International experience provides broad outlook

Issue 18 | November 2006

The African city of Nairobi in Kenya may be a long way from the hallowed halls of Melbourne's legal fraternity, but it was a life-changing experience for Monash law/science alumnus Alex Danne.

On the inside: A Sudanese jail visited by Monash law/science alumnus Mr Alex Danne.

Mr Danne secured an internship with the United Nations Environment Program, headquartered in Nairboi, in 2002, after completing his Bachelor of Laws.

Mr Danne, who is now working in commercial law with law firm Allens Arthur Robinson, says the international experience he gained while studying at Monash has been invaluable to his professional development.

Mr Danne used the internship, in the Department of Policy Development and Law and funded by Monash Abroad, to research corporate environmental regulation in developing states.

Mr Danne's belief that international travel complements any university degree also saw him complete a unit at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada.

"Monash does really well in encouraging its students to get a broad experience by providing opportunities to study and work overseas," he said.

Mr Danne returned to Africa in 2003 to research his thesis for a Master of Law (International and Comparative Law) degree while working as a legal consultant to the Sudan Peace Fund, a program administered by the international NGO Pact that focuses on grass-roots governance development in civil war-ravaged Southern Sudan.

"Initiatives we worked on included development of a South Sudanese judicial precedent encyclopaedia and training for court clerks in administrative functions," he said.

"The Pact Sudan Peace Fund continues to run, and the North–South peace agreement that was signed after I left has altered the governance development environment significantly, providing even more hope of achieving good judicial development outcomes."

Mr Danne admits to developing a lifelong love affair with Africa following his experiences and a strong interest in the more tangible aspects -- including financial and commercial -- of third world development.

-- Natasha Whalley