Hema Mahadevan is a firm believer that finding a fulfilling career is much more important than simply doing what is expected.
Passionate about her work with Greenpeace Malaysia, Hema works to make a positive difference in the world. However, it was not where she originally expected her Law degree to take her.
Hema came to Hobart from Malaysia in 2009 to study her Bachelor of Laws at the University of Tasmania, knowing virtually nothing about the island state she was moving to. And that was part of the adventure.
“I wanted the experience of living in a different country, gaining different experiences and experiencing different cultures,” she said.
“The studying experience in Malaysia and Australia are very different. When I moved to Tasmania, there was more critical thinking, analysing, critical interaction with knowledge content.”
Hema chose to study Law because she wanted to be a human rights lawyer. But halfway through her second year she realised she had no desire to be a practicing barrister or solicitor.
She didn’t see this as a reason to abandon her degree, though. Instead, she simply redirected its focus.
“I learned very early on that sometimes you can enjoy studying Law, but practicing is not for everyone. I never pursued being a barrister or solicitor. I went into education instead and did a lot of on-the-ground work with NGOs in Malaysia.
“I've also been able to use my legal knowledge in my advocacy work. Having a law background really helped me in pursuing a career in the rights-based field when it comes to lobbying of policy and such.”
Hema is currently a public engagement campaigner for Greenpeace Malaysia, a role that centres on building the movement and encouraging public participation. She is also leading a campaign on reducing plastic waste in both the community and the e-commerce sector.
“I am currently working on policy/lobbying work in regard to plastic pollution in Malaysia, including identifying gaps and challenges such as enforcement issues, Malaysia’s waste management system, and plastics recyclability.
“The goal is to look into the reduction of single use plastics at the production and governance level.”
For Hema, one of the highlights of her career so far was getting to spend time on the Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior. She is also proud of her work for the Protect and Save the Children organisation, where she assisted the Malaysian government with research and legislative recommendations that led to the establishment of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
“My goal has always been about making changes, whether big or small. I don't know whether I can change the world, but I want to see affected communities live a healthy and wholesome life.
In December 2023, Hema was acknowledged for her outstanding contributions as the recipient of the 2023 Community Achievement Award. This honour was part of the Australian Alumni Awards, a collaborative effort by the Malaysian Australian Alumni Council (MAAC) and the Australian High Commission.
“As a mother now, I want a better life for the current and future generation of kids. I think we owe it to them.”
Hema said she fell in love with Tasmania from the moment her plane landed, and her favourite memories of her time here included visiting kunanyi/Mt Wellington and Cradle Mountain, where she saw snow for the first time.
However, it was the friendships she formed within the Tasmanian community and with classmates that makes her feel that Tasmania will always remain a part of her.
“To this day, my Tasmanian housemate from the University Apartments is one of my best friends. We even managed to catch up in Paris for few days in 2008”.
Ultimately, it is human connection and community that matter most to Hema. Which is what drove her to find novel ways to use her Law degree to help people in settings other than the courtroom.
“At the end of the day, your job needs to be fulfilling, a career that aligns with your interests, values and passion,” she said.
“Always take the time to meet and socialise with people outside of your usual group, whether they’re locals or students from other countries. Learn about their culture, history, language and traditions.
“It is so important to step out of the box and open yourself to the unknown and experience new possibilities.”
There are many ways you can use Law as a vehicle to create a better, fairer society. How would you use your Bachelor of Laws?