4 minute read
Xperate recently announced that we have expanded our operations into Australia. This is a historic achievement that marks a major step in our global presence.
This expansion is being spearheaded by Reuben Manning, Managing Consultant. Earlier this month, he landed in Melbourne with his family and has been happily adjusting to this new and exciting chapter.
Over the next year, Reuben will be providing his key updates when it comes to life in Australia. He will be talking about what he gets up to in and outside of work in his ‘down under diaries’.
How was the flight and travel?
The flight was surprisingly easy. The airline (Qantas) was organised with food, snacks, and entertainment, and surprisingly, it was comfortable enough to get some sleep. Even more surprisingly, the kids behaved really well on the plane, with only one tantrum at 3 am UK time on the first flight. Otherwise, they slept the majority of the journey! They spent the layover time in Singapore running laps of the Airport to burn off some energy, which was good for the 2nd flight.
How have you settled in with your family?
The jetlag was tough to start with and enforcing sleeping patterns was difficult. The first 3 weeks have been super stressful. We had to change AirBNBs within the first few days, but we’ve now successfully secured a rental property in Melbourne, which was no small feat given the highly competitive rental market - inspections often see 5 to 30 families competing for the same property. Alongside that, we’ve also managed to get a car, explore most of the suburbs and the city, and purchase around 80% of the furniture and appliances for our new home (we arrived with nothing!).
The kids love the parks, which are plentiful. Generally, we are settling in well, and we are all looking forward to things slowing down a little now that living and transport have been sorted.
What are the main differences you've noticed so far?
Everything appears to be pretty laid back and people are keen to talk/pick up the phone and chat.
We noticed that in the suburbs, the UK-style next-day delivery for almost anything isn’t really a thing here. Instead, there’s a stronger emphasis on visiting local shops, being out in the community, and engaging with others.
The food and coffee here are incredible, offering both amazing variety and exceptional taste.
Sunrises and sunsets pass quickly here, but you can always tell they’re happening by the lively sounds of birds, parrots, and cockatoos.
Have you been to any business/client meetings?
One of our key focuses when expanding into Australia was to extend our services and expertise to firms in this region. I’ve spent a lot of time reconnecting with our existing Australian clients and received a warm, inspiring welcome to Melbourne from a contact in the legal tech world who splits their time between London and Melbourne.
We have already started listing and targeting firms ready for our Q2. We're bringing our global expertise and innovative solutions to Australia's legal tech community. We're here to build lasting partnerships, delivering technology that truly makes a difference - and I can't wait to show Australian law firms what Xperate can do.
I recently had an interview with a prominent legal technology publication that will be released soon, where I further discuss Xperate's goals in Australia. Watch this space to find out more!
Have you been up to any interesting activities outside of the office?
We recently visited the Sealife Aquarium in the city and the Moonlight Animal Sanctuary, so that my daughter could touch and feed a Kangaroo. Funny story, when we landed, my daughter started crying and asked why we were back in London. Confused, I asked what she meant, and she replied that we were at the "London Airport" because she couldn’t see any Australian animals. She had expected them to be everywhere - roaming around, even on the runway!
What are your favourite things about Australia so far, and what do you miss from the UK?
The colours here seem more vibrant, enhanced by the warmth of spring and the overall sense of positivity and cooperation that everyone radiates.
The roads, on the other hand, are a contrast—while they’re fast and interesting back home, in Australia even the freeways tend to be slow and straight.
Stay tuned as we provide further updates on Reuben's experience down under!
