Meet Aurora Intern Jack Mai

Jack Mai is a non-Indigenous person, born and raised in Canada. He grew up in a multicultural community, which fuelled his appetite to explore the world and learn from different cultures. Jack has an array of qualifications in Political Studies, Business, and Law, and he is currently on track to be admitted as a lawyer in the Queensland Supreme Court. Throughout his studies and career, Jack has served as a board member across multiple organisations in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors in Canada and Australia.  

Before emigrating to Australia, Jack served as an Executive Advisor and Deputy Director of Cabinet to the Minister of Education of Burkina Faso in West Africa, strategically leading the largest curriculum advancement and school expansion investment project in the country at the time. He advocated and strategically oversaw advancements to improve the access to education and vocational training for Burkinabe citizens including various rural Indigenous communities across Burkina Faso.  

Jack decided to pursue a Juris Doctor at Griffith University, Queensland where he specialised in Canadian and Australian law. During his studies, he was recruited as the first non-Australian to be the President and Executive Chairman of the Gold Coast Postgraduate Association. In this role, Jack strategically led the task-force team in successfully helping students and faculty navigate the Australian border re-opening plan during the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, he advanced the importance of community and cultural awareness in multiple successful awareness campaigns for university students.  

After finishing law school, Jack pursued his Practical Legal Training (PLT) with the intention of becoming a lawyer in Australia. During his PLT studies, he was awarded The Leo Cussen National Award for Innovation Technology for Impact for developing the most compelling and persuasive technology-based solution towards addressing the justice gap in Australia.   

In 2024, Jack undertook a placement with the Queensland South Native Title Services during the Aurora Winter Internships Round. Jack was inspired to apply for an internship as part of his legal training, and reflected on his experience below.  

“Being an intern was an eye-opening experience, as I was able to immerse myself in a unique and important field of law. This gave me the opportunity to learn about Indigenous culture, its history, and the importance of Native Title in Australia. The skills that I learned in the internship bridged the gap between the classroom textbook and reality. The changing dynamics and evolving work environment ensured everyday was eventful and filled with learning opportunities. The biggest highlight of my internship was receiving rare opportunities to learn from industry-leading mentors and observe real Native Title matters affecting communities across Queensland and Australia.” 

As Jack looks towards his future as a lawyer, his internship gave him valuable insight and experience in the legal field, skills he will be able to take into the future. He strongly advocates for the Aurora Internships Program as a result of his experience.  

“The mentorship I received from my supervising mentors made every minute as an intern a joyful experience as they were very approachable, friendly, and truly wanted me to succeed. My goal is to continue to share with others this life-changing experience and to raise awareness of this unique field of law and important subject. I strongly recommend anyone seeking a life-changing and rewarding experience to apply for an Aurora internship. There are many opportunities and avenues that Aurora offers that will be quality learning experiences and adventures.” 

Aurora’s internships are offered to Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, as four-to-six week or two-to-three-week placements across a variety of Indigenous and non-Indigenous organisations.