2014 - My year in review

I cannot believe that 2014 is almost at an end.  I write this post - my year in review - with trepidation.  To say 2014 was a roller-coaster would be an understatement.  I had one of the best years professionally, but encountered a few personal lows.  

I spent weeks freaking out about turning 30, but have since found it wasn't that bad (separate blog to follow!).  I had a few significant changes in my friendship group and have made some amazing new friends who I am so glad to have in my life.  A health scare made me realise there is more to life than just dancing all night long on a Saturday night and while I am fit, there needs to be a balance.

Overall, I would say that 2014 was an exciting, yet different year.  I can only hope to build on everything for a bigger and better 2015!

Here is my year in review (some of these questions have been taken from a previous Huffington Post blog).

What was the best thing that happened to me this year?

A few things, the most significant would be taking on my new job at a firm I really wanted to be at, in an area of law that I am passionate about.  A few other significant moments were:

• Participating in the Australian Institute of Management's International Women's Day Debate and all of the coverage that followed.
• Being named in the Who's Who of Australian Women 2015 List.
• Speaking at the Australian Women Lawyers Conference in Adelaide.
• Being voted in as Secretary of Women Lawyers Association of Queensland.
• Having the most supportive group of friends, who I was able to call at any time of the day or night to workshop ideas, or just have a good old fashioned cry and girlie heart to heart.
• Helping my friends expand into the social networking scene with blogs, LinkedIn profiles and Twitter accounts.

What did I do this year that I am really proud of?

Without a doubt, it would be the Debate.  This was a turning point in my year and the response has truly been overwhelming.  I found out a day or two before the Debate that there was something wrong with my liver (a suspected tumour) and I had just been referred to a specialist as it was suspected malignant.  The Debate was a perfect distraction from my health problems and also from  my breakup with my boyfriend that had happened over the same time.  I confided in my team members (Sara and Sharon) about my health problems and they were so supportive.

I received a text on the morning of the Debate that simply said "own the debate today".  It was great motivation and I could not have asked for a better day.  I got to stand alongside five other inspiring women as we were making our mark on such an important day for women around the world.  I am well and truly proud of the difference we were able to make. 

Who do I need to thank and acknowledge for having been there for me?

There is always a risk in answering a question of this nature that you will leave someone out.  Without a doubt the top two people would be one of my BFF's Jessica Turner and my awesome guy mate Blewie.  Jess was there for all of the moral support during my breakup, and Blewie was just amazing with all of my health problems and giving me a guy's perspective for everything (interpret tough love). 

Who else?  Dr Lois Frankel - I am so glad to have her as a mentor, her constant support and "checking in", really motivated me.  One of my other good girl friends Molly, and Cohen my guy BFF who I love to hate, have both played an important part, along with Bec, Liz, Laura, Nicole and Jelena, all girlfriends which I built a new, or strengthened a current, friendship with.  My boys were always there for me too, somehow all of them called me just when I needed it (still love the Dance Track Friday videos Mannion).

I am SO grateful for having such a great group of friends who all have unique qualities that make them the people that I love.

What is a lesson I learned?

People need to create their own life and happiness.  You cannot run your life to expectations of others as this will only create disappointment for you later in life. 

Another lesson I learned is that sometimes friends just grow apart.  I have a few draft blogs on this topic, which I just have not been able to finalise.  Dr Peggy Drexler has written extensively on the issue and I agree with a lot of her sentiments.  It is not that you no longer love and care for a friend, it is just that you grow apart, form different friendships, have different values and see the world through different light.  I still love and care for the friends that I grew apart from, I am grateful there was no "bust up" which resulted in hatred, but sometimes, even after 15 years, a friendship can run its course.  I know I went through a few life changes the past few years which contributed to me changing my whole outlook on life.  All I can do is wish those people all the best as they take on the world and achieve their goals.  Peas and Carrots.

Who did I really help?

This is hard to answer without asking others.  However, one person I know I did make a difference with is the young high school girl, CW, I mentioned in a previous blog.  She wrote to me after seeing the QB Monthly article, and we have since formed an amazing friendship.  I am so glad to have made a positive impact on her life and it is really humbling to be referred to as a role model by her.

What's something I got through that was really tough?

