Brian Bero joins CLARS Advisory Board
CLARS is delighted to announce that Brian Bero has joined its Advisory Board.
Brian Bero is a Co-founder and Principal Solicitor of Jaramer Legal. He is one of Australia’s most senior and respected First Nations corporate and commercial lawyers. Brian has extensive work experience across Commonwealth and State Government Agencies, major corporations and community lead organisations. He has worked as a lawyer with the Victorian Government Solicitors Office, Gilbert + Tobin, and a number of large corporations such as Qantas, Telstra and Oracle.
Sometimes childhood experiences shape our journey through life, as in Brian’s case. Brian is a Meriam man who is passionate about First Nations empowerment and socially responsible economic development. He was recognised for such work when awarded Senior First Nations Lawyer of the Year, in 2024.
In a recent article about him in the Law Institute of Victoria’s journal, Brian recounts how he asked his mother some critical questions when he was a teenager.
The questions involved the now legendary litigation brought by his former teacher, Eddie Koiki Mabo, to recognise the Meriam people as the traditional owners of the Murray Islands.
According to the Law Institute of Victoria’s article, Brian asked his mother:
“Why are all these white people in court representing us? Why aren’t we representing ourselves for this case?”.
She replied:
“You need to be a lawyer to represent people in court”.
These questions led to Brian’s distinguished career in law and his use of corporate and commercial law to improve outcomes for First Nations people.
Brian is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Board Director for Indigenous Business Australia, Original Power, Aboriginal Community Housing and Ilbijerri Theatre Company. He is a Panel Advisor for the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), First Nations Trade and Investment Unit, and committee member of the First Nations Clean Energy Network.
You can read the full Law Institute of Victoria article here.
Brian, on behalf of everyone in CLARS, welcome to our Advisory Board!