Fresher Year: PG 2010 (postgraduate)

Degree/s: Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Queensland and Master of Strategic Public Relations from the University of Sydney

Occupation:  Senior Legal Counsel, Spotify

Tell us a little bit about yourself! Where are you originally from, and where did you grow up?
I was born in Sydney but grew up in Queensland, on an alpaca farm in Eumundi. I always knew I wanted to return to Sydney but first moved to Brisbane where I completed a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Queensland and became a lawyer at the fresh age of 21. I practised as a lawyer in Brisbane for a short period of time before making the move to Sydney to explore a career outside of law. I decided to undertake a Master of Strategic Public Relations at the University of Sydney, focusing on corporate and political public relations.

What made you choose to come to �鶹ԭ�� College? What about Andrew’s appealed to you the most?
I didn’t know anyone when I moved to Sydney, so – just like I’d done in Brisbane, where I initially resided on campus at The Women’s College – I figured that joining a college was my best bet to make friends. This time I wanted to experience a co-ed college. Drew’s was warm and welcoming, including to postgraduates (we’re not all weird!). Wayne Erickson, the Principal of Drew’s at the time, is also a legend.

What aspect of College did you enjoy most? Was it sport, performing arts, events, friends?
The events at Drew’s were awesome – I especially remember the Father’s Day Dinner with my dad, which ended in us all getting kebabs on King Street in the early morning hours – but what I enjoyed most was living in the cottage with my postgraduate mates. The year was filled with late night chats, pranks and snack expeditions (hello, fresher five). We became close friends and I moved out with one of them when we graduated at year end.

How do you feel your time at �鶹ԭ�� influenced your post-college life?
Moving to a new place where you don’t know anyone can be daunting. Drew’s gave me a support system from day one in a new city, which springboarded me into the next chapter of my life. I gained friendships at Drew’s that continued long after my time at the college and created the foundation for my life in Sydney.

What intrigued you most about becoming a lawyer?  What is it about the industry that you find most interesting?
Having just turned 17, I had no idea what I wanted to do when I finished high school. Law wasn’t an obvious choice – I studied maths, biology, chemistry and physics and did work placement with a veterinarian – but after realising a career in science or medicine wasn’t for me, I thought that I should still ‘use’ my good grades to enter a profession. I naively could visualise myself in a pencil skirt with a French twist in my hair walking into a large office building to start my day as a lawyer. As those in the tech sector tend to dress casually and my employer supports flexible work from anywhere, this couldn’t be further from how my day looks now.

Before your role as Senior Legal Counsel at Spotify, you worked at Nine Entertainment, von Muenster Solicitors and Attorneys, and McInnes Wilson Lawyers. How did these roles shape your career and help you get to where you are now?
I didn’t realise it at the time, but looking back, I can see how one role created a step for the next. At McInnes Wilson Lawyers in Brisbane, I clerked in Commercial Litigation, before transferring to Personal Injury where I got more client exposure and experience running my own files. I soon figured out that my interest lay elsewhere, which prompted my move to Sydney. After completing my Master’s degree, I worked at von Muenster Legal for four years, which combined my experience in law with my interest in the media and entertainment industry. I realised during this time that I wanted to go in-house, at which point I moved to work at Nine Entertainment for another four years across their television and digital businesses. It was at Nine, a national company headquartered locally, that my interest expanded to working for a global company headquartered internationally. This led to my role at Spotify, where I’ve worked for over seven years.

What is the most interesting part, for you, to work in the entertainment industry? Is there something specific that drew you to a company like Spotify?
Working in the media and entertainment industry can be interesting because what you’re transacting and protecting is often intangible, such as talent, reputation, intellectual property and data. How the intangible can be exploited and how laws regulate its exploitation is always evolving. However, what drew me to Spotify was not just that it’s a globally recognised company in the media and entertainment industry, but its philosophy, principles and people. The Swedish genesis of Spotify that remains central to its core, and how Spotify revolutionised an industry that was plagued by piracy (where the intangible – music – was exploited without permission), was what made the company compelling to me.

What are the best parts, and what are the more challenging parts about your role at Spotify?
Constant change is both one of the best and more challenging parts about my role at Spotify. To paraphrase what my manager once said: if you don’t like where you are, don’t worry it’ll likely change; and if you do like where you are, don’t get too comfortable. I value novelty and thrive when learning and having to figure out something new, so I welcome change as it keeps me moving forward. However, you have to stay on top of your game to keep up with the rapid pace of change both within a tech business as well as the legal landscape, particularly today in a world grappling with the advancement of AI against a backdrop of regulatory pressure.

After working in Australia for 12 years, you moved to Los Angeles, USA with the company. How is working in the States? How was the transition to the American corporate world, and do you plan to stay there for a while?
I joined Spotify in Sydney as their product and services legal counsel for the Asia Pacific region, including Australia, South East Asia, Japan, India and South Korea. After I became qualified to practise law in California, and chasing my next challenge of moving to Los Angeles, I raised with my manager that I was now an expanded legal resource and Spotify should consider utilising me in this capacity. My manager was supportive and facilitated the transition, even during the pandemic. I’m now a senior legal counsel at Spotify managing the legal function for video and audio podcast monetisation globally.

Working in the States can feel precarious, as employment is generally ‘at will’ (meaning you can be terminated at any time) and your ability to work tends to depend on your employer sponsoring you. Personally though, I find that my career feels more expansive in the States. Working in the States has also afforded me a better work life balance, as I’m closer in time zone to my employer’s main offices and most of my meetings are no longer throughout the night. As my employer has sponsored my green card and I’ve married an American citizen, I plan to remain in the States for a while, but am keeping the future open for a return to Australia.

