Caitlin McConnel

2024 Australian Finalist

Caitlin is a Senior Associate at Clatyon Utz working as a strategic legal advisor on ESG & sustainability reporting, environment & sustainable development, and climate litigation / greenwashing. She also specialises in agriculture, food & water legislation and policy, biosecurity, water, import/export, and human rights law. In conjunction with her role at Clayton Utz, Caitlin is a sixth-generation farmer (beef cattle & agrivoltaics) with the day-to-day management of her family property near Toogoolawah, Qld, which is recognised as the oldest identified family business in Queensland and one of the oldest in Australia. She also has experience as a non-executive director & chairperson on various agricultural organisations, including Future Farmers Network, Cattle Australia, Royal National Agricultural & Industrial Association of Queensland, RRR Women, and Agribusiness Australia.

Caitlin is recognised as a young leader and top agribusiness professional in Australia, given her unique professional experience, which is a skillset enabling her to provide clients with a breadth and depth of industry knowledge and advice unseen in other Australian legal advisory teams. In July 2024, Caitlin was recognised as one of the most influential lawyers aged under 40 who have had an extraordinary impact on the profession or society.