Morgan Gallagher's dual careers from the hockey field to the law courts present a compelling case of self-belief, perseverance, and commitment to excellence. And Minerva Network is honoured to play a role in supporting this young athlete-lawyer to achieve her ambitious goals, with her Minerva mentor Professor Sarah Kelly OAM supporting her all the way.
Starting at age six, Morgan was a natural at hockey. What began as childhood fun soon transformed into unwavering passion. Her talent came to the fore as she dropped other sports and focused on hockey. But fun is still very much part of the mix.
“I think as I was growing up, I definitely loved the social aspect of hockey and that’s something that’s stayed with me. You can still be around the team and be with all the girls, so training with the team is fulfilling for me,” Morgan said.
She soon established her presence in hockey at an elite level, captaining the Australian under 21 team on a New Zealand tour and playing in Australia’s under 23 team in a Four-Nation Series in China.
In 2023 Morgan made her Hockeyroos debut.
However, the first few years of Morgan’s career were peppered with injuries. A knee operation, torn quad, and hamstring tendinopathy more recently.
“My biggest achievement to date is debuting with the Hockeyroos in last year, because I had to overcome a lot of setbacks with injuries and COVID.
“I was peak selection age around the COVID years but there weren’t many international opportunities to get caps through those years.”
How did she overcome these obstacles and stay focussed on her hockey ambitions?
“I felt it was due to a lot of perseverance and self-belief more than skill or talent. It’s pursuing and trying to achieve your potential. I think that's probably the thing I was most proud of.”
Winning the Hockey One championship with her Brisbane Blaze squad in late 2023 chalked up another sporting goal for Morgan. But hockey represents much more than success on the field.
“I think the part I love most about hockey is the community spirit and the community it brings together.
“A lot of people who play now have had their parents or other family members play. And it’s a sport that people continue to play right through from juniors to masters.”
Morgan is not only an elite athlete but also a qualified lawyer. Since graduating with a law degree from QUT, she has been admitted to the Supreme Court and completed her two-year legal practising certificate while working with a corporate law firm in Brisbane. Juggling a demanding legal career with a rigorous hockey training schedule has its advantages though.
“I definitely enjoy being busy and I do like routine and being organised and disciplined. I prefer having two different focuses and ambitions for my work as well as sport.
"If I’ve had a really stressful day at work it’s the best thing ever being able to go and run around a hockey field and train. And vice versa if you haven’t had a good training or game, then you can always really put in at work. Both are really beneficial to helping me be better at both careers I’m pursuing.”
Making her mark in corporate law whilst balancing an elite athletic career is firmly part of Morgan’s game plan. Achieving life balance outside hockey was also key.
“My Minerva Mentor Sarah Kelly has done so much of that for me,” Morgan said.
“She's honestly been unbelievable for me in my career so far. I’ve met with several lawyers Sarah’s helped me connect to. Enabling that network with influential people in the legal profession is an experience that a lot of junior lawyers don’t get anywhere close to.”
Morgan describes having a mentor as, “someone completely independent from your normal circle, who you can bounce ideas off and get a fresh perspective on things or get support any time you need it.
“I'm balancing full-time work as well as training so having an experienced mentor who consistently supports you makes me feel very empowered. It’s also the reassurance that you're on the right track and doing the right things.”
Morgan’s Minerva Mentor Professor Sarah Kelly OAM is well placed to advise the hockey star in her legal career.
An experienced commercial lawyer, Sarah is globally recognised for her expertise in the sport field. She is Professor and Head of the QUT Graduate School of Business, a board member on the Brisbane 2032 Games Organising Committee, and serves as Deputy Chair of both the Brisbane Lions AFL Club and Tourism & Events Queensland.
“Connecting with Morgan through Minerva has been very rewarding, and I think that I have learned more from Morgan than she has from me!” said Sarah, who is also Minerva Network’s Queensland Co-Chapter Lead.
“She is a real leader and great person who I respect and admire for her strength, resilience, intelligence, work ethic and ability. Morgan is an incredibly talented athlete and lawyer, and I know that through her willingness to grow her network through Minerva and the legal profession, combined with her outstanding skills as a lawyer, she is in a great position to excel in her legal career.
“Morgan embodies the holistic athlete and is an exemplar of elite athletes and their value to business and society beyond sport.”
The Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) has supported Morgan’s potential since she was a teen, starting with a training agreement as she was finishing school and then awarding her a scholarship.
Now she spends the majority of her training time during the week using the state-of-the-art facilities the QAS provides.
“The QAS support is a constant, from the strength and conditioning facilities in the gym to great access to nutritionists, psychologists and our physio," Morgan says.
“They’ve really helped me with keeping a healthy career, not only providing all the information and knowledge that you need for the hockey field, but also lots of off-field support.
“I attended a Minerva workshop at QAS which was really good, where I met numerous professionals who reached out and provided me with great advice. I thought it was such a great initiative from the get-go.”
Minerva Network’s partnership with the QAS is supporting elite sportswomen like Morgan to soar on and off the field.
“Minerva Network is invaluable for any athlete because it provides you with so much support and opportunity outside of your sport, that will help you in life and where you want to go outside of whatever sport you’re doing. I recommend it to everyone and have recommended it to a lot of people already.”