Is there a ‘typical day’ for you? If so, what does it look like?
My day often starts early with video calls to stakeholders on the east coast of the States and in Europe, which continue throughout the day amongst pockets of ‘deep work’ and responding to infinite urgent emails and slacks. My work includes contract drafting and negotiation with enterprise organisations, networks and content creators for the supply of their content in which Spotify can deliver ads and monetize their video, as well as providing product counsel for the launch, maintenance and expansion of Spotify’s monetisation platforms, services and programs (such as the Spotify Partner Program and the Spotify Audience Network).

What would you say has been your biggest accomplishment since leaving �鶹ԭ�� – within your career or otherwise?
I think my biggest career accomplishment since leaving Drew’s would be, as an internationally qualified lawyer, deciding to take and passing the California Bar Exam on first try in February 2020. This exam had one of the lowest overall pass rates in decades. Practising law in Los Angeles (despite never having visited the city) was a pipe dream of mine for a long time. I studied for the exam for less than 50 days, but it involved 7 days a week, 12+ hours a day of active study. I was incredibly proud when I received the results. Passing the exam changed the trajectory of my career.

What advice would you give to current students wanting to explore a career in the legal industry?
Take control of your career. Lawyers can end up specialising in a field without having made the conscious decision to do so (for example, this can be because it’s their final rotation as a law clerk, or their firm has available head count in that team). Stay curious and grab the reins of your legal career to steer it where you want it to go. I can only imagine how different my life would be had I not done this.

What does life look like outside of your work? How do you unwind and switch off?
As work can be mentally challenging, I enjoy staying fit and physically challenging myself to keep my body aligned with my brain. I listen to podcasts (obviously) and enjoy reading but need to encourage myself to read books, as so much of my day involves reading documents. Making quality time for my husband and friends is also important to me.

Looking ahead, what’s next for you? What are your goals for the year ahead?
As I’m presently on parental leave having just had my first baby, this is the first in a very long time when I’ve had to take a step back from my career. It has however been a refreshing perspective shift and reminder of what’s important in life, where productivity is not a measure of success and external validation is not the reward. I’m keeping an open mind as to how my career may evolve with a baby in tow.

Is there anything else you would like to share that hasn’t already been asked?
There’s a lot to do and figure out while you’re at university, but enjoy your time in college – it can be one of the best times of your life.

The post Sophie Dugan nee Mycock (PG 2010) appeared first on St Andrew's College.

Graham grew up in a family of innovators and problem-solvers, both his father and grandfather were civil engineers, and followed their path into Engineering at the University of Sydney. In 1956, his final year, he found himself pulled toward medicine’s practical frontiers. He wrote his thesis on Medical Apparatus, noticing that many clinical devices of the era emerged from informal arrangements between doctors and tradespeople, without the benefit of rigorous engineering standards. Two outliers, the DeBakey heart–lung machine and the Kolff artificial kidney, proved what excellence could look like. After graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical & Electrical), Graham resolved to bring that level of professional precision to medicine.

He joined Commonwealth Industrial Gases (CIG) as Assistant Manager of the Medical Section, working on anaesthetic systems and, crucially, learning where innovation really lives: in the clinical detail only doctors routinely see. Determined to gain full clinical access he made a radical choice — he would study medicine. Despite doubts and warnings from family about finances, he pressed on, enrolling in Medicine I at Sydney in 1958 while working full-time and studying at night in the Maclaurin Room. In a famously competitive first year (650 students, roughly 250 progressing), he passed — including a practical exam requiring the exposure of a frog’s brain by dissection.

Keen to broaden his horizons, Graham resigned from CIG in 1960 and sailed to London to apply in person to medical schools. St Mary’s Hospital Medical School handed him a blank sheet of paper with the prompt: “The value of an education at an English university to an Australian.” He wrote about overcrowding back home and the chance to deepen his experience, then faced a semicircle of consultants and questions ranging from space travel to human purpose. A few days later, he was accepted into the second Bachelor of Medicine course. He supported himself as a development engineer at British Oxygen Company, played jazz in an East End pub (thawing his hands by the fire before each set), and lodged above two grand pianos owned by a music publisher who offered him a spare room. He earnt his second degree in a Bachelor of Medicine, earned fee support from a college trust, and completed his MBBS (London) in 1967, later training in anaesthetics at St Charles Hospital, Ladbroke Grove.

It was during these London years that his most celebrated innovation emerged – a portable infant incubator designed specifically for ambulances, inspired by the winter reality of newborns transported at night without safe warming. Using an ellipsoid shell, double-wall insulation, carefully controlled airflow, and minimal power draw, he engineered a device that was safe, portable and practical. After patenting the concept, he worked with Oxygenaire to manufacture it. When Oxygenaire opened its new factory in Basingstoke in October 1964, a prototype of Graham’s incubator was presented to HRH Princess Alexandra, a public acknowledgement of an invention that directly saved lives.

Dr Grant presenting gis portable incubator to HRH Princess Alexandra in 1964.

The design of the portable incubator.

Dr Grant awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2023.

Across his career he continued to solve problems at the point of care, co-developing the ventilation meter later manufactured as “Spiroflo,” producing disposable oxygen mask prototypes, creating a medical humidifier that precisely stabilised temperature and humidity during anaesthesia, and working on new forms of paediatric ventilators, laryngoscopes and anaesthesia ventilators. Many of his designs earned global acclaim for their simplicity and inherent safety, even when commercial decisions later shut production despite ongoing demand. Through all of this, he learned to fiercely protect his work, patent his ideas, and keep building even when the industry hesitated.

College remained a constant. Graham spent six happy years at �鶹ԭ�� and, in 1975, returned to marry artist and academic Lyn Wood in the Chapel, arriving in a 1920s Rolls-Royce. Graham met Lyn whilst he was a resident at �鶹ԭ��, at a farewell party for a mutual friend. Lyn, a resident tutor at The Women’s College, studying her Masters of Art in renaissance art, shared Graham’s sensitivity for the creative process. Their family, including internationally commissioned orchestral composer daughter Alicia, grew alongside Graham’s hospital practice as a Visiting Medical Officer in public and private settings for three decades. Music, too, never left: he wrote songs for the 1959 SRC Revue Dead Centre, played jazz standards from the 1920s–50s, and saw creativity as kin to clinical innovation.

