Belinda Cohen brings a rare blend of legal expertise, operational acumen, and deep insight into human performance to her role as CEO of Gilchrist Connell. Belinda cut her teeth in insurance litigation, working in both private practice and in an in-house role at a statutory insurer. This early exposure laid the foundation for a career defined by intellectual rigour, strategic thinking, and a passion for excellence. It ignited a lifelong interest in the intersection of law, business, and human behaviour.
Recognising the power of combining legal, operational, and people expertise, in 2006, Belinda launched her own consultancy, advising clients ranging from sole traders to listed companies. Her work focused on aligning human performance with business success, a theme that continues to underpin her leadership philosophy. Over the course of her career, Belinda has delivered transformative outcomes. Highlights include coaching over 1,500 individuals from mailroom staff to board chairs and delivering an award-winning client service culture program for a leading life insurer. As Gilchrist Connell’s Chief People Officer from 2020 to 2025, Belinda supported the firm through significant revenue and headcount growth, guiding the firm through the challenges of COVID with resilience and empathy.
As CEO, Belinda champions culture of excellence in client service, collaboration, and sustainable growth. Her leadership is grounded in a deep understanding of the legal profession, a commitment to people, and a vision for building a thriving, future-focused firm. She is passionate about creating environments where individuals and teams can excel, and where business success is driven by purpose and performance. Her background in both fee-earning and support roles, combined with her in-house experience, gives her a unique perspective on the needs of law firm employees and clients alike.
Belinda is also the co-author of leadership books and the creator of the Neuroscience of Risk workshops, which have been presented to hundreds of General Counsel across Australia and internationally.
Awards and recognition
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