareerTrackers board, said the pro bono support HSF provided is an integral part of the firm’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
“CareerTrackers is one of our core RAP leadership initiatives and includes Herbert Smith Freehills being the primary provider of pro bono legal services, hosting interns, and providing organisational capacity building within CareerTrackers,” Ms Massender said.
“It’s an incredibly rewarding and enriching relationship, and I am proud to support such incredible talent,” she said.
CareerTracker aims to address Indigenous disadvantage throughout Australia and has released new research to show that 89 per cent of its students graduate from university. Of that group, 95 per cent of CareerTrackers Alumni are in full-time employment within three months of graduating.
This demonstrates the outstanding outcomes achieved as a result of the dedicated resources and commitment of the program.
HSF’s regional managing partner Andrew Pike said the CareerTrackers Co-Chair Award given to Ms Massander also recognised all of the gifted interns HSF had welcomed into the firm.
“Congratulations to Brooke for this significant honour from one of our highly valued clients,” he said.
“It demonstrates what an important relationship this is for our firm, and the leading role that Brooke has played over many years in providing legal and strategic advice and nurturing our interns. Their contribution to our firm culture is enriching and valuable and our interns bring fresh insights to the work we do for our clients.”
Ms Massender received her award at the 8th annual gala dinner for CareerTrackers in Sydney last week.
