Profile
“We believe effective advising means helping people understand not just what questions they have, but the depth behind them. Teaching this way deepens relationships and leads to lasting connections”
Michael Bisaro,
StraightLine
Ben Carter brings a unique blend of commercial acumen and deep sector knowledge to his HR leadership, shaped by a career that spans the full spectrum of the legal profession. He began his journey as a practising lawyer, gaining invaluable firsthand insight into the demands and expectations of legal practice. This experience gave him a genuine appreciation for the pressures lawyers face and the importance of a supportive workplace. He then transitioned into legal recruitment, where he honed his understanding of the critical role that talent acquisition and retention play in a firm’s success.
These early experiences gave Carter a rare, 360-degree perspective on the legal ecosystem and reinforced his belief that no matter the industry, people are at the heart of every successful business. Over the past two decades, he has held senior HR roles at global law firms, leading initiatives that build leadership capability, foster inclusive and high-performing cultures and strengthen employer brand to attract and retain top talent. He is known for driving meaningful cultural change and supporting exponential business growth.
As head of HR at Dentons Australia, Carter’s leadership was instrumental in the firm being named a 5-Star Employer of Choice in 2025, recognised for innovative leadership pathways and a groundbreaking commitment to gender equity, including achieving a 0% gender pay gap. He is a passionate advocate for the transformative power of HR in driving business success and growth.
Level 14, 85 Castlereagh Street
02 9931 4999
ben.carter@dentons.com
au.linkedin.com/in/ben-carter-7260a221
dentons.com
Ben Carter
HR Director
Dentons
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Bio
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Profile
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Bio
Milestones
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Bio
Milestones
“Transitioning from a pure advisory focus to a combined leadership and advisory position has made balancing all responsibilities with limited time especially difficult. To address this, we’re bringing in people who can share the load, training our team to handle more, and implementing new tools to boost productivity”
Michael Bisaro,
StraightLine
2003–2005
2006–2010
2010–2022
Present
2018–Present
Lawyer, London law firm
2003–2005
Recruitment Consultant, recruitment agencies
2006–2010
Head of HR and Head of Resourcing/Talent Acquisition at MinterEllison
2010–2022
HR Director at Dentons since 2022
Dentons named 5-Star Employer of Choice by AL–NZL
Dentons becomes the first major law firm with a 0% gender pay gap
Present
Launched The Advisor Authority, a training company that mentors financial advisors through her Elite Advisor Success System™, helping them create their own scalable businesses
2018–Present
Milestones
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
“Transitioning from a pure advisory focus to a combined leadership and advisory position has made balancing all responsibilities with limited time especially difficult,” he says. “To address this, we’re bringing in people who can share the load, training our team to handle more, and implementing new tools to boost productivity. It’s just as challenging as I expected, especially letting go of tasks I once handled directly. Ultimately, it all comes back to managing capacity, time, and the continual adjustments that come with it.”
With an aging wealth management industry, Bisaro has placed much of StraightLine’s attention on internal mentorship. By partnering with various universities, Bisaro and StraightLine are providing opportunities for the advisors who will be carrying the industry’s torch into the next era.
“The mentoring aspect of what we’re doing has really defined our corner of the industry. It’s become central to how we grow, not just as a firm, but as individual professionals. Mentorship allows us to expand our capabilities beyond ourselves and ensures that knowledge and experience are carried forward,” he explains.
“Of course, there’s a practical benefit to our firm in cultivating future talent, but it goes far beyond that. The industry needs this. People need this. Supporting and developing the next generation of advisors is a natural and essential extension of who we are and what we do.”