Calling all Duncraig Class of 2014!
Two of your classmates – Taylor Watson and Justin Pereira – have made a start on planning your 10-year reunion and are looking for some additional alumni to help plan the fun. We caught up with Taylor and Justin to hear what they’ve been doing since graduating from St Stephen’s School.
After completing a Bachelor of Arts, followed by the Juris Doctor to gain her law degree, today Taylor is working in Perth as a solicitor at Allens – a large commercial law firm with offices throughout Australia and Asia – while Justin has re-located to Canberra to take up a role as Policy Officer as part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Graduate Program in Canberra.
“I work in a team that acts in complex, high-value and often reputationally significant commercial disputes and investigations within the Australian market. I am also the Pro Bono Coordinator for our practice in Perth, which involves meeting prospective clients that cannot afford legal representation and connecting them to lawyers within Allens who are best placed to assist,” says Taylor.
On why she loves her job Taylor says, “I am often faced with complex legal issues that always keep me on my toes – there is never a dull day when you are problem solving for some of the biggest companies in the region! I also enjoy working in a large team of lawyers and support staff that encourage me to be the best I can be, and are always there offering guidance and friendship.”
“My proudest achievement to date is getting admitted as a lawyer in the Supreme Court of WA in August 2021. After many years of tertiary study, it was the culmination of a lot of hard work and patience. Sharing the day with my family and closest friends was a memory I will cherish forever.”
After high school, Justin completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), with a Double Major in Political Science and International Relations; Anthropology and Sociology and went on to complete a Master of International Relations.
As part of the DFAT grad program, Justin has had a number of rotations including in the AUKUS Taskforce and Africa and Middle East Division, and was selected to be part of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and the FIFA Women’s World Cup Taskforces.
“I love having the ability to help shape Australia’s foreign policy and work on whole-of-Government initiatives,” said Justin. “It can be a very dynamic workplace as we respond to international events as they happen, and I enjoy being able to assist Australians overseas who find themselves in trouble. It is also very exciting to have opportunities to work overseas at our Embassies and High Commissions all around the world.”
Justin has been exposed to many high-profile events during his time in Canberra.
Some of his highlight of his time in DFAT so far include working on the AUKUS optimal pathway announcement, the Gender Equality Symposium at FIFA Women’s World Cup, and organising incoming Parliamentary visits, including from the President of the Thai Senate and and former Japanese Prime Minister Aso, during his secondment to the International and Parliamentary Relations Office at Parliament House.
Taylor and Justin have remained close friends over the past 10 years and although they now live more than 3, 500km apart, they are collaborating on plans for the Duncraig Class of 2014 ten-year reunion.
They are currently planning an event for the second week of September and looking at local venues where the cohort can enjoy some food, a drink or two and catch up on what everyone has been up to since 2014.
Justin and Taylor agree “It would be great to see as many of our Class of 2014 as possible join us in planning the reunion so that we can make it the night we all want it to be! We are really looking forward to reconnecting with everyone and hope to have as many of the cohort there as possible.”
If you are interested in working with Taylor and Justin on the reunion event, or just want to stay in the loop so you don’t miss out on the revelry, please reach out directly to Taylor (watsontaylor95@gmail.com) and Justin (justin.pereira19@gmail.com) or feel free to contact alumni@ststephens.wa.edu.au