ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Debra Dorrington

For years I was a property lawyer. It was a world I loved, a role I was proud of. It remains that way.

I've got great stories, the odd recommendation and many, many friends. I helped to build a practice from the ground up. Alongside legal skills, I gained a reputation for being reliable, trustworthy and caring.

I could still recite the winning speech I gave in Form 1 entitled "Pollution". Although the language has changed, sustainability has been an interest of mine for years. In the 1980s I represented New Zealand women at an international conference and spoke on environmental issues. I actively supported Kiwi attendees at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 while we endlessly debated what "sustainable development" meant.

Over the last 20 years I have, until recently, been less practically involved with sustainability. But the things I’ve learned running a law firm, advising others on a daily basis for decades, put me in good stead to know how to support professionals providing a service, that fits the context of their working lives.

Timely, relevant information and collaboration can change the norm and set better standards. With this new (ad)venture, I’m combining decades of legal training and experience, with a passion for making a difference. By supporting and guiding professional advisers like lawyers and accountants, together we can positively influence sustainable behaviour in businesses and create positive change at scale.

I aim to be a conduit of information and a distiller of complex policies, rules, facts and predictions. To properly do that, I welcome a range of perspectives. If you recognise the relevance of sustainability and want to incorporate it into your business, decisions, and policies – I look forward to your call or your email.