My health scare.  That week long wait before I had my blood tests and MRI to see whether or not the suspected tumour in my liver was malignant was the scariest week of my life.  I signed my contract for my new role in that week and resigned my then current position, which just added to the rollar-coaster of emotions.  I am thankful for all of the supportive people I had at work, who helped me through that time.

While it was confirmed that there is a 7cm tumour in my liver, I am so thankful that it is not malignant.  Just thinking about that week now is making my head spin.  I will always be grateful for Jess' call the moment I got out of the specialist appointment with the good news (no cancer!).  Best cab ride call of my life!

What character trait did I develop most this year?

This question made me realise I missed someone off my list from above (didn't I say I would forget someone!).  That person being Janine Garner, owner of LBD Group.  Each year Janine encourages members to choose their word for the year.  For me, 2014 was resilience.

It is quite ironic as I chose that word before the breakup, before finding out about my tumour and before I decided to change firms.  When reflecting on 2014, I believe I was successful in building resilience within myself.

What's next?

I am not someone who makes resolutions.  Instead I make a list of goals that I wanted to achieve, or things I want to do.  I hate the idea of an arbitrary day being required in order to make a difference in my life.  In 2014, I decided to practice what I preached and check in on myself every quarter to make sure I was achieving my goals.  I also had other little goals, such as going to a Ballet with my friend Emma (we went and saw the Nutcracker last weekend thanks to an incredible Special Counsel in my practice group at work), buying my first brand new car (which I did about a week ago and pick up on the 30th!) and joining a Committee.  Other goals had to be changed as I dealt with unsuspected situations, such as removing from my list learning Serbian.

I have not decided what goals I want for 2015.  That is on my to-do list (hmm a to-do list to do a to-do list).  Two things I have decided on - 1. I want to go overseas and am planning on tackling Yacht Week in Croatia with Laura and 2. that my word for 2015 is patience. 

Thank you to everyone who played a part in my 2014.  I only hope that 2015 is even bigger and better for all of us!  Remember to look forward to what it ahead. 

Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Program for Museum Exhibitions: New Budget Law Sets Higher Limits

The Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Program received a significant boost from lawmakers on Capitol Hill this week, and museums are sure to take note.

Tucked within the 1600 pages of the $1.1 trillion budget bill signed into law on Tuesday is a section that raises the indemnity limits for America's largest art insurance program.

Administered by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Arts and Artifacts Indemnity Program protects temporary museum exhibitions against loss or damage and saves nonprofit cultural institutions $30 million dollars a year in costs they otherwise would have spent on expensive commercial liability policies.

That estimate is given by Ford Bell, president of the American Alliance of Museums, who told senators in May that only $100,000 has ever been paid from the federal treasury over the last four decades of the art insurance program's existence.

Congress originally passed the indemnity law in 1975 to cover foreign art on loan to American museums. The statute was expanded in 2007 to cover domestic artworks as well. The law's text is codified at 20 U.S.C. Chapter 26A and 45 C.F.R. Part 1160.

The newly enacted Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015 increases the aggregate of loss or damage to art or artifacts from $10 billion to $15 billion for international exhibitions and from $5 billion to $7.5 billion for domestic exhibitions. Coverage for a single international exhibition, meanwhile, goes from $1.2 billion to $1.8 billion. The indemnity limit for a single domestic exhibition rises from $750 million to $1 billion.

The new indemnity limits reflect the higher prices that have been paid in recent years for objects sold on the fine arts and antiquities marketplaces.

Photo credit: Anna Hunter

Text copyrighted 2014 by Cultural Heritage Lawyer. Blog url: culturalheritagelawyer.blogspot.com. Any unauthorized reproduction or retransmission of this post without the express written consent of CHL is prohibited. CHL is a service of Red Arch Cultural Heritage Law & Policy Research, Inc.

Cultural Heritage Trafficking Requires Deterrence

Police officers are good at tracking down and arresting criminals. Prosecutors are good at securing convictions, even in some of the most complex cases. So why aren't police and prosecutors routinely investigating and prosecuting cultural heritage traffickers?

