Toorak Collegian Stories

As Director of Amavi Transpire, Paige Harris has built a global wellbeing community offering meditation, movement, and 360 wellbeing experiences to hundreds across the world How did you find your career path as a Director of your own wellness business? If we trace this journey all the way back, Amavi began when I was just a small girl, practicing Qi-gong with my dad. It was these early formative years that inspired the pathway I am on today. As time went on, I faced challenges in my home…

Dr. Megan Bowman, Director of the Centre for Climate Law and Governance, King’s College London; Head Girl 1989 After graduating from Toorak College, I studied Arts/Law at Monash University with a double major in Japanese Language and Egyptian Archaeology. In the classroom I learned about Renaissance art and Roman senates in my Arts degree and the full gamut of legal process in my Law degree. Outside of the classroom I earned a wage at a karaoke bar by pouring whiskey and singing Harajuku tunes…

The first African-Australian woman to lead a multi-million dollar corporate venture fund Have you heard of venture capital? It’s like the lifeblood of global start-ups - they wouldn’t be able to survive without it. Venture capitalists (VCs) are like the fairy godmothers of entrepreneurship, except instead of a magic wand, they use their vast network and expertise to help start-ups access the resources they need to scale and grow. And let me tell you, it’s not an easy job. To put it into…

Carolyn’s extraordinary passion for our School, and ensuring its legacy continues to grow and develop from generation to generation, is one that can only be described as inspirational. Carolyn has held many roles at Toorak since commencing as a student in the 1960’s including parent, staff member, board member and most significantly as President of the Collegians Committee. Her contribution has been wide and varied and includes her time as a P.E teacher in the late 70’s and early 80’s when she…

Originally from Shanghai, China, Iris is a Boarding House Supervisor and International Student Coordinator at Toorak College. Her job entails looking after our international students and being the communication bridge between the School and our international families. What were your aspirations before coming to Toorak College? Before coming to Toorak College, my aspiration was to be an event host. I hosted some school events when I was in China, and I really enjoyed the experience. Tell us…

Amanda Leck is the Executive Director of the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) where she leads a program of work on behalf of the Commonwealth Government through the National Recovery and Resilience Agency. I didn’t know that my current role even existed when I began my career in the mid-80s. There was never a grand plan to one day lead a National Institute that works to support Australians to be more resilient to disasters. Upon reflection, it seems all my previous roles have…

I began my career as a pharmacist. Early in my career, I worked with people who had a heroin dependency and were on the methadone program. It sparked an interest in addiction treatment when I saw the improvement in people’s lives as part of the methadone treatment program. I soon moved to the UK and worked in a specialist drug treatment clinic in central London, where I had the chance to see a broader range of innovative treatments and research. When I returned to Australia a few years later, I…

How I overcame challenges and found my passion Graduating in the class of 2019, I now study and work within the Melbourne music industry. Growing up at Toorak from Prep through to Year 12 really helped me nurture my creative passions. It not only gave me the opportunities to explore music through a multitude of different avenues, but also showed me what I can bring to the table as a woman in an industry that is all about sharing emotion and creating change. The Toorak community within the…