Breaking In, Standing Out - Jennifer Watt TC 1995

A Fresh Start at Toorak College

My parents sent me to Toorak College in Year 11 because I was, quite frankly, ‘cruising’ at the local high school. It was a rude shock when I arrived at Toorak. My grades plummeted from straight As to Cs and Ds. The standards at Toorak were a lot higher than they had been at my previous school.

Proving Myself

I had selected a range of subjects to undertake in Year 11, including a Year 12 History subject. The teacher of that subject was not pleased that a girl ‘from the high school’ should assume she was capable of taking on this subject. I made it my mission to prove her wrong.

Finding My Place

I was fortunate that I knew many of the girls when I arrived at Toorak. I had attended both Kunyung Primary and Derinya Primary schools, so there were plenty of familiar faces. I was thrilled at the sporting opportunities and facilities offered at Toorak and promptly signed myself up for as many teams as possible. An aerobics enthusiast, I was delighted that there were aerobics classes before school, three times a week. My mother probably wasn’t as thrilled about the early morning drop-offs. At least I wasn’t a swimmer!

A Year of Growth

I navigated my way through Year 11. By the end of that year, I had resurrected my academic performance, convinced the history teacher I was worthy of her class, and fully entrenched myself in all of the terrific activities Toorak had on offer. I also had a lovely group of friends who I am still close with today.

Stepping into Leadership

The transition to Year 12 was interesting. I was voted in as a prefect by my peers and felt proud to have established myself as a leader within 12 months. However, not everyone shared that sentiment.

There were concerns whether someone who had only been at the school a short time should hold the role and I was asked to write a letter to the Principal explaining why I should retain the position.

In my letter, I described the challenges of changing schools and the efforts I’d made to contribute to the school community. I also shared a similar experience from Year 5, when I had become a House Captain a year after switching primary schools. The Principal was pleased with the letter and was supportive of me retaining my position.

Recognising Opportunity

Having experienced both a public school and a private school, I was very aware of the additional benefits that Toorak offered me and very grateful that my parents had invested in me in this way. The teachers, the facilities, and the sporting opportunities were all a cut above and I am quite sure that the two years I spent at Toorak considerably lifted my final grades in Year 12.

A Clear Ambition

I already had the idea in high school that I wanted to work in sport, as I loved it so much. I was also very clear that my athletic ability would not deliver me a career in sport! I was a heart and soul participant but never the best in any team.

Pursuing a Career in Sport

I had identified that there was a commerce degree at Deakin University that offered a major in sports management – the only degree of its kind back then. I can’t even remember writing down any other courses I was interested in; I had my heart set on this one. It was my only ambition. Fortunately, I was accepted into that program and have been able to work in sport for my whole career. I started at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, then spent 14 years at the Melbourne Football Club and five years at the Melbourne Cricket Club. I have been at the North Melbourne Football Club, in my current role as CEO, for just over two years. I feel incredibly privileged every day that I get to hold this position at this amazing club in this much-loved game. I am the only female CEO of a club in the AFL, which I’m very proud of, but I also look forward to the day when I’m not an exception. I’d never had a particular ambition to be CEO of an AFL club, probably because I couldn’t imagine it when I was at school and there were only men in positions of leadership across the AFL. The game has changed significantly with the introduction of AFLW and women now holding senior positions across the game, although it is clear there is still more progress to be made. My jobs have delivered me extraordinary opportunities and experiences, none more so than North Melbourne winning the AFLW Premiership in 2024. It was the culmination of years of work by the team and club, and to be part of a premiership is something I will never forget (and given that I got my first ever tattoo after the win, I am unlikely to).

Memorable Moments in Sport

The premiership is hard to beat but being part of football events such as The Big Freeze at the G, Pink Lady matches, ANZAC Eve, Grand Final days, and all of the other incredible sporting and entertainment events that happened at the MCG while I was there, along with all of the amazing people I have got to meet and work with, have provided me with a very fulfilling and enjoyable working life.

Lessons That Last

My time at Toorak College, even though only for two years, was incredibly important in not only helping me reach my academic potential but also for the broader lessons I learnt about resilience and adaptation. Changing schools at 16 is as hard as it is at 11. I built a lot of muscle in those two school transitions around my ability to influence people, join existing groups, and break into established environments, something I have leaned on heavily throughout my career.

Reflections on the Future

As I prepared to attend my 30-year school reunion at Toorak College recently and I watch my own two daughters navigating their way through high school, I reflect on how deeply the school experience helps shape our future paths. I have come to the view that the very best tool I can arm my daughters with is positive self-esteem and self-belief.

Living the Dream

I am now one of those annoyingly smug people who say, “I get to do my dream job every day.” My greatest ambition for the future is that my daughters get to say the same thing about whatever career they decide to pursue.