Rosie Williams

I started working at A&O Consulting just over a year ago. I honestly didn’t think I’d be working in consulting so early in my career. But what attracted me to the team was that our business is deliberately different – we have recruited individuals who have worked in industry and at the regulators, getting the hands-on experience that has become so clearly valuable to our clients.

Prior to A&O Consulting, I studied law at ANU in Canberra while working in the Merger Investigations team at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. I then returned to Sydney to join the Graduate program at CBA and a subsequent Analyst position in the Regulatory Change and Regulatory Affairs space. These various roles required close engagement with and monitoring of the domestic regulatory environment, piquing my interest in regulatory strategy and implementation.

When a former colleague first approached me about joining, it was the strategic regulatory focus and the culture & conduct expertise of the A&O Consulting team that first appealed to me. As I grew to understand the business model more, I was intrigued by the start-up nature of a consulting business that sits within one of the world’s largest and most respected law firms. It really was an opportunity that was too good to pass up.

Today, my role is as varied as I hoped it would be. As we’re still growing and expanding, I’m involved in a mix of client and business development work. Having the opportunity to play a part in growing the business, and driving forward the offerings that are valuable and impactful to our clients, is something that I don’t take for granted. Recently I’ve worked on thought pieces on the importance of tone from the top, as well as the new BEAR legislation – these topics draw upon not only our experience but our networks, cultivating industry and regulatory insights.

 I’m currently working closely with an Australian major bank on a significant transformation program to uplift Conduct Risk management capability. As part of this engagement, I’m really enjoying the opportunity to work closely with senior stakeholders across the organisation to refresh the Code of Conduct as well as develop a comprehensive communication and training strategy.

 As our business grows, I’m excited to see what the next stage brings for us. One of the most important things for me going forward is for us to nurture the great culture that exists within our tight knit team. Our shared commitment to doing our best, and to building the business together, is second to none. The levels of engagement and motivation that each team member brings are reflected in the outcomes we deliver.