Philip Rennemo
Henriksen (RL 15)
You attended Redlands for a relatively short time but were deeply involved in school life. What are your strongest memories from your time at Redlands, and how did those experiences shape you moving forward?
Besides my mates, three of whom attended my wedding in Denmark in August, my strongest memories are from the IB. I joined Redlands with just four weeks of Year 10 remaining, so much of my time centred around the IB, though there was still plenty on offer. Arriving as a 16-year-old Dane, the Australian private school experience was completely new.
In Denmark, we call teachers by their first names, wear casual clothes, and rarely have detentions. I embraced this change by getting involved, becoming Football Captain and McDouall House Captain, participating in rep sport, and leading at carnivals, especially the chaotic but fun Junior Carnivals. These experiences, along with the Australian mindset, taught me a great deal about respect and discipline, values I still carry today.
Although I had conversational English from learning it since Year 3, it wasn’t enough for academic study and I quickly realised two things: the language barrier would be my biggest challenge, and I needed to truly understand content rather than memorise it.
Knowing finals made up 80% of the grade gave me time to improve. The language barrier, initially my biggest obstacle, became an advantage, forcing me to study more deeply. By the end of two years, my English had improved significantly, and my strong grasp of the material helped me succeed in finals.
Overcoming this challenge and learning the importance of understanding over memorisation gave me a structured and resilient mindset I’ve carried since.
After returning to Denmark, you studied law at the University of Copenhagen and are now working as an Attorney at Gorrissen Federspiel. What initially drew you to pursue a career in law, and what has surprised you most about working in the legal profession?
I’ve always been a bookworm, and reading my first John Grisham novel sparked my interest in law. I also enjoy learning, and law brings together many things I value: an endless depth of knowledge, the need to argue and see multiple perspectives, and a fast-paced environment where quality and precision are essential.
What has surprised me most is how rarely there’s a clear answer. In my first year, a professor said lawyers must be creative, something many students laughed at. But it’s true. Most legal questions don’t have straightforward answers; otherwise, clients wouldn’t need a lawyer.
Our role is to protect clients’ interests, which often requires creative legal thinking to form strong, useful arguments. That balance of structure and creativity is something I didn’t expect but now really value.
Having experienced both school life in Australia and university and professional life in Denmark, what advice would you give to current Redlands students who might be considering studying or building a career overseas?
Do it.
Living abroad gives you relationships and memories that stay with you. Some may benefit your career later, but that shouldn’t be the main reason, you should do it because you want to.
Going overseas builds character. It’s both exciting and challenging, constantly pushing you outside your comfort zone. That experience is incredibly valuable, showing what you’re capable of and making future challenges feel more manageable.
Even if not for study or work, I’d encourage students to explore life overseas. Gap years are common in Denmark, with many taking one to three years before university. Having taught at the University of Copenhagen for six years, I can often tell who has taken time off—they tend to bring more perspective. There will always be time to work hard later.
While hard work matters, careers are built on relationships. In my role working with EU law, I regularly engage with people across Europe, which requires cultural awareness. Danes are very direct, what we call honest, which can come across as rude abroad. Living in Australia has helped me better understand and adapt to different communication styles.
Experiences abroad can shape how you connect and work with others throughout your career.
So again—do it.
Having experienced both Denmark and Australia, what’s one thing from each country you would combine to create your perfect lifestyle?
Aussie beaches and Danish welfare.
You mentioned that three of your Redlands friends attended your wedding in Denmark—what did it mean to have that connection from Australia represented on such a special day?
It meant the world to me. Having my mates there was incredibly special, as Australia is such an important chapter of my life. It was also wonderful for my friends and family who had heard so much about them to finally meet them.