In January 2023, his lifetime of innovation and contribution was recognised with his appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) — formal acknowledgement of a career that raised the standard of care in theatres, ambulances and neonatal units around the world.

Looking back, he credits �鶹ԭ�� with belonging and momentum — a community that emboldened him to take risks, whether sailing to London with a half-skeleton for anatomy study, sketching a Sydney rail map in the style of London’s, or building prototypes in a small workshop after hours and going to jazz gigs. Looking forward, that same quiet drive remains. His message to current Androvians echoes a life well-lived: don’t wait for perfect conditions or institutional permission. Start where the need is clear, learn what the problem demands, and build with care.

The post Dr Graham Grant AO (Fr 1951): A Lifetime of Innovation appeared first on St Andrew's College.

Can you tell us a little about yourself – where you’re from and where you grew up?
I was born in London and grew up in Malaysia and Singapore. When I was 15, we moved to Sydney where I finished school. My childhood memories all revolve around travel and hard-working parents who also knew how to have a good time!

What led you to choose �鶹ԭ�� College? What aspects of Drew’s stood out to you the most?
Having only been in Australia for 3 years I knew I wanted to go to college to meet more people. I was keen for a more ‘traditional’ university experience that is the norm overseas. Drew’s had a great reputation, and I distinctly remember a feeling of belonging from the day I had my interview which continues to this day.

Looking back, what part of College life did you enjoy most – sport, performing arts, events, friendships, or something else?
Friendships – I met some of my best friends at Drew’s! People who I moved overseas with and am now navigating motherhood with.

How did your time at �鶹ԭ�� shape you, both personally and professionally, after College?
As the saying goes “show me your friends, I’ll show you your future.” I can confidently say my Drew’s friends make me a better person. They push me constantly and they are the ones I have the most fun with. (I’m banking on no other friends reading this!) On a more serious note, Drew’s also taught me a lot about personal values and how to use them to make decisions for yourself.

Before moving into career development, you worked in the fashion and design industries – including roles at NET-A-PORTER and Vanilla Home Design in Singapore. What did you take away from those experiences, and how have they influenced your work today?
After university, I moved to London to pursue my dream of working in luxury fashion. I joined Net-a-Porter as a Personal Assistant and worked my way up to Womenswear Buyer over 4 years. It was as fun as it sounds, the company was experiencing strong growth, and I enjoyed annual promotions as a result. I travelled to New York, Paris and Milan multiple times a year and was the recipient of a very generous uncapped staff discount! The success did not come without a serious amount of grit and determination and on reflection I relied on the job to inform my whole self-identity. Unfortunately, as my buying career progressed and I took on more responsibility, I started to realise I did not want my boss’ job. The never-ending travel, constant pursuit of the new and uncomfortable negotiations left me drained and burnt out. I left and took a role in Singapore where I set up the ecommerce arm of a homewares business called Vanilla Home. It was a fun 2 years, but something still didn’t feel right. I could do the work but the feeling of fulfillment was short lived. Looking back, I’m so grateful for these experiences as they forced me to challenge my definition of success.

What first sparked your interest in career development, and what do you find most rewarding about working in this field?
I arrived back in Australia shortly before my 30th birthday, unsure what to do next. My Dad suggested working with a Career Coach and I remembered one of my colleagues in London said her Mum did that. Over five one-hour sessions with her I successfully pivoted my career into HR landing an in-house recruitment role at David Jones. Working with a coach changed everything for me, so much so that I decided I wanted to learn how to help people in that way and commenced my coach training. We spend 1/3 of our lives at work, if you don’t enjoy it life can get hard fast. Helping people find work that is both meaningful to them and commercially viable is extremely rewarding.

You’ve also held senior roles in recruitment and search at David Jones and Korn Ferry. How did these positions help prepare you to start your own career coaching practice?
10 years in recruitment both in-house and at a global consultancy practice laid solid foundations for the work I do now. I know what decision makers are listening for and how to craft solid value propositions that convert to real opportunities.

You now run your own practice, Amy Hann Career Coaching. How is it going so far, and what kind of services do you offer to your clients?
I find working for myself empowering. I’m a doer rather than a thinker so red tape in big corporates frustrated me. Now if I have an idea I can just hit go. I work 1:1 with a select group of private clients providing career transition coaching. My approach is strength based and combines proven organisational coaching techniques with personalised self-assessments.

Alongside your own practice, you also coach with Directioneering, Australia’s largest career development firm. What does that role involve, and what are you most looking forward to there?
I am very grateful for this contract role as it provided financial security during the initial months of launching my private practice. My work with Directioneering is focused on providing career transition coaching to people who have recently experienced redundancy and have been sponsored on a program by their employer.

You’ve also volunteered as a Career Coach with Dress for Success Worldwide. What is this organisation, and what was that experience like for you?
Dress for Success is a global not-for-profit organisation that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. I coach pro bono for them and also volunteer once a month in their Sydney showroom styling people for job interviews. Having the flexibility to fit this into my working week was one of the reasons I wanted to start my own practice, the 1 day a year that most corporates offer didn’t ever cut it for me.

What advice would you give current students or alumni who are thinking about their next career step?
Here are three things I wish I’d known sooner:

1. Career change is not failure. Far from it. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report for 2025 estimated 170 million new jobs will be created this decade and Gen Z are likely to navigate an average of 4 career changes during their lifetime.
2. High performance gets you in the game, but impact and exposure get you ahead. The PIE framework is helpful: To grow your career effectively you need to perform well to build credibility, increase impact by working on things that matter and build exposure to make sure your work is visible to right audiences.
3. You don’t have to go it alone. Build a team of mentors, sponsors, coaches, therapists, dogs…whatever it takes.

