Since her admission as a legal practitioner in 2000, Jane Wright has developed a reputation as a specialist in workplace investigations, employment law, bullying prevention and management, and industrial laws. Jane spent 13 years working for top-tier law firm Herbert Smith Freehills, before co-founding Workdynamic Australia.
Jane’s extensive experience in employment law spans across all aspects of legal advice on workplace issues, policy and contract reviews, litigious work including representation at hearings, conciliations and conferences, and providing strategic advice to employers. Jane also has considerable experience with in-house roles, particularly within the university sector. Jane has also drafted a number of policies within the university sector, including in relation to gender based violence and the management of complaints.
Jane is recognised as an industry expert in managing and conducting workplace investigations in the private and public sectors. From small issue-specific investigations to large-scale, multi-faceted, trauma informed investigations involving multiple witnesses and allegations, Jane is adept at consuming complex information and presenting it in an easily digestible format. Jane also completed complex investigations into a large number of senior executives as part of the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry. She is also adept at managing sensitive matters including sexual harm and gender based violence.
Credentials
- Bachelor of Commerce with Merit (Specialising in Accounting and Economics)
- Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours)
- Recipient of the University Medal for law, 2000
- Recipient of CPA Accounting Medal, 1998
- Admitted as a Legal Practitioner in the State of New South Wales and the High Court of Australia
Recognised specialist
- Jane is a regular conference keynote speaker on investigations and employment law.
- Annual contributor to the World Bank Women, Business and the Law report.
- Judge in the Australian HR Awards.
- Participated in the Women in Leadership series with IBM.
- For more than four years wrote and updated the Australian chapter of Jordan’s “EU and International Employment Law Journal”.
- Published multiple articles regarding employment, investigation, discrimination/diversity issues, workplace bullying and adverse action claims.
- Jane’s decision to found Workdynamic Australia, and her experience working in an innovative job-share arrangement with co-founder Lauren Barel, has been featured in multiple publications including the Australian Financial Review.