Kindergarten – Year 12 student, Elisabeth Baraka (Ford, 1994)is a woman who has formed her own version of success, choosing job satisfaction over salary. She has stated that, ‘it is such a privilege to have work that I find meaningful and interesting.’

In the 1994 HSC, Elisabeth came 3rd in the State in 3-unit Science and in the top 10 of the State in 3-unit Maths. She went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts/Law (with Honours in Psychology) at the University of Sydney and later completed her Masters of International and Community Development through Deakin University while working as a lawyer in private practice.

Following her studies, Elisabeth managed the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (now Justice and Equity Centre) in Sydney, overseeing free legal advice for homeless people and engaging in policy work that highlighted the changes that are needed to provide more effective access to justice for homeless people.

In an article in Debrief, the NSW Young Lawyers Newsletter (2007, No.6), Elisabeth stated that the role allowed her to bring together her experience as a lawyer with her concern for those who are vulnerable in our society.

From 2008, Elisabeth was the Head of Partnerships and Legal Services at Advocates for International Development (A4ID) in London UK, a global charity that believes the law and lawyers can, and should, be used more effectively to eradicate global poverty.

At A4ID, her role was to manage A4ID’s programs, including the charity’s international pro bono broker service which enables international development organisations to access free legal advice from lawyers in virtually every part of the world.

She was also responsible for the partnerships A4ID had with, at that time, over 500 non-profit organisations and social enterprises receiving free legal advice through A4ID, and with the organisations that collectively employ 45,000 lawyers in over 90 countries. On one day she might have been seeking to improve the capacity of developing countries to negotiate international trade and investment deals, and the next helping NGOs in Bangladesh address food insecurity in the context of climate change.

The work was constant and challenging. Elisabeth said, ‘There are many ways to facilitate positive change in the world. I have sought out jobs that use my experience and education, and also bring the satisfaction of playing a tiny part in helping to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. I have been engaged with the law in ways I never knew existed at law school, and I feel very fortunate to have had such incredibly interesting and rewarding opportunities.’

In April 2017, Elisabeth moved to Washington DC to direct the Asia/Pacific division of the Rule of Law Initiative under the American Bar Association. ABA ROIL is an international development organisation, promoting justice, economic opportunity and human dignity through the rule of law. In this capacity, Elisabeth initiated and oversaw programs across Asia to further the rule of law in business and human rights, specifically: modern slavery, indigenous people’s rights, wildlife trafficking, anti-corruption, labour rights, access to justice, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, child rights, women’s rights, judicial reform, legal ethics, and LGBTI rights.

Moving back to Australia, Elisabeth is now the CEO of Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) from her home in Launceston, where she is also raising her son.

Elisabeth is the daughter of former MLC School Council Chair David Ford (1994 – 2000), the niece of Robyn Lance (Ford, 1970), and great niece of eminent Old Girls Hilary Clifton Nock, LLB (Ford, 1935) and Neridah Clifton Ford, BSc (1942). 

Elisabeth kindly shared her acceptance speech:

Thank you so much for this honour. It’s deeply meaningful to receive it from MLC School, a place that shaped me in ways I only fully appreciate looking back.

Award recipients can sometimes look like they’ve lived a charmed life. And it’s true that I’ve had enormous advantages: a loving family, a great education, and steadfast friends, including many from MLC School, providing support and encouragement along the way. Life has still had its ups and downs – as it does for everyone – but one of the greatest gifts MLC School gave me was an introduction to sources of wellbeing that remain vital for resilience.

At school I sang, played in bands, spent time outdoors through Duke of Edinburgh, played cricket and netball, read widely, and learned the joy of connection through music, movement, nature, and friendships. Those habits have carried me through adulthood, supporting both my mental and physical health in ways no CV line ever could.

Just as important was learning to have a go. Whether it was debating or drama, MLC School taught me that you don’t have to be the best to try. In a rapidly changing world, that willingness to step into the unknown is a fundamental life skill. Most of my jobs never came with a run sheet or two days the same. Today, as a Chief Operating Officer, daily I must figure out what to do in a new situation, whether that’s governance challenges or how we should think about AI at work – drawing on education and experience, with curiosity, listening, and a willingness to learn something completely outside my comfort zone.

I currently work at the non-profit organisation, the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility, that supports investors across the world to mitigate the risks of climate change through influencing major heavy-emitting listed companies. For me, doing work that aligns with my values is essential, and in this era I couldn’t look my son in the eye if I weren’t playing some part in climate action.

Two moments from later in high school vividly stay with me. One was watching a documentary – I think from World Vision – which greatly moved me in its exploration of global inequality and in reflecting on the immense privilege I had. Another was in Christian Studies, where teachers shared their very personal, vulnerable stories about real life: illness, infertility, divorce. It taught me early that adulthood is a complex, and courage and compassion matter.

I’m profoundly grateful to my teachers, to my family, and to the many biological and metaphorical aunties and uncles who showed me what it looks like to use your skills for good in families, communities, and the wider world.

Thank you especially to Elisabeth Pickering (Reddel, 1968), a school counsellor for decades and a tireless supporter of migrant and refugee families, and a long-time family friend after whom I am named. And finally, I want to honour my mum, Jennie Ford, a teacher for over 50 years with a deep commitment to children with learning difficulties. To my Mum, this award belongs as much to you as it does to me – for all the love, patience, selflessness and education you gave me. I’d be honoured for you to receive it in my stead.