For someone considering a career change, what does working with you look like, and what’s the best way to reach out?
First step is an introductory call where I learn more about your coaching needs and you learn more about how I could help you. Typically, we would have 3 x one-hour sessions via Teams or in person depending on your preference. Cadence and time frame is determined by you and your goals. You can book an intro call via my amyhann.com.

The post Amy Hann (Fr 2006) appeared first on St Andrew's College.

Since joining M.J. Bale in 2009, and now as the brand’s long-standing Head of Brand, he has helped steer the company through more than a decade of growth – championing provenance, sustainability, and partnerships that honour the people behind the product. Reflecting on his upbringing, his time at Drew’s and the global experiences that shaped his creative career, Jonathan brings a thoughtful, grounded perspective to leadership and brand building. Today, his work continues to bridge culture, craft and purpose, driven by a commitment to authenticity, integrity and the communities that make great stories – and great style – possible.

Can you share a bit about your background – where you’re from and where you grew up?
I grew up on a little farm outside a town called Murwillumbah in the northern rivers of NSW. Dad was the local vet. Murwillumbah was a beautiful place to grow up. My school was surrounded by sugar cane fields, and all the kids were children of farmers, professionals, tradies and hippies. Everyone got along. Life was simple. Rugby league in winter, cricket in summer. We swam and fished in the creeks all year round. I love what Hemingway wrote about Paris in his memoir, A Moveable Feast, when he said, “There were no problems except where to be happiest.” That’s exactly how I remember growing up in Murwillumbah: no problems, just happiness.

What led you to choose �鶹ԭ�� College back in 1996? What was it about coming to College that appealed to you?
My grandfather, Jock Lobban, was a fresher at Drew’s in 1935. He came up from Melbourne Uni as a senior. He was a good athlete and made an Australian long jump record while he was at Drew’s and played rugby for Wests. He also met my grandmother, Nina Vickery, at Sydney Uni when they played doubles tennis together. Jock died during World War Two when my father “Dick” Lobban, was three, which was a huge loss. I think dad grew up looking at the team photos of Jock in his Drew’s kit and the place felt like home to him. Dad went to Drew’s as a mature age fresher in 1962. He loved his time there so much he married my mother in the college chapel. I was probably too immature and rebellious to get the most of out of college, but my daughter, Frankie, was a fresher at Drew’s in 2023. Seeing how the experience helped mould her, the friends she made, was lovely to see.

Reflecting on your time at �鶹ԭ��, how did it influence your personal and professional journey after College?
In one way, Drew’s reinforced the importance of sacrificing your individual agenda for the benefit of the team. Equally, though, Drew’s taught me the importance of self-expression and being an individual. The college during my time was a collective of real eccentrics and being yourself – as long as you were reliable and put in for the team – was a good thing. These things I found were beneficial for life after Uni.

What sparked your interest in a career in publishing, editorial work and branding? What aspects of these industries did you find most compelling?
I didn’t ever have any ability for writing or interest in publishing. But I was playing for Randwick and left Drew’s three-quarters through my second year to play rugby for a club in Dublin. I was lucky enough to live with a family in Dublin who were very passionate about their history and culture, and I spent a lot of time in the Trinity College library reading Irish literature. The Irish writers made me fall in love with the written word, and everything behind it.

Early in your career, you worked across multiple magazines as Editor and was Founding Editor in Chief of The Rake magazine. What were these roles like and how did these early experiences prepare you for your current role?
I loved magazines because you had the opportunity to travel often and interview interesting people and draw out their stories. When you meet unique people who have a deep conviction about why they do what they do, it inspires you, and you learn a lot. Working in magazines also gave me the opportunity to live and work in places like Italy, Hong Kong and Singapore, and it was a rich experience.

You have worked with M.J Bale since 2009 – what has it been like to be with the company over the past 16 years?
It has been hard work, but it’s been fun. We’re 16 years old this year, but it feels like we’re only just getting started. I remember in October 2009, about a month after we launched M.J. Bale, our founder, Matt Jensen, and I went to a meeting in Sydney with a clever guy. He told us to create ‘brand pillars’ – values, principles – to guide every decision we made moving forward. We chose ‘Provenance, Authenticity, Integrity and Character’ as our pillars, and we have tried to stay true to that path as much as we can ever since.

What have been your biggest achievements so far in the role? Is there anything in the works you can give us a sneak peek into?
Personal achievements, I couldn’t tell you. As mentioned, it feels like we’re still just at the beginning of the journey. If things line up, we would love to launch M.J. Bale internationally in 2026 and have a crack at the northern hemisphere.

What’s it like to work in the fashion industry? What are the highlights? Are there any challenges?
I’m not really into ‘fashion’. What I love about the industry is the supply chain – the families and communities behind the clothes, like woolgrowers, weavers, tailors, artisans etc. To make a beautiful product it has to be created with beauty, and by ‘beauty’, I mean dignity and integrity. The challenges are trying to stay relevant in a mercurial market with a product considered timeless and classic.

Is there a typical day in your position? If so, what does it entail?
No, no two days are ever the same. My role is to basically develop our brand strategy, identify and work with the partners that can bring the strategy to life, and then tell our stories. I am lucky that I get to spend a fair bit of time with our woolgrowers in Tasmania and New Zealand, our tailors and weavers in Japan and Italy, and internally our sustainability, marketing and creative teams. They’re all good people and it mostly doesn’t feel like ‘work’ at all.

M.J. Bale is renowned for its commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship. Could you elaborate on how the brand positions itself within the Australian fashion market? How does the brand differentiate itself and position its image within the broader fashion industry?
We’re all about natural fibres – Merino wool, in particular – and the communities that produce it. �鶹ԭ�� 96% of everything we produce is from natural fibres, be it wool, cotton, linen or silk, and we’re making ground on the remaining 4%. We’ve done a single-source tailoring collection with Kingston farm in Tasmania, a conservationist woolgrowing enterprise, for almost ten years now and will launch a similar collection with a New Zealand woolgrowing family next year. We give back to these farms a percentage of every single-source garment sold in our stores, and the farmers have to reinvest that rebate into biodiversity preservation and revegetation projects. It’s a nice circle, and from what I know is unique in Australia, if not the world.