HSI officials returned smuggled cultural artifacts to the Turkish government
during a ceremony held last week in New York City. Source: ICE

Last week Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) repatriated ancient arrowheads, coins, and jewelry to Turkey, which were smuggled into Newark International Airport in February 2013. The objects represented some of the "more than 7,150 artifacts [that] have been returned to 27 countries" since 2007, which HSI touted in a press release.

No arrests were announced. In fact, the number of criminals taken into custody over the years for heritage trafficking has been infinitesimally small. That may be why HSI does not regularly report the number of arrests or convictions resulting from its cultural property, art, and antiquities investigations.

The impact of HSI's "seize and send" policy is that criminal infrastructures are left intact--i.e. bank accounts, smuggling routes, transshipment points, warehouses, and the like--while looters, smugglers, fences, couriers, and other offenders are returned to their criminal enterprises without consequence.

Cultural heritage trafficking needs to be deterred. It is the job of police and prosecutors to apply the law to combat this criminal activity, holding accountable those who illegally import contraband heritage and methodically dismantling the frameworks that facilitate trafficking operations.

Text copyrighted 2014 by Cultural Heritage Lawyer. Blog url: culturalheritagelawyer.blogspot.com. Any unauthorized reproduction or retransmission of this post without the express written consent of CHL is prohibited.

Nicaragua and Mali on CPAC's Agenda

The Federal Register has posted the following announcement:

There will be a meeting of the Cultural Property Advisory Committee January 21-23, 2015 at the U.S. Department of State, Annex 5, 2200 C Street NW., Washington, DC. Portions of this meeting will be closed to the public, as discussed below. 

During the closed portion of the meeting, the Committee will review the proposal to extend the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Nicaragua Concerning the Imposition of Import Restrictions on Archaeological Material from the Pre-Hispanic Cultures of the Republic of Nicaragua (“Nicaragua Agreement”) [Docket No. DOS-2014-0027]. An open session to receive oral public comment on the proposal to extend the Nicaragua Agreement will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2015, beginning at 11:00 a.m. EST. 

Also, during the closed portion of the meeting, the Committee will conduct an interim review of the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Mali Concerning the Imposition of Import Restrictions on Archaeological Material from Mali from the Paleolithic Era (Stone Age) to Approximately the Mid-Eighteenth Century (“Mali Agreement”). Public comment, oral and written, will be invited at a time in the future should the Mali Agreement be proposed for extension.

Text copyrighted 2014 by Cultural Heritage Lawyer. Blog url: culturalheritagelawyer.blogspot.com. Any unauthorized reproduction or retransmission of this post without the express written consent of CHL is prohibited.

Controversial Egyptian Statue Fails to Sell at Sotheby's Auction

An Egyptian statute failed to sell at Sotheby's Egyptian, Classical, and Western Asiatic Antiquities auction held today in New York. Valued at over $400,000, bidding for "Lot 6" collapsed at $350,000 and did not reach the reserve price.

CHL has been probing the history of the curious piece for several weeks and expects to publish its findings in a future blog post.

In the meantime, this week Glasgow researcher Dr. Christos Tsirogiannis found the archaeological artifact listed in the Schinoussa archive. That is the set of photographs seized by Italian authorities in 2006 at the villa of antiquities dealers Robin Symes and Christos Michaelides. Click here for Peter Watson's article about the pair. The archive catalogs suspicious antiquities.

The Egyptian statue was one of six lots that did not sell today.

Purchasers found a few bargains at today's event, but many pieces commanded high prices. A small clay tablet containing cuneiform script and valued at $9000 sold for $43,750. An Egyptian black granite statue valued at $30,000 fetched $137,000. And a red-figured krater was purchased for $137,000, more than double its appraised value of $50,000.

Text copyrighted 2014 by Cultural Heritage Lawyer. Blog url: culturalheritagelawyer.blogspot.com. Any unauthorized reproduction or retransmission of this post without the express written consent of CHL is prohibited.

Who is she? She is, Sarah Jane

Most of Australia's female population with an interest in fashion and lifestyle would have heard of Sarah-Jane Young (and have her Instagram on refresh).  Every post online attributed to the SISJ brand is well thought out, consistent, fresh and stylish.  Sarah Jane’s online presence appears effortless and is I was fortunate enough to have her to agree to an interview so I could delve deeper into her world, one that has inspired me, and find out why she is Sarah Jane.

