SPAN – SHARING KNOWLEDGE
One of the key strengths of SCEGGS is our community; it is inspiring, affirming and supportive . There are many facets of the School which rely on the expertise and generous time of our many volunteers who contribute to our School Board, Trust Board, Old Girls’ Union, Parents’ and Friends’ Association and other committees . Irrespective of your interests or experiences, it is likely that being part of a Board or Committee will expand your networking opportunities, offer a sense of accomplishment and a chance to make a difference to an organisation or a cause that matters to you In this issue of SPAN News we interview five members of the SCEGGS community, who, while pursuing their own careers, have amplified their professional development by sharing their skills and knowledge to benefit the School We hope their stories inspire our
readers to consider volunteering for Boards or Committees at some stage in their careers .
On another note, it was wonderful to bring the community together through our SPAN events In June, we welcomed Amy DALE (2005), Katherine RAE (1989), Marnie DOUGLAS (1997), Alexis PAPAROULAS (2008), Kathleen McFarlane (Current Parent), Juliet Schmidt (SKIPPER 1982) and Abby-Rose SCHMIDT (2012) for our Women in Health and Allied Health panel and in September, SPAN joined with the Walk the Mile podcast host Garry Lee-Lindsay for an engaging panel discussion about working in the Performing Arts .
As always, you are invited to contact Tina Mavritsakis at span@sceggs.nsw. edu.au or on 02 9332 1133 to share your career story or learn more about SPAN
SPAN News is delighted to reconnect with Old Girl Poppy GRIERSON, following an interview in 2019 about her involvement in the Sydney Light Rail project. Now based in Melbourne where she is working on the largest road project in Victoria’s history, Poppy is also lending her experience delivering complex projects to the Project Control Group (PCG) for Wilkinson House, which is tasked with overseeing the overall delivery of the redevelopment. Here, Poppy shares her experiences on tackling large scale projects in often male-dominated environments.
Can you share a little bit about your current role as Director – Land Planning & Environment?
The project I’m working on now is the biggest road project in Victoria’s history My role is essentially to clear the path for the construction team to get going and also monitor compliance throughout design, construction and operation of the new road That includes things like access to and acquisition of land, obtaining and adhering to planning approvals, managing environmental impacts like tree removals and offset planting and delivering on our ambitious sustainability targets across the program It’s a big responsibility on a huge project, but I’m enjoying the challenge so far and I love living in Melbourne
You have been involved in some of the country’s largest infrastructure projects including the Sydney Light Rail and now the North East Link program in Melbourne. What are some of the emerging trends you have noticed in the sector?
Apart from everything across the board being so much more expensive post COVID, sustainability continues to be a key consideration in the infrastructure sector and over time, the focus areas under the sustainability banner continue to evolve Right now, there is a strong focus on the use of recycled materials, particularly on a project like mine where a tiny percentage increase in recycled content in concrete, for example, can have a massive impact when multiplied over more than 44,000 concrete tunnel segments
As a member of the PCG for the Wilkinson House redevelopment, what are some of the environmental factors that the team need to respond to?
Heritage and sustainability were two aspects that really drew me to the project . Preserving and interpreting the original elements of Wilkinson House –which is a prominent feature of Forbes Street – whilst constructing state-of-theart learning spaces involves some clever design considerations and fascinating construction methodologies to achieve . Whilst keeping some of the original form of the building is an excellent sustainability outcome on its own, the new design incorporates passive features like natural ventilation and access to natural light in what was previously quite a dark interior
Construction and engineering are traditionally male dominated industries. What strategies can workplaces implement to avoid gender adversity?
The most important is not to treat it as a women’s issue – there are exceptions of course, but in general women are not the
problem and women are not going to solve the problem themselves . In addition, genuine policies and practices must be implemented to shine a light on gender bias in recruitment and promotions and actively move women into technical and leadership roles, where ratios in my industry are typically lower .
What are your top three tips for thriving in a male dominated environment?
Be outspoken – for example, if I’m in meeting with all men (most days) I always mention it . Not in an angry way, but I’ll point out that we’re not going to get much diverse thought in a room full of clones of the same person!
Don’t waste time worrying – once I highlight a lack of diversity, I don’t give it any more energy or brain power If I’m worrying about being the only woman in a room, then that’s less energy I’m spending on the actual technical issues at hand .
Be visible – make sure people know what you stand for and actively align your behaviours in the workplace with those values .
“In addition, genuine policies and practices must be implemented to shine a light on gender bias in recruitment and promotions and actively move women into technical and leadership roles, where ratios in my industry are typically lower.”
