Tilé and Olly Meets: Chinyere Kalu

In this week’s episode, we speak to the delightful Chinyere Kalu, affectionately known as Chi.

There is an African proverb that says, “When sleeping women wake, mountains move.” That is, when a woman becomes aware of her own power and potential, she will be able to accomplish great things. This perfectly describes our guest, Chi, from Nigeria in West Africa who belongs to the Ibo tribe, one of the three main tribes in Nigeria. She is a woman with inner strength and resilience, with a witty sense of humour whom did not allow the naysayers to have the last say on the trajectory of her career and passions.

Chi is a family lawyer and author with a particular passion for helping people experiencing family violence. She arrived in Australia in 2007 having qualified as barrister and solicitor in Nigeria. Despite the obstacles, she continued to pursue her legal career when she moved to Australia and has carved out a niche as a successful family and domestic violence lawyer. She was admitted to practice as a solicitor in Queensland in 2010 and obtained her Masters of Law in 2012.

She has worked in Community Corrections, with legal roles in Legal Aid Queensland, private practice, and Community Legal Services. She is a two-time Finalist in the Not-for-Profit Lawyer of the Year category - Women in Law Awards and an inductee in the Queensland Government Domestic and Family Violence Honour Roll.

During the podcast, we discuss that she is a published children’s book author. Her debut book is titled ‘Africa Day’ and can be purchased from Little steps publishing. https://www.littlesteps.com.au/books/africa-day. When Chi is not working, she is a mother of two boys and loves spending time with her family. She is an avid reader, singer and says her best memories were formed as a child when she explored classic storybooks and diverse African literature as a pupil. We hope you enjoy our conversation with Chi.