Collegian News

From Fashion Lover to Purpose-Driven Founder An Unexpected Start in Fashion I started working in the fashion industry straight out of university – quite a pivot from my Arts degree, but it was meant to be. I had always loved fashion, and ultimately would have made for a pretty rubbish public servant. I got my break in London, after volunteering a day a week at cult denim brand AG Adriano Goldschmied – in between other jobs – until they finally hired me. This came as a great relief after several…

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…

The Beginning of a Naval Career In 1993, a Navy Seahawk helicopter landed on the lower sports ground and presented me with a scholarship to the Australian Defence Force Academy. I joined the Navy as a Maritime Warfare Officer shortly after finishing school and remained there until June 2024 when I retired. Throughout my career, the skills and values I learnt at Toorak served me at every turn. I carried them into every submarine, leadership challenge, and tough decision. The school's core values…

I have had a very non-linear career, which is now increasingly common but wasn't something I was aware of in my time at school. A non-linear career is built by taking chances and following your passion rather than the well-worn path of others. It is not about climbing each rung of a ladder but rather about building up blocks of skills and applying them across industries and opportunities. Early Influences and Sustainability Foundations I started caring about sustainability and climate change…