In 2023, M.J. Bale partnered with Sea Forest Australia to collaborate on finding a way to produce Methane-Reduced wool. Can you share a bit about the partnership, your role in developing this and how M.J. Bale’s future looks with such a successful initiative?
It was serendipitous, really. In 2019 we did a carbon footprint assessment of our business operations and entire product range. 52% of emissions related to our legacy garment, the wool suit, came from sheep methane emissions. I happened to run into an old mate of mine, Sam Elsom, who at the time was growing a native seaweed called asparagopsis taxiformis off the coast in Tasmania with his company, Sea Forest. The CSIRO had published a paper back in 2016 proving that asparagopsis mitigated methane production by more than 80% when a small amount is fed to ruminant livestock daily, and Sam had run with it. I called Kingston woolgrower, Simon, and asked whether he was keen to trial the seaweed feeds with us. We got the University of Tasmania on board to monitor the trial, and then, later, the CSIRO. We made some beautiful knits here in Victoria from that initial 48 sheep, then over the subsequent years we’ve had enough wool to make a blazer in Italy. In terms of our future, we will continue to work with the science, agriculture and tertiary industries on better ways to create products that, we hope, are climate positive.

When M.J. Bale became B Corp certified in 2024, it marked a huge step in sustainability and accountability. From your point of view, how has that milestone changed things for the brand? How have you personally helped bring it to life, and why do you think going through this process matters for fashion labels today?
The B Corp certification keeps us honest. We’re far from perfect, but we do try to make sure no we have continuous improvement in all aspects of business. With regards to the fashion industry, I think in the very near future companies will be held even more accountable for the impact of the products they bring to market, whether that’s synthetic fibres or stakeholder welfare.

What advice would you offer to current students interested in pursuing a career in editing or branding, or in the fashion industry?
Whatever you do, try and bring a fresh perspective and diversity of thought. Try to connect what exists, or what you believe needs to exist, with new ideas, research and information. Look for unorthodox partnerships. Unlikely alliances create unexpected positive outcomes.

Outside of your professional commitments, what activities help you unwind and maintain a healthy work-life balance?
I’m not sure if the work-life balance really exists, but I love spending time with my family, the beach, touch footy with mates, reading, cooking… taking things as slow as I can.

Looking ahead, what are your goals for the upcoming year? Are there any new projects or aspirations you’re excited about?
Does equanimity count as a goal? If so, that would be it.

The post Jonathan Lobban (Fr 1996) appeared first on St Andrew's College.

Please tell us a bit about yourself – where are you originally from and how did you come to be a resident at �鶹ԭ�� College?
I grew up in Sydney with �鶹ԭ�� woven into my family history. My dad, Nick, lived at Drew’s, and so did my older sister, Jess. Dad met my mum during O Week – she was a Women’s girl – and I loved hearing their stories about College life. For me, Drew’s was always more than just a place to live. It felt like an incredible opportunity to continue the family tradition while carving out my own experience. I wanted the challenge of independence but also the richness of community. Drew’s gave me both. The friendships I made and the environment I was part of still play a big role in who I am today.

Can you share a bit about your background – where you’re from and where you grew up?
I grew up in Sydney in a close-knit, values-driven family. My mum, Angela, has always been a force for good in the world and shaped my understanding of faith, resilience and service. My dad, Nick, showed me what sacrificial love looks like in action. Each year we joined him at Wesley Mission’s Christmas services for the homeless, and it was common in our house to share meals with people who had nowhere else to go, sometimes even welcoming them to live with us for a time. That spirit of generosity left a deep mark on me and continues to influence how I live today.

I am one of four siblings who all attended Drew’s. My older sister, Jess, has always inspired me, and my two younger brothers kept life loud, competitive and never boring.

After school I thought I wanted to become a TV reporter, which led me to study Media, Communications at the University of Sydney. That dream ended quickly after an Introduction to Media Production where I had to watch back my own recordings and quickly realised I could not stand the sound of my own voice. What I did discover was a love of storytelling and strategy, which set me on the path to a career in marketing.

Sydney will always feel like home, but I have had seasons in New York and Kenya that also shaped me in powerful ways. My upbringing, marked by a strong Christian foundation, still influences how I lead, work and live today.

During your time at College, you were part of the Rosebowl Tennis team. How did this experience shape your college life? What role did intercollegiate sports play in your overall experience at Drew’s?
Being part of the Rosebowl Tennis team was one of the most fun and defining parts of my time at Drew’s. I’d played tennis competitively at school, but playing for College felt different. Training and competing alongside women who backed each other wholeheartedly created a bond that went well beyond the court. Intercol sport at Drew’s taught me how powerful it feels when a team rallies around you, a lesson that’s carried into my career and the way I lead teams today.

Reflecting on your time at �鶹ԭ��, how did it influence your personal and professional journey after College?
So many of the lessons I still carry today about leadership, resilience and community began at Drew’s. I learned what it feels like to stumble, to get it wrong, and to pick myself back up again, usually with a friend supporting from the sidelines. More than anything, Drew’s taught me that life is richer when lived in community and that leadership is less about status and more about service.

What sparked your interest in a career in marketing? What aspects of the industry do you find most compelling?
Marketing has always fascinated me because it blends creativity, psychology and data. From early on I was curious about why people act the way they do and how ideas spread.

In growth roles, I became especially interested in the ELMR framework – emotion, logic, motivation and rewards – and how those drivers spark conversion. The most compelling part for me is when those elements feed into growth loops and network effects, where every action creates more momentum and value builds on itself.
What keeps me hooked is that marketing never stays still. It evolves constantly, and with every shift comes the chance to learn, adapt and try new things.

