Louise Taylor LLB '01, BA '01

Magistrate Louise Taylor was recently appointed the ACT's newest Magistrate and the first Aboriginal judicial officer. Louise is a Kamilaroi woman who graduated from ANU with a combined Arts Law degree in 2001.

Louise initially came to ANU as her parents had moved to Canberra during her senior years of high school. Indeed she credits her parents with not only being her reason to come to ANU, but for being her greatest inspiration.

"They provided the foundation for me to pursue my professional goals and were always supremely confident in my capacity to achieve them. I've worked hard to live up to that confidence and reward their sacrifices and support of me."

On a professional level, Louise's greatest inspiration has been her friend, colleague and fellow ANU alumna, Professor Megan Davis. Louise believes that finding professional mentors to emulate is helpful for recent graduates as they embark on their careers.

"Identify professionals you aspire to be like and watch closely how they operate - emulate their practices until they become your own."

In addition to her impressive career, Louise also has four children who she considers to be her greatest achievement. And while she cites managing the demands of professional and personal responsibilities to be her greatest challenge, her approach to tackling new opportunities has clearly helped her juggle her many commitments:

"Say 'yes' to opportunities and work out the fine detail later."

The connections and friendships that Louise made during her undergraduate years at ANU still matter to her.

"Two of my favourite people in the world were my closest pals at University. Those two friendships have sustained and supported me for over twenty years."

Louise also values being part of the ANU alumni community.

"I value the opportunity to connect with former students and learn about the amazing and important work that many from the alumni community are contributing to Australia and the world."