Quanchai KELLER (1992)
Class of 1992’s Quanchai Keller was appointed as a Director to the School Board this year. With a wealth of experience in the financial sector, Quanchai’s passion for mentoring other women has brought her unexpected career gains too!
What have you been up to since graduating from SCEGGS?
I graduated in ’92 and completed a Bachelor of Applied Sciences at Sydney University majoring in Physiotherapy . My first job out of uni was as a graduate physio at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, rotating through
different specialties including outpatients, ICU, neuro rehab and orthopaedics After completing my graduate year, I moved to London like many young health professionals . Aussie physios were very well regarded in the UK and for almost three years I worked in NHS hospitals as a locum physio in between trips around Europe and the Middle East . When I returned home to Sydney, I was curious about working in other industries and I made a change to General Insurance . This unexpected segue turned into a 20-year career in the industry, which has afforded me many opportunities and I haven’t looked back
I also have my wonderful daughter Isabella who is in Year 8 at SCEGGS, and I feel like I’m reliving my school years through her .
What prompted your transition from a career as a physiotherapist to corporate strategy and finance?
I came back to Sydney in my mid-20s and, keen to broaden my horizons, I considered how my qualifications and skills might be transferable to another industry . I landed a role with QBE in 2001 as part of a pilot initiative in their claims area – my physio experience was specifically what they were looking for . This was my first experience in transformational change as we reshaped the Workers’ Compensation model to deliver better outcomes for injured workers and employers These days we would describe our approach as being ‘customer-centric’ and ‘evidence-based’, but back then our priority was just to do the best we could for our customers This initiative was highly successful in helping people to get back on their feet and we received great customer feedback and exceeded expectations of financial performance As a result, we redesigned the business and rolled out the new model nationally .
The company sponsored me to complete an Executive MBA, which opened the door to move into strategy and advisory roles . Since then, I have held strategic and operational
leadership roles at major organisations across the General Insurance industry . The breadth and variety of the problems I have had to solve – from new product/ market launches, innovation, strategic investments and acquisitions, and redesigning businesses – have kept me motivated and challenged to today
You are about to embark on an exciting new role as Head of Direct Distribution at Hollard Insurance – congratulations! What will this entail?
I am very excited to be starting as Head of Direct Distribution at Hollard In this role, I will be leading a team that manages our key partner relationships – CBA, Greenstone and Woolworths –to distribute our insurance products to consumers across Australia . My accountabilities span collaborating with partners to develop and execute strategy through to ensuring that we deliver on our promise to customers . When I first spoke with Paul Fahey, the CEO, I could see the enormous opportunity to build and grow the business, which is something that really energises me I also enjoy people leadership, particularly the privilege of working with talented people and bringing the best out of the team to achieve great results
As well as being a Director of the School Board, you have volunteered as an Advisory Board Member and as a mentor to other women in business. How do these roles broaden your thinking?
It would be very easy to default to autopilot after 20 years in an industry . All these ‘extra-curricular’ roles have allowed me to leverage my experience and to contribute to helping others, but it is very much a two-way street and I have also learnt and gained so much as well I strongly believe that it is important to pursue lifelong learning throughout your career to remain fresh in your thinking as well as to be relevant in your role
I was honoured to be appointed as a SCEGGS Director this year and feel fortunate to join such a collegiate group of people with such diverse experiences So far, I have found that stepping outside of the Financial Services sector has certainly broadened my perspective and made me think differently about my day-to-day work . There are many external trends that are common across Financial Services and Education, but they may impact different stakeholder groups quite differently .
As an advisory board member, I shared my industry knowledge with an early stage start up and gained an inside view of the challenges they face when working with large corporations It caused me to reflect on how corporates might better partner with young dynamic organisations with great ideas and capabilities
I have formally and informally mentored women for many years now, as I am passionate about doing my part to increase the number of talented women coming through the pipeline . It is so important to me to pay it forward, rather
“I strongly believe that it is important to pursue lifelong learning throughout your career to remain fresh in your thinking as well as to be relevant in your role.”
than be the person who pulled the ladder up behind her . Over the years I have benefited from others who have generously mentored and sponsored me, and I am really grateful .
What excites you most about your industry?
General Insurance plays an important role in supporting businesses to be resilient through managing risk, as well as providing peace of mind for consumers when things go wrong . It’s not something that people tend to think about, but they are always relieved that it is there when they need it
My career has progressed in ways that I could not have imagined at the start as the industry has matured and evolved and I’ve had opportunities to play a role in shaping the future direction for major insurers . Insurance products and the way we deliver them need to change to reflect the changing risks faced by our customers, the way they live their lives and the way they want to interact with organisations The industry has become much more dynamic over the past 10 years and we will need to stay on top of
external trends, such as climate change, driverless cars, AI and urbanisation, to ensure that our products remain relevant, accessible and valued by our customers It’s an exciting time to be in insurance .
