Q&A with Terri Irvin

When did you start at Sierra Legal?

In December 2021.

What were you doing before Sierra Legal?

I have been working in the non-profit sector in youth development across Africa for the past 8 years and still work in that sector one day a week.  I now run programmes in South Africa for budding entrepreneurs, teaching our youth how to start and run their own successful micro-businesses.  With 75% youth unemployment in South Africa, it is critical that we equip the youth with the skills to generate their own income.

What do you do with your time when you aren’t advising on M&A deals and reviewing contracts?

I recently moved to Cape Town in South Africa (previously I was in Johannesburg for eight years) and so I love the mountains and the hiking I’m able to do here.  I have Table Mountain literally on my back doorstep, so I’m very blessed.  My number one favourite pastime though is spending time in Kruger National Park, viewing Africa’s amazing wildlife.

What was your first job?

I started my working career as a police officer in South Australia at the age of 18 years.  Talk about being forced to grow up in a hurry! It’s not an easy job on so many levels and I think the most important thing is learning how to cope (in a healthy way) with the things you see and must deal with daily.  Sadly, I lost several friends to suicide who just couldn’t cope with the pressure.  I think the psychological support that police officers get these days is much better than when I was a police officer many years ago.  In fact, we had no support – you just had to ‘get on with it’.

What was the first thing you bought with your own money?

A Nikon SLR camera.  I have always had a passion for photography and saved up to get a good camera and lenses.  This was back in the ‘old days’ of film. I had a darkroom at home (aka the laundry with black plastic over the windows) where I used to do all my own film processing and printing.  I loved it!  Thirty years later, photography is still a passion of mine although the format has changed to digital which of course makes it much easier for the average person to be a ‘good’ photographer.  Now that I’m living in South Africa, my favourite photographic subjects are the wildlife in Kruger National Park.

What was the last book you read?

Simon Sinek’s “Start with Why”.  The book looks at what separates great companies and great leaders from the rest and why some people and organisations are more inventive, pioneering, and successful than others. I love Simon Sinek, particularly his unconventional and innovative views on business and leadership.  He is the eternal optimist and has deep compassion for the human race and our ability, through working together, to change our world for the better.  Check out his podcast, A Bit of Optimism – it’s brilliant!

Favourite place?

Having lived in South Africa and worked across Africa for the past 8 years, I still think Australia is the best country in the world and it’s still my ‘home’ and favourite place.  A very close second is where I am living now, in Cape Town.  It has so much to offer, from the sea to the mountains, and reminds me so much of Melbourne. I love living here.

Favourite food?

That’s a tough one because I’m such a ‘foodie’. I love good quality, fresh, flavoursome, healthy food.  I’m known as the ‘Salad Queen’ and love making interesting salads and combining different flavours together. I know coffee is not a food but it’s my number one priority when I wake up.

Least favourite food?

Peas!  I have hated them ever since I was a child.  Although I love snow peas and snap peas – go figure.  So, I guess it’s mushy peas / frozen peas that I dislike intensely.

Best advice you have received?

I try to live by this quote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” (Maya Angelou).

I love people and have a genuine interest in people and what makes them tick.  Africa has afforded me the opportunity to work with past African Presidents, highly educated professionals, illiterate rural workers and with people who live in shacks made of pieces of scrap metal in townships.  I treat everyone the same - with respect, compassion and with an ear to listen and learn.  I have found that every single one of us want the same thing – to be seen, to be heard and to feel that what we do matters.