Your career trajectory includes roles such as Partner at Ikaros and Growth Marketing Director at PINCHme.com. How did these positions contribute to your professional development and prepare you for your current role?
PINCHme in New York was a whirlwind. It was a startup gearing up for an IPO, and like most early-stage companies, it came with plenty of challenges and failures. I wore every hat imaginable – from running paid campaigns to pitching influencer partnerships – I did whatever it took to make it work. Some big bets paid off, others didn’t, but I learned quickly how to adapt, move on from setbacks, and keep pushing forward.

ikaros brought a different kind of challenge. Consulting gave me the opportunity to work across industries, which deepened my understanding of different growth models. But building the business itself wasn’t simple. Scaling beyond a partner-led model, managing people, and getting hiring right were all struggles at times. Those experiences forced me to grow as a leader and think more about sustainability than short-term wins.

Both roles reminded me that growth is never linear. It’s about testing, failing, learning, and then doing it all again – ideally with a bit more wisdom the next time.

As VP of Growth at WayUp, you lead a pivotal division. What aspects of this role do you find most engaging, and how would you describe your responsibilities to someone unfamiliar with the field?
At WayUp, I lead the candidate growth team, which is focused on helping students and recent graduates find jobs that match their skills and ambitions. Because we operate as a marketplace, my role is about balancing supply and demand – making sure the right candidates discover the opportunities our clients need to fill. That involves everything from channel strategy and paid marketing to partnerships, onboarding, and product improvements.

I report into the Chief Operating Officer of our parent company, Yello, and am currently responsible for all decisions WayUp. One of the most important parts is making sure we deliver real value to our clients. It’s not just about bringing in candidates, but making sure those candidates are qualified, motivated and likely to succeed in the roles.

From day one, I’ve been drawn to the mission and feel grateful that my work helps connect students and graduates with opportunities that can shape their futures. Day to day, I spend a lot of time motivating my team and driving collaboration across product, marketing, engineering and client success. What I love most is seeing candidates take their first steps into meaningful careers knowing we’ve played a small part in that. The work is fast moving, but deeply rewarding.

What advice would you offer to current students interested in pursuing a career in marketing or growth?
Be curious and proactive. The best growth people I know do not just follow instructions, they try things first, ask questions later, and learn by doing. You do not need to wait for a role to get started. Build something small on the side, whether it is a newsletter, an e-commerce project or a community initiative. Test how to get attention, see what sticks, and measure the results.

Read widely in psychology, product, design and economics because growth sits at the intersection of many fields. Find mentors who will challenge you, and do not be afraid to fail publicly. Most importantly, remember that growth is not just a department, it is a mindset. Showing that you can connect dots, move fast and think critically will set you apart.

Your mother, Angela, founded Stand Tall to address youth mental health. What has it meant to be involved, and how has it shaped you personally and professionally?
My mum, Angela, was always present and active throughout my childhood. She poured herself into our family and was there for everything for us kids, and later she channelled that same commitment into creating Stand Tall. Growing up, my sister and I went to more funerals than any young person should, and it opened our eyes to the devastating impact of suicide. Mum saw that pain too and decided to do something about it.

Youth mental health is one of the biggest challenges of our time. I don’t think anyone in our family imagined that Stand Tall would grow into the largest youth event in Australia, and I am so proud of my mum’s vision, dedication and courage to keep showing up even when things were hard. Her heart for people is contagious, and working alongside her has been deeply humbling.

I began helping with marketing in 2020 when I moved back to Sydney from New York, and now serve as Chair of their Youth Advisory Board. The experience reminds me that while business often celebrates performance and metrics, what truly matters is people. Great leadership is service, and Stand Tall has taught me that over and over again. Now, as a mum myself, I feel even more strongly about shaping a world where the next generation feels seen, supported and full of hope.

What communities are you part of, and what does community engagement mean to you? What advice would you give to someone wanting to make a positive impact?
For me, community is about showing up. I am very involved with my church community, Abide in Rosebery, I’m part of a mothers group, and I connect regularly with a community of people working in Growth in Sydney on Slack. Through Startmate and Airtree I mentor and stay engaged in the startup world. None of it is flashy, but each space gives me a chance to participate, support others, and learn in return.

Community engagement, to me, is about presence more than programs. It is about being close enough to see the needs around you and being willing to respond with whatever you can offer. My advice would be to start small and be consistent. You do not need a big platform or perfect timing. Just keep showing up, and over time the ripple effects will be bigger than you think.

Outside of your professional commitments, what activities help you unwind and maintain a healthy work-life balance?
Spending time with my husband and our son, Ted, is my anchor. Whenever I get the chance, I love taking our golden retriever, Margot, out for a walk. She thinks she owns the neighbourhood and usually drags us into conversations with half the street. I know it might sound simple, but reading my Bible and having quiet time in God’s presence is something I treasure. It keeps me centred and hopeful.

I also enjoy Pilates, coffee catch ups with close friends, and the ritual of a glass of red wine at the end of the week. On weekends, nothing beats a beach afternoon with my family – sun, sand and saltwater have a way of restoring the soul.

Looking ahead, what are your goals for the upcoming year? Are there any new projects or aspirations you’re excited about?
At WayUp, I am excited to keep building on the momentum we already have. Growth work can easily become reactive, so I want to create more space for the kind of projects that actually shift outcomes and deliver real value to our clients. It is not glamorous work but when it clicks you can feel the difference straight away.

Outside of work, life is just as full. My husband Alastair and I are starting to try for baby number two, which feels slightly surreal because I feel like I only just came out the other side of pregnancy and newborn life. At the same time, I am teaming up with my brother, Ben on a new baby/business idea that we are both really excited about. We are building a product that solves a genuine problem, and while I am not going to share all the details yet, you can keep an eye on kiiyo.com.au as it starts to take shape. Starting something with family brings its own kind of energy. I am enjoying the process of learning and experimenting together and having an excuse to just hang out – he really is the best!

