The RedeMont lawyer never stops learning in her area of law
Last month, Gold Coast firm RedeMont announced that lawyer Grace Georgilopoulos had received Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) accreditation, highlighting her expertise in privacy program management. According to managing partner Ken Petty, the accreditation has been secured by only a few in Australia.
Georgilopoulos pointed out that the first tranche of Privacy Act amendments passed at the end of 2024 has Australian businesses facing increasing privacy management and compliance concerns. In the first part of this interview, she tells Australasian Lawyer what CIPM accreditation enables her to do, and why learning never stops after school.
When I first applied to study law, I didn’t have a specific interest in becoming a lawyer. My initial plan was to complete a law degree and pursue a master’s in international relations, with the intention of eventually working in government. However, I was fortunate when a careers advisor at my university forwarded my resume to my current employer, RedeMont, leading to an internship opportunity. It was during that internship that I discovered my passion for private practice, and I have been at RedeMont ever since!
What I love most about my job is the opportunity to meet people from various walks of life and to work on complex and thought-provoking matters. The variety and intellectual challenge keep me engaged, and the chance to make a meaningful difference in peoples’ lives is incredibly rewarding.
I am thrilled to have recently earned the Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) accreditation from the International Association of Privacy Professionals. The CIPM accreditation focuses equipping professionals with the expertise to manage privacy programs at all stages of its operational life cycle.
As privacy laws, such as Australia’s Privacy Act, continue to evolve (particularly with recent and forthcoming amendments), organisations are assessing their privacy maturity and seeking guidance on how to navigate these changes in a way that aligns with their unique business structure and size. The CIPM certification enables me to provide comprehensive, strategic privacy advice, helping clients build and sustain privacy programs that prioritise long-term compliance and risk management, rather than ad hoc responses. My ultimate aim is to guide clients through the implementation of a proactive and consistent approach to privacy.
The biggest lesson I have learned in my career so far is that learning does not stop after university. This is particularly true in privacy law, where technological advancements are constantly reshaping the legal landscape, and brings new challenges and opportunities that require us to stay updated and adapt quickly.
If I were to offer advice to fellow lawyers, I would say to embrace change! Being open to change allows us to grow, stay relevant in our fields, and ultimately provide better service to our clients.
