From Law Lectures to Leading Digital Trust: Melbourne’s Journey with BAC

The Foundation of Ambition

When Melbourne first walked into a BAC lecture hall, he never imagined that the lessons from a Ne-Yo song would echo throughout his career. Today, as the Southeast Asia Manager for Cyber, Digital Privacy & Trust at Deloitte, Melbourne is shaping regional strategies for data protection, privacy, and AI. This is a trajectory that began with an A-Level Express Programme and a BAC Law Degree.

Melbourne’s decision to join BAC was fuelled by ambition and strategy. He was drawn to the A-Level Express Programme, which offered an accelerated pre-university path without compromising academic quality.

“BAC’s UK Transfer Programme further appealed to me,” he shares, “especially because it aligned with my aspirations for international exposure.”

But beyond efficiency and reputation, what truly resonated with him was BAC’s academic excellence and supportive environment. These were all the key ingredients that helped shape both his legal foundation and his confidence.

Finding Purpose in a Ne-Yo Song

One of Melbourne’s most formative experiences happened in his very first law lecture at BAC. The lecturer played Ne-Yo’s “So Sick” and challenged students to interpret its lyrics using literal, golden, and purposive statutory interpretation. What seemed like a quirky start quickly became a lens through which Melbourne viewed legal systems and eventually, data privacy regulation.

“That lesson stayed with me,” he says. “In my work today, a literal reading of the law often doesn’t address the complexity of tech or organisational realities. Applying a purposive lens for understanding the intention behind the regulation. This was essential for building pragmatic, compliant solutions.”

From Legal Aspirant to Cybersecurity Leader

While Melbourne began with a clear focus on law, his career journey soon spanned multiple industries ranging from legal practice as a solicitor and barrister, to roles in banking, technology, and management consultancy. Eventually, he found his niche in cybersecurity and digital trust.

As a regional expert at Deloitte, no two days are alike. He advises clients on data protection, AI governance, and cyber readiness across several jurisdictions. His work includes policy development, thought leadership, and navigating Southeast Asia’s fragmented regulatory landscape all while staying ahead of technological trends and legal developments.

One of the key speakers for BAC's Tech Talk: Cybersecurity Resilience in the Era of Digital Transformation panel event.

Advice to BAC Students: Stay Open, Stay Disciplined

To current BAC students still exploring their path, Melbourne offers clear advice: “It’s okay not to have all the answers now. Be open but stay disciplined. Cultivate adaptability and critical thinking. Pursue internships. Join professional networks.”

Melbourne’s journey is proof that success doesn’t have to follow a straight line. His law degree gave him the tools, but his pursuit to grow and be resilient in the face of uncertainty are what propelled him forward.

Lessons in Leadership

Transitioning from student life to a leadership role wasn’t just about climbing the ladder for Melbourne, it was about mindset. “Technical skill is important,” Melbourne explains, “but success also means navigating uncertainty, leading diverse teams, and thinking long-term.”

One standout moment in his career was serving as outsourced Data Protection Officer (DPO) for a global consulting firm in Singapore. Helping the organisation attain IMDA’s Data Protection Trustmark certification was more than a career highligh because it also reinforced his mission: translating abstract regulations into systems that foster real-world trust.

A Note to His Younger Self

“If I could go back,” he reflects, “I’d tell myself to embrace uncertainty. I never expected to leave the legal field. But doing so led me to work with three of the Big Four as one of their youngest managers. Every step outside the plan added unexpected value.”

Melbourne’s entire journey has been a testament to the world-changing power of what a good education, like the one he had at BAC, can do. And what a journey it has been. From walking the halls of BAC as an aspiring lawyer, to now giving a keynote speech about cybersecurity in the very same halls that he had walked.

It’s a reminder that law degrees don’t just build lawyers, but they also build thinkers, leaders, and changemakers in every industry.