Beyond projects and milestones, my biggest focus is on presence. I want to be a good mum to Ted, a supportive partner to Alastair, and the kind of person who notices when someone needs a hand and actually shows up for them. The older I get, the more I realise that the small acts of kindness and consistency matter more than the big achievements and accolades.

Is there anything else you’d like to share that hasn’t been covered in our conversation?
Only that I’m still learning – always. I don’t have it all figured out, but I believe in showing up, staying open, and being faithful with what’s in front of me. I care deeply about helping people grow, whether that’s through my work, mentoring, or just being a friend. And I’m passionate about integrating faith and ambition – not as competing forces, but as two parts of a purposeful life.

The post Amy Farr-Jones (Fr 2012) appeared first on St Andrew's College.

After graduating, Rowan launched his career in the most Australian of ways – as a “flying vet” in the remote Kimberley and Northern Territory, helping eradicate bovine tuberculosis. From TB testing thousands of cattle a day to running a small animal clinic from an aircraft hangar, the experience was as rugged as it was formative. While aviation began as a side interest, Rowan’s pilot licences eventually opened the door to a second career with Qantas. Now a commercial airline pilot, he still occasionally returns to veterinary work – a professional hobby that fits around his flying roster.

Tell us a little bit about yourself, where are you originally from and where did you grow up?

I grew up in Western Sydney, although the earlier generations of my family were sugar cane farmers in Far North Queensland.

What made you choose �鶹ԭ�� College? What about �鶹ԭ�� appealed to you the most?

I kind of fell into �鶹ԭ�� by accident whilst looking for somewhere to live near university – it was all a bit of a rush after the offers came out, and �鶹ԭ�� seemed a good fit.

During your time at �鶹ԭ��, what parts of College life did you get involved in, and do you have a favourite memory you’d like to share?

I can’t say that there was a lot of time to get too involved in the minutiae of College life – the Vet Science course load was spectacularly high compared to most degrees, but I certainly enjoyed the camaraderie, and there was always someone hanging around the front steps or the JCR looking for a chat, whatever the time of day. Walkabout was always a highlight!

How do you feel your time at �鶹ԭ�� influenced your post-college life?

Having entered College as a 17-year-old, it was in many ways a crash course in how to “adult”. I owe a lot of who I am to some of my experiences at �鶹ԭ�� and at Vet School.

You are both a qualified airline pilot and a vet surgeon – what inspired you to pursue two careers in such different fields? How do you feel your time studying prepared you for this dual career?

I pursued my Private and subsequently my Commercial pilot licences whilst at College – mostly out of interest rather than any particular career aspirations – never contemplating an airline career. I was very lucky to snag my first vet job in Kununurra as a “flying vet”, however after we had largely eradicated tuberculosis from the northern cattle herds, this job was no longer viable. After a couple of years in small and mixed animal practice in Sydney, Canberra and the UK, it became apparent that the long hours and relatively poor recompense were a surefire path to burnout (this is a common theme for young vets – especially 30 years ago when each practice did their own after-hours, so we ended up carrying a pager home every second or third night and working every second or third weekend as well as ten or 12 hour days). Casting around for other options, I was able to apply to Qantas – oddly enough, I had never particularly planned it this way, but it was all incredibly fortuitous and possibly meant to be.

Currently, you primarily work as a pilot, with the occasional locum vet shift in between your roster. How do you manage the balance between your primary role as a pilot and more casual work as a vet? Is it ever difficult?

I don’t do a lot of vet work anymore, and it has to fit into my flying roster. Having said that, I am home approximately half the time, so I have the flexibility to fit in as much or as little vet work as seems appropriate. I see the veterinary caper as pretty much a professional hobby these days.

What’s the best part of being a commercial pilot working for a big airline, and are there any downsides to the role?

The camaraderie and the travel are the obvious advantages. The downsides are the time away from family and missing some of the events that you would really want to be home for.

Early in your flying career, you worked with the Australian Government as a ‘flying vet’ to eradicate bovine tuberculosis from Australia, flying in and out of Kununurra to TB test herds of cattle. This role combined both your careers! Could you share with us more about this time and what this work involved? And, are there many opportunities to work as a flying vet still?

This role was based in Kununurra, and we would fly out to some of the iconic cattle stations of the Kimberley and Northern Territory. The cattle numbers were immense – my personal record was TB testing 3600 cattle in one day – hard work. In retrospect, it was a great experience – not that many people actually get to experience and actively participate in the quintessential Australian outback. We also had a small animal clinic based in the aircraft hangar in Kununurra, so we got to do a bit of everything, albeit with fairly rudimentary equipment by today’s standards.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, international and domestic travel almost completely ceased, and you returned to the veterinary profession – how did you manage this shift? What was it like for you and your colleagues to deal with the uncertainty around if and when flying would continue again?

It was a bit of a shock to the system working 10-hour days, 5 days a week again, but I was one of the lucky ones who had another professional qualification to fall back on. Everyone had a different experience, a lot of Qantas people ended up working in COVID-19 testing centres, Woollies, Coles or Bunnings, if at all. It was certainly a trying time for the airline industry.

What guidance would you offer to those aspiring to become pilots or work within the aviation industry?

Aviation is an unpredictable industry with boom or bust phases, exposed to economic cycles and crises, and there is a lot of luck involved in being in the right place at the right time. If it’s what you want to do, gather your licences and ratings as soon as possible so as to have a better chance of being in the right place at the right time.

What do you do outside of work? Do you have a favourite hobby? How do you unwind and switch off?

We have a small acreage that keeps me pretty busy!

Looking ahead – what’s next? What are you hoping to achieve this year?

My daughter finished high school last year and has just started at Sydney Uni and is now at Women’s College, so we are largely child-free, anticipating more travel and maybe getting out on the golf course or buying a boat. Also looking forward to the introduction of the A350 and direct flights from Sydney to Europe and New York.

The post Rowan Cowie (Fr 1986) appeared first on St Andrew's College.

