MAINTAINING SPACES Empowering Minds

Family Ties

We moved around a lot when I was young – settling in 12 different Australian towns by the time I was 13. It was a nomadic lifestyle necessitated by my father’s successful career as a department store manager with Grace Brothers, Kmart and Big W. The values my parents instilled in me played a huge role in shaping who I am today.

Making and keeping friends was certainly challenging but I gained a unique perspective and learned to quickly adapt to new environments. We were all immensely proud of dad’s sacrifices; so much so that both my brother and I followed his footsteps by pursuing careers in shopping centre management and facilities management roles.

Female Inspiration

Initially on leaving school, I had no direction. My mother’s wisdom guided me towards administrative and business studies in a bid to start my working life on the right foot. It was a challenge to fit in, as the class comprised 50 young women and the only other male quit after a day. But my classmates quickly invited me into their circle, and I made some strong friendships.

It was a fiercely competitive and driven group, which gave me enormous respect for the capacities and perspectives of women. Their attitudes were contagious, and I went from feeling adrift to hungry to succeed. Those experiences now motivate me here at Wenona. It is an honour to support girls’ education and ensure our students have the essential facilities required to reach their potential and make a difference.

A Love of Education

As soon as I realised my natural skills in managing tasks and coordinating projects, I felt like I had stumbled onto a new world of opportunities. I landed a role in project support with NSW Rail, where I honed my project management skills from the ground up, learning the essential principles that govern successful project delivery. I then felt drawn to the healthcare sector and took a role with NSW Health. However, it wasn’t until I arrived at TAFE NSW that I discovered my true passion.

Being able to make a positive difference in changing lives through learning was immensely satisfying. I quickly moved into campus management. During my time, I led teams in enrolments, student administration, facility management and community engagement, across 14 campuses, overseeing major modernisation and working with colleagues committed to implementing bold change. These were the years of Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s Building the Education Revolution funding, and I was charged with determining the priorities, negotiating projects and finding solutions to help educators deliver the best teaching experiences possible. My role in campus consolidation at Grafton in particular, brought with it many stressful scenarios and competing interests but it was exhilarating to grasp the executive’s vision and bring it to fruition.

Feeling energised by the prospect of a new challenge, I ventured into the world of shopping centre facilities with Knight Frank. Managing 28 retail facilities across NSW, was fast-paced and provided ample opportunity to learn valuable skills. However, when I saw the position at Wenona, I felt driven to return to education. After my interview, I witnessed one student warmly comforting another in the playground and knew immediately that I had returned “home”.

The overarching theme of my career experiences has been an appreciation for giving back. I am exceptionally grateful to now serve this remarkable community of empowered young women, passionate, dedicated educators, and professional services staff here at Wenona.