Cecilia Ngu (2012) enrolled at MLC School in Year 7 in 2007 and in 2012 was the School’s Vice-Captain. She graduated with an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, achieving an ATAR over 99. She went on to complete a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts (International Studies) at the University of Technology (UTS), Sydney, graduating with First Class Honours (thesis: Criminalisation of Homelessness in NSW (2018)) and placing first in course for Civil Practice. While at University, Cecilia was also the President of the Justice Action Committee of UTS Law Students’ Society and was a volunteer legal assistant at Redfern Legal Centre where she set up and ran the Young Professionals Strategic Committee. In 2020, Cecilia was admitted as a lawyer and completed the Foundations of Directorship course through the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

A winner of numerous academic prizes, Cecilia’s awards include the Herbert Smith Freehills/National Law University Delhi International Negotiation Competition, the (UTS) Dean’s Merit Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement 2017, and the NSW Bar Association Prize for Civil Practice.

Cecilia has always had a keen interest in social justice; she says it was something that was instilled in her during her days at MLC School, particularly while undertaking community service as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and the IB.

Currently Cecilia is the Policy and Research director at Diverse Women in Law (DWL). DWL is a Sydney-based organisation which aims to address the under-representation of diverse women in the legal sector by facilitating access to quality mentoring, networking and other initiatives to support diverse women entering and progressing in the NSW legal sector. Cecilia is one of the founding members of the organisation and leads the Policy and Research team.

Cecilia’s passion for social justice informs her day job as a solicitor at Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF). She works in the Projects (Government and Infrastructure) team. In this role, she has worked on a number of social infrastructure projects including social and affordable housing projects. At HSF, Cecilia is also a co-chair of the Multiculturalism Network which aims to support staff from diverse backgrounds.

Cecilia’s sister and Old Girl, Natalia Ngu (2008) who nominated Cecilia for this Award, says ‘Cecilia exemplifies what it means to be an MLC School Old Girl. She is courageous, compassionate, highly accomplished and a true leader.’