Meaghan Simpson, the former legal chief of Webjet, has filed a legal claim alleging that she was dismissed from the company after raising concerns about potential misrepresentations in the CV of its chief executive, Katrina Barry. Simpson claims Barry exaggerated her work experience at Westpac Bank and Virgin Australia, leading to her termination in June 2024. The case is now under consideration in the Victorian Federal Court.
Claims and Denials in Court Filings
In the court filings, Simpson asserts that her termination followed her decision to inform three directors at Webjet that she would seek legal advice regarding her obligations to report these alleged discrepancies to regulators. Shortly after this communication, she was let go from her role.
Simpson’s claim indicates that Barry has never practiced as a lawyer, contrary to statements made about her legal background. Webjet, a travel company valued at approximately $1.7 billion, has firmly rejected these allegations. According to a spokesperson, Simpson’s dismissal was due to under-performance, and the company intends to robustly defend against her claims.
“Webjet’s Board completed appropriate reviews of Ms Barry’s CV and is confident in Ms Barry and her leadership of Webjet. The case is not about Ms Barry’s CV,”
the spokesperson stated.
Broader Context of Workplace Disputes
Newly released court documents reveal that Simpson also accused Barry of failing to address a potential violation of the company’s internal share trading policy. In response, Webjet has categorically denied this characterization and has opted not to provide additional statements while the case is ongoing.
The company’s defense includes assertions that Simpson struggled to accept feedback regarding her performance. Simpson has contested this claim, stating that Barry did not present specific instances of alleged performance issues.
Simpson is represented by Maurice Blackburn, a law firm specializing in workplace law, which has not commented further on the case. Her LinkedIn profile indicates that she joined Webjet in May 2024 as company secretary and legal counsel before being promoted to general counsel just two months later.
Notably, three months prior to her dismissal, Simpson shared a LinkedIn post from the Human Rights Law Centre, which highlighted the challenges faced by women who blow the whistle on workplace misconduct.
In recent years, Webjet has undergone significant structural changes, including the spin-off of its business-to-business operations into a separate entity, Web Travel Group, in 2024. The remaining Webjet Travel Group is currently embroiled in a takeover battle involving rival online travel operator HelloWorld and private equity firm BGH Capital.
This legal dispute is part of a growing trend of workplace conflicts being litigated in courts across Australia. Other notable cases include a trader’s claim against ANZ Bank and a dispute involving former employees of Metcash, who allege they faced bullying from the company’s chief financial officer. Additionally, a contractor dismissed by the ASX has filed a complaint after claiming he was let go for revealing problems with a technology project.
The outcome of Simpson’s case could have significant implications not only for her but also for workplace accountability and corporate governance practices within the travel industry and beyond.