When looking at Sarah Jane’s website you would be forgiven for thinking that she is Superwoman.  A Magazine Editor (she is Fashion & Beauty Editor for Latte Magazine), who runs her own website with an amazing team of contributing editors and (to me) a lifestyle many would be envious of.  I love that Sarah Jane is not one of those girls who found instant success through Instagram and shameless product promotion.  With a background in advertising and marketing, who has worked in publishing and e-commerce for a fashion label prior to landing a role as a marketing and PR manager for a hair and beauty company, Sarah Jane is a walking marketing role model, who is far from reaching her peak.

One thing that also struck me about Sarah Jane is her integrity.  When I asked her what she is most proud of, her response was her WOMEN WHO INSPIRE series.  I just shake in my head in absolute awe and delight.  Sarah Jane is an ambassador for Dr LeWinn and just returned from an overseas trip to Europe with Peugeot, she is managed by The Ministry of Talent (owned by the PR Queen herself, Roxy Jacenko) and she is most proud of being able to showcase the talents of other women in order to inspire females worldwide.  What a woman! 

However, after you finish reading below and seeing Sarah Jane’s latest news, I think that her real legacy will be revealed in about four months’ time (yes, I am squealing with delight at her news).

Did you ever think that your (then) blog would lead you to where you are today?

Absolutely not! I never intended for my blog to go anywhere further than a hobby. I started my blog a few years ago as an escape from my then mundane job! It was a creative escape for me and I loved that I was the boss.

Things really started to skyrocket after my internship at Grazia magazine in London. This also gave me the confidence to believe in my writing and my vision and I pushed on with the blog. It was literally like I woke up one day and I was ‘kind of a big deal’! Of course signing with the whirlwind that is Roxy Jacenko at The Ministry of Talent has also been amazing for exposure and job opportunities. I am eternally grateful to Rox for believing in SISJ.

What is a start to finish day look like for you?

Ha! You don’t want to know – it sometimes involves PJs and crazy bed hair all day! I don’t really have an ‘average day’, due to the nature of my jobs. I am always juggling a thousand different things – upcoming blog posts and collaborations, photo shoots, my social media/online plan, admin, my finances, networking, styling for shoots… the list goes on!

I do feel sometimes my mind and desk are mayhem, however, it somehow works as a big organised mess! It’s all about having a strict schedule/routine and working when you are at your best. I work very well in the morning and like to start my day with PT or exercise, followed by admin and emails until lunchtime. I will always break for something to eat or run some errands. I love playing with my two furry babies (Mika and Arbie) and then I get back to the desk for my afternoon sprint. By about 4:00pm my brain and eyes hurt and I chill out for a while – usually a true crimes or Real Housewives episode!

I will cook for myself and the hubby most nights and then we hit the gym (if we are being good!). A little bit more TV and I get back to my desk until about midnight. I am a serious night owl! I get some of my best work done late at night. This is when I do most of my writing, it just seems to flow easier than during the day.

 

I often find that many career girls associate the term “work/life balance” with working mums.  Do you think it is just as important for single professionals, or working women with no kids to embrace the work/life balance philosophy?
Funny you should mention this… I am not totally kid-free! I am actually 5 months pregnant, but it’s still a big secret! (Can you see why I squealed with delight?  How exciting and congratulations).  However, she’s not arrived yet obviously, so I can only comment on my current work/life balance – although my philosophies are similar.

I have always ensured I have a healthy work/life balance in previous roles. I believe this is the key to not only maintaining your sanity, but also true happiness. I have now been working from home on my blog and Latte Magazine now for nearly 18 months and have found it quite hard at times to really grasp that perfect ‘balance’. While there are so many pros not only working for yourself, but working from home, there are also some negatives. I think it’s healthy to have a workspace outside your home, as convenient as it is. My mother always drilled in the importance of a happy home and also separating environments (that’s what you get having a forensic psychologist for a mum!) – But I do agree.

I now start my day with a strict routine and have set hours for most days. Of course, this is all pretty flexible which is fantastic, but the 1am Instagram monitoring probably needs to stop! There’s no real right or wrong answer, I just listen to my body and brain and adjust accordingly. No day or week is ever the same, so it’s all about introducing some sort of schedule.