How can current students and recent graduates get ahead in financial services careers?
There are plenty of opportunities across the financial services sector in a range of functions including customer experience, sales, technology and data, actuarial, HR and finance to name a few . The best way to get started is to talk to people in the industry to find out more about the type of role that might suit you and to learn about the well-trodden paths that people have followed in their careers Research the main organisations in the industry – whether it’s insurance, banking, superannuation, funds management – to learn about their business, customers, products, culture and values . Many organisations run graduate programs that have an annual intake and these provide a fantastic grounding for young people entering the industry .
“I have formally and informally mentored women for many years now, as I am passionate about doing my part to increase the number of talented women coming through the pipeline. It is so important to me to pay it forward, rather than be the person who pulled the ladder up behind her. ”
Work Experience 2023
Providing our girls with vocational opportunities to experience their desired career is an important part of a SCEGGS education . This would not be possible without the support of our extended SCEGGS community of Old Girls, parents (past and present!) and friends of SCEGGS
Work experience placements in all industries are highly valued; however, there is currently an increased interest in the areas of communications, criminology, design, law, medicine and veterinary science
If you can offer work experience to a keen and helpful young person in either Years 10, 11 or 12 for two to five days, please contact our Careers Adviser
Andrea Pinnock at andreapinnock@ sceggs.nsw.edu.au . All students are provided with insurance cover whilst at a workplace
Likewise, if you would like to visit us at SCEGGS to speak to students about your career in an informal and conversational manner, we would love to hear from you too!
“One of the best weeks of my life!”
(Ofelia Imm Smirk on her Year 10 Work Experience Placement)Old Girl Finola SULMAN (2010) shared her experiences and reflection on her studies and career as a Social Worker, during a lunchtime Careers visit Mia Jonson at Taronga Zoo work experience Daisy Singleton, Hannah Guest and Leyla Bensan at the ASX whilst on a two day work experience program at Wilson Investment Management
Kate Dixon (IRELAND 1984)
A strong ethical grounding has guided Old Girl and SCEGGS Trust Board Director
Kate Dixon’s career in the law, which has been pivotal to her role managing complaints at a professional association.
What attracted you to a role in law?
After two wonderful years completing my school education at SCEGGS, I wanted to continue my passions of studying English and History . So, for me, the obvious choice for tertiary studies was an Arts degree, where I could continue enjoying those interests . However, my practical side made me think that adding a Law degree would be a good choice
and so I completed a combined Arts/Law degree
How has your career unfolded since graduating from SCEGGS?
When I finished studying, I secured a role in a large law firm in Sydney and ended up working in the commercial litigation team . During that time, I worked for a range of companies and individuals who were engaged in commercial disputes . I really enjoyed getting involved with clients in lots of different industries and learning all about their business and the industries they operated in, the issues in dispute and the people involved Litigation has so much to do with people, in addition to the legal issues, because it is people who give you instructions, give evidence and are in many ways the key to success in a case Looking back on that time, I also realise how much I loved the teamwork, strategising and problem solving required for this type of work
After many years I was ready for a change and moved to work for a professional association where I am responsible for the professional conduct program This involves investigating complaints made against members of the association and, where appropriate, taking disciplinary action against members .
What do you find most interesting about your job?
I am particularly interested in how members of a profession develop technical skills, keep up to date and operate in an ethical manner I always appreciated the benefits of training and working in a large firm, where there was so much technical and professional support . And behaving in an ethical fashion was a key part of our training However, I realised that such extensive support is not available to all practitioners . One of the reasons I decided to make the change from the law firm to the professional association was because of the key role that professional associations play in providing support to their members and I wanted to be a part of that .
One of the challenges associated with providing services to clients is the need to always maintain an ethical compass and to comply with the various applicable ethical obligations For example, as a lawyer you have an overriding duty to the Court . This actually goes beyond your duty to your client and, among other things, means that you must comply with the law, not mislead the Court and be independent . Other professions also have similar ethical duties One of the things I really enjoy about my current role is that I can provide information to members about the outcomes of the professional conduct program . What I hope is that by considering examples which reflect their day-to-day experiences in the provision of services, they will be able to learn from the experiences of others and avoid making the same mistakes
The law industry is constantly evolving and changing. How do you keep up to date with new developments?
