A day in the life of a Legal, Governance and Risk Graduate – Judith van der Eyk

Q: What did you study in uni and what made you want to apply for Transgrid's Graduate Program?

Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Law 

The Transgrid Graduate Program offers an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of the transition to renewal energy. As coal is phased out, Transgrid is working towards building renewable energy zones to accommodate a more efficient connection of renewable energy to the energy grid. I chose to apply for the Transgrid Graduate Program not only because it offers incredibly generous benefits in comparison to other graduate programs but also because it is a chance to witness as well as contribute to historical changes in the Australian energy infrastructure. 

Q: What's the coolest thing about your job?

The travelling would have to be the coolest part of my job. I have the opportunity to not only witness the expansion of the NSW electricity transmission network but also visit and see rural and regional towns across the state that few people have seen or have the opportunity to see. The NSW countryside is quite beautiful, and the change is scenery from the city life is always a welcomed breath of fresh air. 

Q: Do you have any advice for the new recruits and people that are considering joining our Graduate Program?

Embrace the learning and enjoy your journey. The program is all about learning so take advantage of this and gain a broad range of experiences (even beyond your area of study!) and remember to have fun and enjoy the process. 

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This article has been adapted from Prosple, written by Judith van der Eyk in 2024 during her rotation as a Legal, Governance and Risk graduate. Find more Graduate and Day in the Life stories on our Prosple page.

6.45 AM

I am woken up by alarm and lie awake in bed for 5 minutes.

6.50 AM

I get up out of bed and make my bed. A bed well-made is a good start to the day. Today is a standard day in our Sydney Office in Ultimo which is a 30–40-minute commute from home so I take my time getting ready. I have breakfast, a nice bowl of banana and Just Right cereal as well as some fruits (recently I’ve been really enjoying Korean Pears).

7.30 AM

I start getting ready to head to the train station. I’m lucky my mum is at home, so I get a lift to the train station in time for my regular train.

7.46 AM

I get on the train (I refuse to board anything but the quiet carriage). I like a peaceful commute into work. It really helps me prepare and get into the right state of mind for the workday. I secure a seat (which can be very rare) and settle in to either read a book, listen to a podcast or music, depending on what I am in the mood for. Today, it was the Weekend Set playlist on Spotify as I do some last-minute preparation for his upcoming concert. I need to know at least 5–10 songs otherwise I’ll find myself shamelessly screaming the wrong lyrics at the concert.

8.15 AM

My train arrives at Central Station. I start my short walk into the office.

8.25 AM

I arrive at the office. Time to make my way up to the floor where the corporate business unit sits. This unit comprises legal, governance and risk teams who ensure that Transgrid meets legal and compliance obligations regarding physical and cyber security.

I try to find a single desk which is designed for focused work to sit in today. I know it will be a busy day, so I need a quiet space with no distractions.

8.27 AM

Desk secured. Yes!

8.30 AM

I am cutting it close for this 8.30 meeting, but I make it to the meeting room in time. This meeting is regarding the current PIA and as a graduate is an incredible opportunity to interact with general managers and executives from the company as well as observe how the leadership at Transgrid work to resolve key issues.

9.30 AM

I jump into another meeting which is less content-heavy and gives me a chance to review my inbox for any urgent tasks that need addressing.

10.00 AM

I have an hour before my next meeting. I spend this time writing out a list of tasks which I add to my Kanban board. I start working through the tasks that are high priority and try to avoid any distractions from my work friends.

11.00 AM

I am working with a colleague, undertaking business impact analysis across critical business areas. We have our first meeting with Asset Management. This was a very insightful discussion about understanding the business landscape and how the company would be impacted in the event of a crisis.

12.00 PM

Lunch time! I join my work friends in the kitchen/lunch area on level 2 of our office. It has been recently renovated and is a gorgeous open space with plenty of natural light. I always enjoy sitting in here to get some well-needed vitamin D.

Today I packed myself a chicken, cheese and avocado wrap (with garlic aioli of course) and used the sandwich press to toast it. I think the busy morning has made me hungrier than usual.

I settle in to eat my wrap, do some socialising and talk about anything non-work related before heading back to my desk.

12.30 PM

Today my break is cut short as I have a 12.30 meeting to attend. This time with a member of the HSE team as we need to extract some important data from their platform that will inform another task my team is working on.

1.00 PM

I finally have some time to do some other tasks that have been sitting in my Kanban board. I also use this time to have a quick tea/snack break. Shockingly I have not joined the corporate love of coffee and still very much prefer a nice cup of tea.

Once I have secured a hot cup of tea, I return to my desk and settle into the tasks that have been patiently waiting to be done.

2.00 PM

I jump into a meeting with Cyber Assurance. This meeting is to get an understanding of their current capability and any gaps.

2.30 PM

I have another meeting to attend. I acknowledge that this is the reality for most people in the Corporate business unit. You often find your day fully booked with consecutive meetings that it can feel like you have no time to complete other tasks, but it all comes down to time management and how you plan and use the other days in the week.

3.00 PM

I take a little break and go downstairs with my work friends to visit a friend who has recently opened a café on the ground floor of our building. While there, we sample some delicious pastries that could become part of the menu. The sugar rush was just what I needed to help me continue with my tasks.

3.15 PM

I return to my desk and dive into my tasks. It feels very satisfying to tick off the tasks I have planned for my day.

4.40 PM

I begin cleaning my workspace. I take my cup and rubbish to the bin and wipe down the desk. I pack my laptop away and do a quick scan to see if I missed anything.

5.04 PM

All clear. I say bye to everyone and make my way to the train station. I board the train and settle into the Weeknd Set Playlist once more.

5.30 PM

I walk home slowly. I have an Oz tag game today, so I pack my bag, boots and water bottle and prepare to drive to my game.

6.15 PM

I introduce myself to some of the newer members of the team and we prepare for warming up for our 6.30 PM game.

8.00 PM

I arrive back home and have a shower. I finish the day off with dinner and the new episode of One Piece.

10.00 PM

Bedtime (with at least 30 minutes of scrolling on my phone). I am working from home tomorrow, so I am happy I get to enjoy a little sleep in tomorrow.

Visit Prosple for the full article and more, including reviews, advice, videos, and office tours! 

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