Meg is a third generation St Aidan’s girl who started in 1998. She was the Junior and Senior School Hartland House Captain as well as Rowing Captain in the year St Aidan’s achieved the Aggregate Cup. In 2007, Meg was the recipient of the Walker Memorial Prize for Sporting Spirit.
The graduating assessment in Information Technology Systems proved to be a lightbulb moment for Meg. Meg devoted every spare minute to the film she was required to write, direct, shoot and edit, and her dedication paid off when she was awarded the subject prize at Annual Awards.
Meg went on to study Film and Television at Bond University and in her fourth semester she was the most junior student in a team of three selected to produce a Qantas advertisement in Longreach, winning the Best Editor award for her film. In her first year out of university, on request from a music video
MEG RYLANCE
2007
Editor
director, Meg flew to Norway to edit a Christmas single for the Norwegian X Factor runner up.
At 26 years old, Meg became the youngest person to achieve an Editor role at MasterChef. In the difficult and competitive world of prime-time television, Meg is a sought-after contractor, having worked on The Block, My Kitchen Rules, Great Australian Spelling Bee, Australia’s Got Talent, Great Australian Bake Off and House Rules.
The Executive Producer of MKR wrote, “in all my time producing, I can safely say that Meg has a gift. A rare and unique skillset that is well beyond her years. She is truly one of the country’s great young editors.”
Meg reflects on her time at St Aidan’s, “I was never an academic, and yet I still felt special and supported. St Aidan’s offered so many different experiences and then encouraged and facilitated us to excel in the disciplines we took special interest in.”
Louise Rawlings has come a long way from her school days at St Aidan’s.
Now a Director of Economic Policy in the Federal Government, Louise has worked for several government departments including the Prime Minister’s department. Louise’s work in government has spanned the full policy development process including budgets and through Cabinet.
She is also a married mother of three and looks back fondly on her time at St Aidan’s.
“St Aidan’s encouraged us to think that girls can do anything and allowed each of us to follow our own passions.”
DR LOUISE RAWLINGS
Tamaschke 1997 Economist
“These various passions were encouraged within a school community that was so warm and positive and this was critical at such a formative time of life,” Louise says.
Louise is also a visiting research fellow at the Australian National University. She has a PhD from the University of Queensland on regional economic development and has published academic papers on labour economics and health economics. She is also a member of the Economic Society of Australia and the Women in Economics Network.
KATE GREENWOOD 1979
Barrister
The life lessons Kate Greenwood learnt from her time at St Aidan’s taught her not to wait for favourable conditions but, she says, “to pursue what needs to be done and to be part of the change that is required.”
It is this sentiment that Kate has followed throughout her life and career, in law, technology, and management, working for many years in International Humanitarian Law and in the War Crimes Tribunal at The Hague. Currently, Kate is working in law reform as it affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, an area she is very passionate about.
“Australia is unique because we live with the world’s oldest continuous culture and we need to do that better,” she says.
KATE GREENWOOD
1979
Barrister
Kate was inspired by a remarkable physics teacher to pursue science as well as humanities and believes that the friendships formed across the whole of St Aidan’s and the school’s expectation to give everything a go has had a huge impact on her life.
“I have done a lot but I think one day I’ll stop to look back and see a swathe of change that I will identify as my contribution,” she says.
EMMA ISHTA
Douglas-Powell 2007
Actor
The influence of her schooling at St Aidan’s continues to play a major role in the life of US-based actor, Emma Ishta.
Now considering middle school options for her step daughter, Emma is reflecting on the confidence, maturity, independence and unfailing belief in herself and the women around her that her school life in Corinda gave her.
“I was surrounded by exceptional teachers who nurtured my passion and challenged me to challenge myself,” she says.
“I wouldn’t be an actor if it weren’t for my teacher Gerry Kay and his continued encouragement, guidance and mentorship. Mr Kay came to my 21st birthday party and gave me the compassionate kick I needed to start seriously pursuing acting.”
EMMA ISHTA
Douglas-Powell 2007 Actor
“Gentle Mr Galbraith was always so kind and shared his great love of music with me. Without these teachers and so many more, my path may have been very different.”
