Simon Pickering

Manager

Simon is a Manager, Australian Army Reservist and former government litigation lawyer based in Nous’ Darwin office.

Clients in justice, health, and social services appreciate how he approaches problems with creativity, curiosity and pragmatism, and quickly identifies and interrogates key issues. As a Darwin local, Simon brings a strong understanding of the Northern Territory (NT) context, and the government’s challenges and strategic priorities. As a lawyer, Simon provided legal advice to government on matters of national significance.

Influential work

Designed a workload model for a major legal service and prepared a Submission to the Commonwealth highlighting structural issues with how legal assistance for Aboriginal Territorians was funded
Co-designed a new model for delivering after-hours primary healthcare in remote areas, including designing alternative strategies and financial modelling of potential changes
Designed and conducted stakeholder engagement with more than 450 stakeholders to shape the physical and service design for a new Youth Hub in Darwin
Conducted an organisational review of the Aboriginal Medical Service Alliance NT’s executive structure and designed alternatives to meet long-term changes and challenges
Evaluated the Remote Child and Family Safety Program (a two-year, $19 million joint initiative between the NT and Australian governments based in 26 remote communities) and made recommendations to improve future delivery.

Outside of Nous

Before joining Nous, Simon was a lawyer at the Australian Government Solicitor, specialising in law enforcement and national security litigation (including public interest immunity, witness protection, control orders and compulsory examinations). He has worked at the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office and Office of Public Prosecutions and is a published legal academic. Simon was Director of Development Education at the Oaktree Foundation, produced the Melbourne University Law Revue, and led a team in Wade Institute’s Startup Sprint.

Simon holds a Bachelor of Environments from the University of Melbourne and a Juris Doctor from Melbourne Law School, partially completed at the University of Copenhagen. He is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria, Supreme Court of the Northern Territory and High Court of Australia.

In his spare time...

Simon loves playing soccer, travelling and exploring the Territory. He’s a keen reader and loves comedy. He is on a fitness-based hiatus from sport and a talent-based hiatus from acting.