This requires you to make the space to keep up with your continuing professional development requirements and going above and beyond in your curiosity about legal developments It’s also about developing the experience to recognise a gap in your knowledge, knowing how to find out what you need and being a great researcher!
What have been some of the impacts of serving as a director on the Trust Board?
The best thing about serving on the Trust Board is that it has given me the chance to support the wonderful school that I love . This has particularly been the case over the last few years with the Light Her Path campaign in support of the fundraising for the Wilkinson House build and the extension of the scholarship
program . I have also really enjoyed the chance to speak with lots of different parents and Old Girls (particularly now that my own daughters have left SCEGGS) about supporting the School and the different ways in which people can do so .
Being on the Board has also given me a great chance to work with many highly experienced people from across the School and its various communities . In my career I have always sought to take whatever opportunities I can to experience new and different things . There is always something to learn and contribute and serving on the Trust Board at SCEGGS has been most enjoyable .
What are some of the greatest challenges for young women in a legal career and what tips can you share to overcome them?
There are many challenges for young women and men embarking on a legal career You may read about completing timesheets, long hours, complicated cases and all the information that you need to know and understand But what I want to emphasise is the importance of constantly behaving in an ethical manner As a lawyer I have always sought to focus on this In fact, my daughters joke that my views on my ethical obligations as a lawyer have had a key impact on their upbringing! I find that one way to test your ethical choices, which I have used throughout my career and whenever I have been faced with a challenging issue, is to consider how I would feel if my actions became public I find that this is a good baseline for a decision Having a good mentor with whom you can workshop issues is also really helpful
Old Girl and CEO Amanda has been active in the SCEGGS community serving on the Old Girls’ Union Committee and as a Director on the School Board. Here, Amanda shares some tips on how to start a business and how contributing to boards and committees can be part of your professional growth.
Since speaking with SPAN News in 2017 you have joined the SCEGGS School Board. How has this experience helped you to enhance your skills as a CEO?
It is an honour to be a member of the SCEGGS Board . I am also a long-term, active committee member of the Old Girls’ Union at SCEGGS . Working on any board or committee is a wonderful way to give back and to enhance critical business skills . With SCEGGS, we are fortunate to have a highly experienced and capable board that prioritises governance, risk management and long term decision making and managing risk in large organisations For me personally, the experience has helped me develop my communication skills and see the value of diverse perspectives
For those that haven’t worked on a board or committee before, I understand that it could seem daunting My advice would be to just go along to an Annual General Meeting of the OGU, Trust or P&F and challenge yourself to ask a question or two
If you volunteer to get involved, you will not only meet some wonderful people, you will see firsthand how these organisations drive outcomes so that you can chair your own board one day .
You established automotive recruitment agency Career Driven just before the onset of the global financial crisis. How did you navigate through this period?
That was a tricky time but I grew the business simply by listening and responding to my clients . Once you have the trust of a client, just listen to what they need and be prepared to change or expand your offering as you go along . Career
“Working on any board or committee is a wonderful way to give back and to enhance critical business skills.”
Driven ended up being a very successful specialist recruitment agency with great staff and a client base that included almost every major automotive brand and group in Australia . The biggest mistake I made was selling it too early
What inspired you to launch your most recent business, an online retail store of lifestyle products for cars, Autonomy?
I love building new businesses . The idea of creating something from scratch is almost irresistible for me but I also wanted to take some of the lessons I had learned from Career Driven and do things bigger and better . Autonomy is only just 12 months old and I have a very long way to go but I can already feel the need to start adjusting to market feedback like I did at Career Driven
How do you evaluate success as an entrepreneur?
To me, success as an entrepreneur is about creating momentum or an ongoing need for your product or service If you create momentum (measured by things like new enquiries or repeat customers), success should follow
What are your top five tips for those wishing to delve into running their own business?
I think my answers to this question have changed a lot since my first business back in 2017 Now I would say:
1 Create a market – gain an audience or some expressions of interest before you do anything
2 . Start small .
3 . If you don’t have co-founder, surround yourself with someone who has a vested interest in your success Friends and family are great, but you should always have someone with ‘skin in the game’ to help you through the many different decisions you need to make on a daily basis . This could be an experienced lawyer or accountant, an investor or even a future customer .
4 Brace yourself for a giant wall of rejection .
5 This last tip goes back to the first question: no matter what stage you are at in your business or career, try to make some time to give back or volunteer in some small way
“I love building new businesses. The idea of creating something from scratch is almost irresistible for me but I also wanted to take some of the lessons I had learned from Career Driven and do things bigger and better.”
