James Alexander Forrest

Who was James Alexander Forrest?

Sir James "Jim" Alexander Forrest was an Australian lawyer, businessman and philanthropist.

Born in Kerang, Victoria, Forrest was educated at Caulfield Grammar School in Melbourne before studying an articled clerk's course at the University of Melbourne. Although this course did not end with him receiving a law degree, Forrest became qualified to work as both a barrister and solicitor in Victoria. His admission to the Victorian Bar was moved by both Robert Menzies and Wilfred Fullagar, and presided over by William Irvine, then the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Forrest became a prominent lawyer, specialising in corporate law. He was a partner at the firm of Hedderwicks Fookes & Alston, which later merged to become Allens Arthur Robinson. During World War II, he was a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Air Force, and shortly after the war took up several board directorships of Australian companies. From 1959 to 1978, he served as the Chairman of the National Bank of Australasia, and he served at both Alcoa Australia and Western Mining Corporation as Chairman and director respectively.