Christian Wood

“When I moved to Australia, it felt less like emigrating to a foreign country and more like closing a loop.”

Name: Christian Wood

Occupation: Lawyer, Honorary Consul for Paraguay in Victoria, Director (NFP sector) and Secretary for the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries in Victoria.

State of residency: Victoria.

Favourite place in Australia: Too many favourites… Great Barrier Reef, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay, 12 Apostles, Uluru.

Upon Arrival: I tasted Vegemite! No one warned me it would be such a salty spread!.

Story edited by Lucy Coulson. Digital edition by Johany Ortiz.

Christian Wood is a commercial real estate lawyer and the Honorary Consul for Paraguay in Victoria. He is perhaps best known for bridging worlds — drawing on his legal background and consular role to support the Paraguayan and wider Latin American community in Australia, while giving back through board and pro-bono work with not-for-profit organisations, including his role as a director on the board of a Foundation in the not-for-profit sector.

Christian cares deeply about representation, community connection and creating pathways for newcomers — from anywhere in the world — to feel that they belong here. Through his volunteering and NFP board roles, he has worked to open doors for others, mentor those finding their feet, and show that migrants can arrive, contribute and thrive. Having navigated the experience of settling in a new country himself, he counts helping others do the same as the contribution of which he is most proud.

Christian also holds a deep, personal connection to Australia: he is a descendant of the Australian colonists who left to found a utopian socialist colony in Paraguay. For him, returning and raising his family here has always felt like closing a family circle.

TELL US YOUR STORY

Christian enjoying time with his family at Iguazu Falls.

My ancestors were among the Australians who, in the 1890s, left this country to build “New Australia”, a utopian socialist colony in Paraguay. So, when I moved to Australia in 2005, it felt less like emigrating to a foreign country and more like closing a loop, returning to the land my family had once left in search of a better world. Heritage sparked the idea; opportunity made it real. I was already a qualified lawyer when I arrived (I used to work as an International Income Tax lawyer for KPMG in Paraguay), so my first challenge was requalifying and transferring into the Australian profession. It meant starting again in many ways, learning a new legal system, proving myself, and adapting to a different professional culture. But I was determined, and step by step I found my footing. My first roles taught me how things worked here; each one opened the door to the next.

Over time I built my career in commercial real estate, an area I am very passionate about, because behind every property transaction there are people, businesses and communities trying to put down roots and grow. Alongside my studies at the University of Melbourne, I worked part-time to help set up and run the Consulate General of Paraguay in Melbourne. This is how I met most of the Paraguayan community, and it drew me to service. The consular office in Melbourne did extremely well, so the Paraguayan government decided to open an Embassy in Canberra, which was a bittersweet experience, as the office in Melbourne had to be relocated to Canberra, as our government could not justify having two separate offices.

In 2018, my wife and I welcomed twin girls into the world. Since then, we've done our best to make sure they grow up knowing their Paraguayan heritage. I try to speak Spanish at home, cooking the dishes I grew up with, and sharing the stories and traditions that shaped me. Watching them embrace both sides of who they are, Paraguayan and Australian, has been one of the great joys of my life, and a reminder of why keeping that connection alive matters so much.

Christian and his two daughters.

I became the Honorary Consul for Paraguay in Victoria in 2024, a role that lets me represent the country of my birth, strengthen the ties between Paraguay and Australia, and support Paraguayans and the wider Latin American community here. That same instinct led me to the not-for-profit sector, where I now serve as a non-executive director for one of the State's oldest philanthropic institutions, with roots reaching back to the benevolent fund established in 1889. Since 2014, the Freemasons Foundation has granted more than $20 million to charitable projects across Victoria, funding everything from mental health and cancer research, to disaster relief, food and clothing banks, First Nations-led programs, and scholarships that help young Victorians pursue their education regardless of their background. Being part of an organisation with such a long history of quiet, practical generosity, and helping steer where that support goes, is a genuine privilege and a highlight of my contribution here.

When I look back, the thread running through it all is bridges — bridges between Paraguay and Australia, between my ancestors' journey and my own, between newcomers and the country that can become their home. I arrived carrying a family history that had already crossed the ocean once. My hope is that my own contribution helps make the crossing a little easier for those who come after me.

CHALLENGES

Requalifying and starting again – I arrived as an experienced lawyer, and requalifying in a new legal system meant putting my ego aside, going back to study, and proving myself from the ground up. It was humbling, but it taught me patience and resilience.

Attending a networking meeting.

Building my network from scratch – Starting again professionally also meant starting again socially, with no established network in a new country. But this turned out to be the silver lining of that first challenge: rebuilding from the ground up pushed me to put myself out there, and along the way I made lasting friendships. It even led me to my wife, who is also a lawyer. What felt at first like a daunting gap became one of the most rewarding parts of my journey.

Finding my place between two cultures – As a migrant, I had to learn how Australia works, its humour, its way of doing business, even its food, while staying true to my Paraguayan roots. Belonging in two worlds at once takes effort, but it has become one of my greatest strengths.

CONTRASTS AND SIMILARITIES

Time and pace – In Paraguay, life runs on relationships more than the clock; plans are fluid and a coffee can turn into an afternoon. Australia is more structured and punctual, where diaries and deadlines are respected. It took some adjusting, but I've come to appreciate how both approaches have their place.

Warmth and reserve – Latin culture is openly affectionate and expressive; we hug, we talk loudly, we bring everyone into the conversation. Australians can seem more reserved at first, but I soon learned that beneath the understated exterior is genuine warmth, loyalty and a wonderful, dry sense of humour.

There's always an occasion to proudly wear the colours of Paraguay.

A love of barbecue and a cold beer – Here is where the two cultures meet perfectly: Paraguayans and Australians both live for a good barbecue with family and friends. Our asado and the Aussie barbie are practically cousins, and both go hand in hand with an ice-cold beer, good company and long afternoons outdoors. It was one of the first things that made me feel right at home.

PIECE OF ADVICE

Come with an open mind and be ready to start again – Australia rewards those who embrace it fully. Your qualifications and experience matter, but so does your willingness to adapt, to learn how things are done here, and to be patient while you find your feet. Say yes to opportunities, and don't be afraid to begin from the bottom; it's often the fastest way up.

Give before you take, and build genuine relationships – My path opened up through service and connection, not shortcuts. Get involved in your community, volunteer, show up, and contribute where you can. Just as importantly, find a mentor: someone who has walked the path before you, who can open doors, offer honest advice and help you avoid the potholes. A good mentor can help you progress your journey more than I can say. Success here is rarely a solo effort; it grows out of trust and the relationships you build along the way.

Be kind to yourself and keep going – Struggling is part of the journey, not a sign of failure. I've had humbling moments and setbacks, and each one passed. Lean on your community, ask for help, and remember why you came. The hard chapters are often the ones that shape you the most, so don't give up.

IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS

Over the next decade, Christian's focus will be on strengthening the ties between Paraguay and Australia even further through his consular work, deepening the trade, cultural and community connections between the two countries he calls home. Professionally, his goal is to become a partner at a law firm, building on his practice and taking on greater responsibility and leadership. Bringing those two worlds together — his profession and his service — is exactly where he hopes to be.

Do you want to follow Christian’s journey? Connect with him on   Linkedin

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With love and gratitude - The Latin Stories Australia team