SPAN Events
It has been a delight to host two events this year, the Women in Health and Allied Health Panel and Walk the Mile Live!
Audiences at the Women in Health and Allied Health event heard from six experienced women from the SCEGGS community discussing their varied careers in physiotherapy, naturopathy, speech pathology, medicine, and nursing . Moderated by journalist and Old Girl Amy DALE (2005) it was an inspiring evening for all who attended .
SPAN was also proud to present the inaugural live event for SCEGGS’ podcast Walk the Mile . Podcast host Rev Garry Lee-Lindsay led an engaging conversation with Elizabeth BUTCHER AM (1955), Peter Eyers (Head of Drama), Charlotte FRIELS (2015), Deborah Galanos (Current Parent) and Poppy LYNCH (2015) about their careers in the Performing Arts industry .
SPAN is committed to providing career networking opportunities of interest to our community . If you have any suggestions about topics or industries that you would like to know more about, please email span@sceggs.nsw.edu.au
Gillian WOOD (1983)
From microfiche to AI, Old Girl Gillian Wood’s career has seen technology develop through the years. Currently the Director, Information and Records Management at Transport for NSW, Gillian provides fascinating insight into the workplace changes these developments have spurred on.
Can you provide us with an insight into your career since graduating from SCEGGS?
I left school just before computers became mainstream and didn’t encounter them until
my last year at university, when something clicked, and I realised that this was what I was good at . Unfortunately, I’d just done an Arts degree, which is a fabulous degree for learning how to think and look at the world, but not so much if you want to go into computer programming . I ended up taking a sideways approach and leading computing changes across NSW Health libraries for many years before moving into mainstream IT I discovered that among others, I had a skill of being able to “translate Geek to English and English to Geek” . I’m now at Transport for NSW, leading a team to manage and preserve the information of the complex organisation
What have been some of the advantages of innovations in technology to managing digital information?
I’ve been through the transition from microfiche to CD-ROM, DVD, HTML-based internet, each of which has been a step forward, but each has required cultural changes in the way we work, and that has been one of the most challenging factors for most organisations Seeing NSW Health transition from a paper to electronic medical record (EMR) was an enormous cultural change . Most recently, Microsoft Teams, Google Docs and Zoom have allowed co-authoring and remote collaboration at a scale that would have taken years to adopt – but with COVID, we suddenly all gained proficiencies, and I think it’s changed the way we all operate and think about connecting
What do you think some of the challenges for information and record management will be in the next few years?
This year we’ve seen the Artificial Intelligence world take a big step forward with tools like ChatGPT and all our lives are becoming increasingly digital In my area, our role is to preserve the right information for the future –we hold the blueprints to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, among other treasures – but the
challenge is sifting through the petabytes of information that are currently being generated and stored, to find that which will be needed for government accountability and to tell the story of transport in NSW . We’re going through an enormous period of infrastructure development; we need to capture the equivalent of those blueprints for future generations .
While technical knowledge and experience are crucial to your role, how important are ‘soft skills’ in your day-to-day work?
‘Soft skills’ are vital in any role and are really the key things I look for when recruiting – if someone has curiosity, adaptability, communication and problem-solving skills, they are the person I want on my team Of course, technical skills are important, but they will change and develop over a career, whilst a person’s values and personal skills are their most valuable attributes .
How has your role on the School Board helped you home in on your team leadership skills in your role as Director, Information and Records Management at Transport NSW?
It is a great privilege to be on the School Board, ensuring that the School’s vision and long-term strategic goals are preserved for ongoing generations through good governance My role in Transport is fundamentally about risk-based compliance and I bring this lens to the Board I have learned much from the other board members in their careful analysis of options and decisions to make sure that they are sound from every angle A good example is the enormous diligence and months of discussions about the Wilkinson House project to make sure that it is the best that it can be for the School and that all risks are carefully and fully explored before proceeding . There is also a warmth and unified sense of purpose that are very encouraging to be part of .
As someone who is passionate about encouraging more women to work in higher levels within the IT industry, what advice can you give for women to achieve this?
I have huge admiration for those who are natural coders and can invent or manage software, but much of the field these days is about applying the technology to a workplace – either in project management for new or updated systems; or in supporting systems through business processes . Many CIOs (Chief Information Officers) know more about finance and projects than they do about real technology . There are lots of amazing roles and amazing women; don’t be afraid to go for something that looks interesting, don’t be put off by stereotypes and if you end up in a bad culture – change it from the inside
“Of course, technical skills are important, but they will change and develop over a career, whilst a person’s values and personal skills are their most valuable attributes.”