Beyond the School Gates

From International Relations to Intensive Care – Sam Orton (OM 2006)

Sam Orton (OM 2006) looks back on his experience at St Michael’s with very fond memories. During his time at School, Sam had many Co-curricular highlights, including being involved with many different Sports teams, participating in School Productions, and leading his peers as Prefect and Co-Captain of the School.

“I really enjoyed school. I felt really lucky to be supported by the School community and to have made lifelong friends with a group of diverse students who went on to do a whole range of things.” After School, Sam wasn’t entirely sure where his university studies would take him. “I enjoyed Biology and Chemistry in school, but I thought I’d end up in International Relations, so I did an Arts and Science double degree at Melbourne University”. It wasn’t until Sam picked up an Anatomy subject as an Elective that he found his true passion for medicine, going on to complete a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). Sam now works in the Intensive Care Ward at the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, where he lives with his partner and two children. Speaking about what he loves most about his specialisation, Sam says “I love the physiology–the nuts and bolts of how the body works. As I get older, I become more interested in the bigger picture and getting to know people and their families. Each healthcare system exists only in the community that it serves, and it’s a privilege to be a part of an experience with other people that is so unique to every individual who passes through those doors.” When reflecting on his experience at St Michael's, Sam is grateful to the School for preparing him and his peers to enter further study and the workforce by allowing students to experience and appreciate a variety of different subjects and Co-curricular activities. “I believe that any potential career path or life goal is accessible from St Michael's. My friends are all over the world doing so many different things. Whether it’s sport, drama, outdoor activities; the School gives you so many different opportunities to figure out what it is that you want to do when you leave. It was because of this environment that I was happy to take a punt on medicine as I could see that the world was bigger than just one subject.” To the current cohort of students at St Michael’s, Sam offers some great advice. “You don’t need to know what you want to do by the end of Year 12. For me, it was really daunting, and I worried a lot about what I was going to do when I left. I found that all the doors opened up once I stopped worrying. One thing that I would say though, is that the current cohort will be a lot more resilient than I was when I was at school. I have a lot of respect for students who have been going through school over the last 2 years.” We thank Sam for his kind and encouraging words, and congratulate him on his fantastic work in the field of Intensive Care Medicine.

Forging a path between space and law – Thomas Graham (OM 2014)

After graduating from St Michael's, Thomas Graham (OM 2014) completed a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne, majoring in Physics. From there, he was accepted into a Master of Science program within the university's astrophysics group but decided to pursue a Juris Doctor instead. It was this change of course that enabled Thomas to couple his passion for science and law.

After studying Physics and gaining some insights into the workings of academic departments, Thomas identified that there was a need for more funding and organisational support, from both government and corporations. Thomas realised that he could make a real impact by combining his passion for science with law, to become an advocate for the scientific community. “I applied to complete a Juris Doctor at the University of Melbourne, and by framing it as a way to contribute to the scientific community, it became a very attractive choice.” During Thomas’s first Semester of his law studies, he came across an expression of interest to join the legal and regulatory team at the Melbourne Space Program. “It seemed too good to be true as it perfectly combined my interest in space and in law.” Thomas joined the Melbourne Space Program in 2018 as a Regulatory Officer. He then moved into the role of Company Secretary, and finally, Thomas transitioned into the role of Business Sustainability Manager, where he managed the Melbourne Space Program’s legal team. During his time with the Program, Thomas’s achievements included contributing significantly to the launch of ACRUX-1 (Melbourne Space Program's first student-built nanosatellite), designing link budgets, ensuring that the Program met all legal and compliance obligations, and organising a successful virtual panel about Space Law in conjunction with the Science and Technology Law Association. Now, Thomas is a PhD student at Swinburne University of Technology, where he focuses on creating a framework that allows for the responsible and ethical implementation of artificial intelligence in outer space. The research project that Thomas is undertaking called ‘Responsible AI in Space’, is a collaboration between space scientists, law and policy experts, government, the space industry and those involved in the field of artificial intelligence. “The work that we are doing will enable industry to develop and deploy artificial intelligence in space in a responsible manner that will maximise the benefits of these systems whilst minimising any unintended negative consequences.” With data becoming more sophisticated, this also presents ethical and legal dilemmas that need to be addressed. “Earth observation imagery from satellites has improved dramatically with high resolution images offering superior detail. The opportunity for an individual’s privacy to be violated by incredibly high resolution, AI processed, earth observation data, looking into their backyard or through a skylight, is just one example of how technological advancements in space may have ethical implications.” For St Michael’s students interested in pursuing a career in the space industry, Thomas recommends finding opportunities and making connections in the field. Thomas believes in the importance of young people having their voices heard in the space sector, and he recommends organisations like the Melbourne Space Program which champion the ideas of young people in a collaborative and engaging space. We wish Thomas all the best for an exciting career ahead in the rapidly developing field of space.