Young and successful career girls often face many challenges, one being judgment passed on their looks and not their intellect.  I have faced it before – with guys and girls and I can only imagine that you have encountered similar situations – not being taken seriously at first face value.  What message can you give other career girls to help them moving forward.

Yes, I can understand how you feel. I previously worked with a very large health organisation and was judged all the time on how I looked (and for my job title!). After I while you just develop a thick skin and people always came around, however that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt or was fair. I will add also, that it was always other women!

Being the old-ER and wiser woman that I am today, I can only put it down to jealousy – without sounding totally self-consumed. As a ‘blogger’ or ‘social media influencer’, looking a certain way can obviously work in your favour though. I do need to add, only my good pics go up online – we ALL have bad days. In this world there are all new ways for others to insult you.  Considering my readership and followers are quite large, I’ve been pretty lucky regarding “trolling” and online abuse for how I look. The first few times it really upset me. However, after I got over it and realised I must have “made it”, I knew this vicious behaviour was on their insecurities talking.

At the end of the day, I post images of myself and have created a business based on exactly that – me. So who am I to complain when people pass judgement? I just know I will raise my daughter exactly how I was, if you’ve got nothing nice to say, say nothing at all. It’s simple.

You are always looking fabulous. Your hair, makeup, outfits. You are comparable to a walking Vogue print! Who do you draw your inspiration from? 

I will accept your lovely comment, however, after reading my last answer, these are only the pictures you see! I am super lucky I have some great friends who help me to be my best too – including my ‘hair husband’! We all need one.

To be completely honest – my inspiration comes from nowhere in particular.  Obviously subconsciously we style ourselves and our homes based on something we’ve seen or been exposed to, but I don’t actively seek out magazines or other blogs for inspiration. I wear what I want to wear.

I definitely have a very traditional and girlie side of me and sometimes joke I was born in the wrong era.  I think I am a 40’s girl! I like blending old with new and making it my own (This makes me love her GuessJeans shoot even more!).

Who is that one career girl who inspires you?

Georgina Chapman. She is my ultimate career and girl crush.  Aside from being incredibly beautiful, she is a successful business woman (designer for Marchesa – one of my faves!), a wife, a mother and continues to evolve with everything that she does.  I adore her.

Every career girl has that one quote they live by. What is yours?

The best revenge is living well.

A fun one - if you could post a selfie with anyone, who would it be?

Cameron Diaz! I just love her bubbly persona and I think we could totally be besties!

Thank you Sarah Jane for taking the time for this interview – I want to provide young professionals with an insight into the world of inspirational women, and give them that motivation to continue to achieve.  It is refreshing to know that not everyone woke up like this Beyonce style, that through all of your success you are proud of being able to give back and that you have shared with me such exiting news about a bubba Sarah Jane on the way.  I for one am excited to hear about the next chapter of your life and maybe I can get you back to give us an insight into the world of a working mum (and if you ever become besties with Cameron Diaz, I shotgun a photobomb in the selfie!).

Dinosaur Skull Forfeited by Federal Judge in Eastern District of NY

Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch wrapped up another cultural property case yesterday. The matter of U.S. v. One Alioramus Dinosaur Skull came to a conclusion after a federal district court judge in Brooklyn ordered the dinosaur head's forfeiture.

No claimants appeared in court to oppose the civil forfeiture, even though French dealer Gefossiles, Inc. once tried to convince American authorities that all was proper with the company's dinosaur shipment. U.S. Customs seized the dinosaur skull in Newark, New Jersey in 2004.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York alleged in its forfeiture complaint filed in September that the head had been illegally imported into the U.S., and it was stolen property originating from Mongolia. A full description of the prosecution's allegations can be found here.

"Smugglers will falsify documents and lie about the origin and value of a cultural artifact just to get it across our borders to sell to the highest bidder," remarked James Hayes, Jr., Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent-in-Charge in New York. His team investigated the case. No arrests were made.

Now that the district court has forfeited the skull, it is expected to be sent back to Mongolia. Foreign officials first must file a petition for remission to have the object repatriated.

Text copyrighted 2014 by Cultural Heritage Lawyer. Blog url: culturalheritagelawyer.blogspot.com. Any unauthorized reproduction or retransmission of this post without the express written consent of CHL is prohibited.