Simpson Grierson Partner Gains Two New Appointments
Carole Durbin, Partner and Head of Resources and Infrastructure at top-tier law firm Simpson Grierson, has been
appointed to two new governance roles.
Carole has become a director of Fidelity Life, bringing her legal and governance skills to the board of New Zealand’s
only wholly New Zealand-owned and managed life insurance company.
Carole says, “As a commercial entity Fidelity Life is an excellent example of a successfully run New Zealand company and
I am very pleased to have the opportunity to add value to the operations of its Board.”
In addition to the Fidelity Life directorship, Carole has been appointed by the Minister of Justice to Chair the Legal
Services Agency, which is responsible to the Government, through the Minister of Justice, for overall strategy and
governance of the Agency's operations. These include the pilot of a Public Defence Service in Auckland which will go
into operation in May this year, as well as legal aid, contract relationships with Community Law Centres and law related
education and information.
Carole says, "I am very pleased with the appointment. It is an opportunity to contribute at a governance level in an
area which is of importance to the public and the profession."
Simpson Grierson Chairman Rob Fisher says, “These two high profile appointments reflect Carole’s excellent reputation in
the legal and business communities.”
Carole is also Deputy Chair of Mighty River Power, and a board member of the Earthquake Commission.
In her role at Simpson Grierson, Carole heads the Resources & Infrastructure Department, which encompasses the areas of construction, commercial property, resource management and
local government. Carole advises on infrastructure projects including documentation, contracting, tendering and
contracting out. She has significant corporate governance knowledge. Her specialist legal areas include arbitration,
mediation, adjudication and disputes resolution.