Simonetta Astolfi

BEc, LLB(Hons), LLM, GAICD

1985 - 1987

Senior lawyer and business leader Simonetta Astolfi has built a distinguished legal career advising government and leading major legal practices in Australia. She lived at John XXIII College from 1985 to 1987 while studying at the Australian National University, where she completed a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws (Honours) before later undertaking a Master of Laws (Government and Commercial). Her time at Johns broadened her perspective through friendships with students from across Australia and helped foster a lifelong curiosity about people, ideas and institutions.

Simonetta began her legal career in 1992 as Associate/Tipstaff to the Hon. Sir Gerard Brennan AC KBE GBS QC at the High Court of Australia, a formative year in which she witnessed the handing down of the landmark Mabo decision. She later became a partner at Blake Dawson (now Ashurst) in Sydney and Canberra before joining Maddocks Lawyers, where she is now a Senior Partner and the founding partner of the firm’s Canberra office. As Commonwealth Sector Leader, she has helped grow the Canberra office from two staff to more than 60 employees and nine partners, while also serving on the firm’s board. Her professional achievements include being named Government Partner of the Year at the Australian Law Awards (2019) and recognised as an Elite Woman by Australasian Lawyer in 2022.

Alongside her legal career, Simonetta has contributed widely to governance and community organisations. She serves on the Board of the Indigenous Marathon Foundation and was the first female Chair of Canberra Grammar School. A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, she balances her professional life with passions for travel, sport, music and art, and is currently pursuing a Master of Archaeological and Evolutionary Science at ANU, fulfilling a long-standing interest in archaeology.

Quote

"How do you eat an elephant? One mouthful at a time."

All photographs © Bronte Morel 2026 and not to be reproduced.