It is not often that one of our Bears goes all the way “down under” to attend college, but that is what Elizabeth Nutting ’19 decided to do when she enrolled at The University of Sydney after graduation. Nutting, who was drawn to the university’s undergraduate law program, is in her final year of law school. In addition to her studies, she also works part-time as a policy advisor at The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, where her work focuses on improving productivity and market sustainability in the care and support economy.
What motivated you to apply to a college in Australia, and why did you choose to study law?
My parents are both Australian, and all my extended family lives in Australia. So, when it came to college application season, my parents encouraged me to look at Sydney University, which they both attended. I was particularly drawn to the fact that Sydney University offers undergraduate law. Sydney Law has been extraordinary; the classes have been rigorous, and my classmates are wonderful and collaborative. This year, I have been spending quite a lot of time mooting, which is effectively law school debating. My teammates and I have spent the last few months preparing submissions for the Nuremberg Moot, and we are hoping to make it to the finals in Germany later this year!
Can you tell us a bit about your work in The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet?
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is loosely Australia’s version of the White House, except that we do not provide political advice. I started 18 months ago as an intern and have been part-time since then. I work in the Social Policy Division in a task force working on intersectional healthcare employment issues. In the policy world, we talk about “wicked problems,” which are complex, multifaceted issues that do not have a single policy “solution.” Even in Australia, healthcare is considered a wicked problem. My work involves a lot of legal policy, research, brief writing, and stakeholder engagement.
What is it like living in Australia?
Sydney’s a great city, and I have loved living here for the last five years. It is a really livable city, littered with stunning coastal walks and old heritage buildings. After I finish law school, I would really like to live in Europe for a year or two. Ideally, I would love to spend some time in Geneva or the Hague working at an international organization in either a policy or international law role.
What advice would you give someone interested in living abroad?
Get your friends to visit! Getting anyone down to Australia is always a bit of an ask with the 24-hour flight and all, but I was lucky enough to have two Bears visit recently. Jeff McKee '19, Charles Maybury '18, and I road-tripped around the east coast of Tasmania for a few days over the Easter long weekend. It was great catching up with them and reminiscing about our time under the Mountain. In true Berkshire spirit, we spent half a day hiking around Wineglass Bay which is considered the most beautiful hike in Tasmania. Jeff and Charles were both seasoned RKMP veterans and clearly, they have managed to keep up with their mountaineering!
Otherwise, be open-minded and most importantly, say yes to every opportunity that presents itself!
What are some of your fondest memories of your time under the Mountain?
Winter Carnival my senior year is a pretty clear highlight – particularly given that my dorm (go Mac!) triumphed over all the other girls’ and the boys' dorms. I took Chamber Music with Dr. Wu all four years, so Capriccio and spring concerts were always a highlight, especially when I had finished playing and could relax!
In junior and senior year, most of my friends and I joined the Nordic ski team, and we had an amazing time together. There was something incredibly special about going backcountry skiing around the woods behind campus! Otherwise, I loved lounging around Mac (the dorm I lived in for three years) and in the Music Center with my friends. Looking ahead, I am really psyched for our reunion next June!