Following her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law degrees at Sydney University, Odette joined the law firm Maurice Blackburn, representing claimants in class action litigation. It was a rewarding role, particularly when acting for the victims of cartels, and working with econometrics experts on damages assessment.

In 2009, Odette took leave from Maurice Blackburn to undertake her Master of Law at the University of Cambridge, specialising in International Law. This in turn led her to join the Australian Attorney-General’s

Department in 2011 as a Legal Officer in the Office of International Law, advising the Australian Government on diverse matters such as the Law of the Sea, International Trade, and Environmental Treaties.

During her time with the Attorney-General’s Department, Odette worked on the Government’s defence to the litigation brought by the tobacco company Philip Morris against Australia’s introduction of tobacco plain packaging (which Australia ultimately won).

In late 2012, Odette returned to the University of Cambridge to pursue a PhD in International Law. Since 2015 she has also worked as a College Lecturer in Law, teaching undergraduates in International Law and the Law of Tort. Odette is a Fellow of Murray Edwards College, a women only constituent college of the University of Cambridge, which today continues its founding mission of focussing on women’s education (for example, encouraging women in STEM subjects) and preparing students for a working world that continues to manifest gender inequality.

Odette considers it a fitting tribute to her own Monte education that she is able to contribute to women’s learning at Cambridge.