In her career, Emma has landed roles in the award nominated film I Smile Back, upcoming feature film Crown Vic as well as television shows Black Box, Power and Manhattan Love Story. She was cast as the lead role of Kirsten Clark in the American TV series Stitchers. She is currently developing a documentary series on motherhood and has a part in a new Netflix series, The Good Cop.
CAE ASHTON Rees
Little did Cae Ashton know when she was studying at St Aidan’s that the skills she would learn at school would continue to keep her in good stead throughout her life.
Now the principal at Autism Queensland Limited, Cae’s career has seen her heavily involved in special needs education. Part of this focus stems from her days at St Aidan’s.
“There was a strong sense of empathy and enormous respect for others within the culture of St Aidan’s. There was no question about all of us being given the same broad range of opportunities, irrespective of our abilities. I genuinely believe my chosen career path was strongly influenced by my positive experiences at St Aidan’s,” she says.
CAE ASHTON
Rees 1980 Education
Cae loves her job, but stresses the importance of maintaining a good balance with other aspects of life. For release, she regularly performs in a string ensemble, an interest first developed and nurtured at St Aidan’s.
For Brisbane architect Madeleine Swete Kelly, St Aidan’s is more than a school – it is family.
She speaks fondly of her former school and its influence on her life, both professionally and personally.
“Being at a single gender school allowed me to become a woman in a nurturing and caring environment without distractions. I had amazing peers and teachers who inspired all the girls to believe that they could achieve anything they put their mind to,” she says.
Madeleine studied a Bachelor of Design and a Masters of Architecture at Queensland University of Technology. After graduating she worked for the UNHCR Shelter and Settlement Section in Geneva for a year, which included a trip to Ethiopia to develop a master plan for six camps on the country’s border with Somalia.
MADELEINE SWETE KELLY
2006
Architect
Back in Brisbane, Madeleine pursued her passion for architecture and has worked on a range of master planning, commercial and educational projects.
In a complete 360, the school that has had such an important impact on her as a student is now one of Madeleine’s clients. She is currently working on the new master plan for the School and Ambiwerra.
RACHEL SAKURAI
Condos 1999
Business
At the end of high school, when most students are excitedly looking forward to schoolies, Rachel Sakurai, then just 17, opted to travel overseas and begin a humanitarian quest to make a difference in the lives of others, which she has continued to this day.
Rachel is now an Executive General Leader at Computershare and has more than 14 years’ experience in the financial services industry and the not-for-profit sector. And yet, it was a geography lesson at St Aidan’s in Year 11 that would have a profound effect on teenage Rachel.
“I can always remember seeing a picture in class of a young malnourished child in Africa. I felt that his eyes were staring at me and asking for help,” she says.
RACHEL SAKURAI
Condos 1999 Business
This realisation came at the same time as an accident on the Brisbane River claimed the life of one of her friends and Rachel felt she needed to make a difference in the lives of others.
To this day Rachel is heavily involved in World Youth International and the organisation’s work in Nepal. She has already sponsored several children, giving them the chance of an education and life-changing opportunities. She also sits on the St Aidan’s Foundation, the Brisbane Roar FC and the Computershare Global Change a Life committee.
JULIA MCKENNA
Wilkins 1990 Community Service
From her school days at St Aidan’s, Julia McKenna knew she wanted to help others. It was this social conscience and the desire to make a positive impact in people’s lives that Julia says was not only fostered, but encouraged at St Aidan’s.
After completing a Business Degree in Accounting and Banking and Finance, Julia’s career in International Investment Banking, saw her living and working in Sydney, London and Singapore over an 11 year period. Upon her return to Australia Julia’s focus changed dramatically.
Today, Julia is the Director and Chief Financial Officer of Friends with Dignity, a national not-for-profit organisation which provides assistance to men, women and children who have been displaced by domestic violence.
JULIA MCKENNA
Wilkins 1990
Community Service
Founded just three years ago, Friends with Dignity has recently been named as the 2018 Australian Charity of the Year.
For Julia, the influence of her time at St Aidan’s on her professional career has been immeasurable.
“I feel St Aidan’s gave me the confidence to believe that I could achieve whatever I set my mind to. For me, that involved not only my finance career, but also using my strong sense of social justice,” Julia says.
born to fly
For a copy of earlier editions of Born to Fly please contact us: reception@staidans.qld.edu.au