In 1986, he co-founded the Intellectual Disability Rights Service, sparking what would become decades of groundbreaking policy work. At the Council for Intellectual Disability, Simpson became a vital voice on the national stage, advocating for those too often overlooked in legal and health systems. Recognised in 2025 as an Officer of the Order of Australia, he remains a quiet force for thoughtful, lasting reform. Beyond the boardroom, his life is marked by simple joys: family, long walks, swimming – and an enduring passion for cricket.

What made you choose to come to �鶹ԭ�� College? What was it about Andrew’s appealed to you in the 1970s?
My dad had attended �鶹ԭ�� College and loved it in the 1930s, and my brother was there two years ahead of me. I loved my five years at Andrew’s with its strong camaraderie and the close friendships that I formed – some lifelong. I involved myself intensively in College life and enjoyed it very much. However, in retrospect, a single sex college was a somewhat narrow experience. �鶹ԭ�� is a much more complete community now that it is co-residential.

How do you feel your time at �鶹ԭ�� influenced your post-college life?
It equipped me well for mainstream legal practice, though perhaps at the expense of thinking more broadly about my career.

After your undergraduate degree in Arts and Law, you continued your learning with a Master of Laws from the University of London and a Graduate Certificate in Dispute Resolution from UTS. Can you share with us why you decided to further your education? Do you have any advice for students currently looking to continue study post-graduation?
I went off to London partly to extend my legal qualifications and partly to experience a year in London and backpacking around Europe. I did the dispute resolution course much later, having learnt lots about the limitations of adversarial legal processes.

You started your law career as a Solicitor at Vickery, Wilson and Parkhill when you graduated from university. What area within the industry did you focus on? What’s one piece of advice you wish you’d been given when you started out?
VWP was a small but strong city firm, and I did a wide range of work there, particularly conveyancing and litigation for large corporations. I became a partner and gained an excellent foundation for a legal career. However, as with some jobs, I wasn’t particularly enjoying a lot of the work I was doing.

After Vickery, Wilson and Parkhill you founded and moved to the Intellectual Disability Rights Service as Principal Solicitor. What prompted this move?
Like many young city lawyers, I volunteered once a week in the evening at Redfern Legal Centre. This opened my eyes to the extreme disadvantage so many people face in the legal system here in Australia.

Almost by chance, a few of us became intensively interested in the law as it affected people with intellectual disability – a virtually untouched field at the time. People with intellectual disability were not seen as bearers of rights, and a great deal of abuse, exploitation, and neglect went unrecognised or ignored.

In 1986, we obtained government funding to set up the Intellectual Disability Rights Service. I moved across to become Principal Solicitor there. I am delighted to say that nearly 40 years on, IDRS continues to thrive!

Since 2001, you have been a key member of the Council for Intellectual Disability as a Senior Advocate. Can you share with us what you do in this role? Is there a specific area that you enjoy focusing on?
My primary responsibilities at the Council for Intellectual Disability (CID) has been leading advocacy for reform on key issues affecting people with intellectual disability, in particular health inequalities and overrepresentation in the criminal justice system. We have achieved some valuable gains over the last 20 years, including a national roadmap and centre of excellence to improve the health of people with intellectual disability, and pathways to disability support rather than prison for people who get into trouble with the law.
I have learnt a great deal about successful advocacy with the bureaucracy and ministers and mounting public campaigns, often in collaboration with leading researchers.

What guidance would you offer to those aspiring to become lawyers/solicitors?
Don’t assume the obvious career path is the right one for you. Expose yourself to a range of possible pathways and hopefully find one that you feel passionate about!

You were recently awarded The Officer of the Order of Australia at the 2025 Australia Day Awards. Congratulations! What does it feel like to receive this honour and acknowledgement for your work?
A mixture of thrill and embarrassment. It is great to have the kind of work I do, and how I do it, recognised. However, I am not a person who enjoys the public spotlight.

What advice can you offer to students wishing to get involved with charity and volunteer work while also working on their careers?
It is a great way to contribute to the community and to broaden your outlook on life.

What do you do outside of work? Do you have a favourite hobby? How do you unwind and switch off?
I enjoy my family life, spending time with my wife and two adult daughters. I do lots of walking, swimming and reading. I watch lots of sport – especially cricket – I would love to have been good enough to play Rawson Cup cricket!

What’s next? What are you working towards, and what do you hope to achieve in the coming years?
I am 72, but fortunate to be fit and with lots of mental energy. I continue to love my advocacy work, but am gradually reducing my hours.

The post Jim Simpson AO (Fr 1971) appeared first on St Andrew's College.

Following success in corporate advertising, Carina returned to her roots in the Central West, earning a feature in Country Style in 2021 and exhibiting her work in Orange. Today, she balances life on the farm with raising a family, running her business, and creating art that speaks to her rural upbringing and refined eye.

Her time at �鶹ԭ�� College was equally formative – from intercollegiate sport to meeting her future husband, it remains a touchstone in both her professional and personal life. With sharp business acumen and creative flair, Carina continues to bring heart and authenticity to everything she does.

Tell us a bit about yourself; where are you originally from and where did you grow up?
I grew up on a cattle farm in the Liverpool Plains, about five hours north of Sydney. I’ve always lived and breathed art; however, I was encouraged to study design, business, and languages at university to broaden my horizons. After a career in advertising – climbing corporate ladders and grinding through life in the city – life led me back to art and a cattle farm in the Central West.

What made you choose to reside at �鶹ԭ�� College?
There were nine kids at my primary school and 350 at high school – so College was an incredible opportunity for me to meet more people and live in the ‘big smoke’. I had a couple of friends who were already at Drew’s and some applying the same year as me, so I also applied, headed off on a gap year and didn’t really think about College again until I met some ex-Drew’s students on a Contiki tour. They told me ALL the stories from their time there, and I realised just how fortunate I was to be accepted and then how ridiculously excited I was to start.

At College, what were you involved in? Do you have a favourite memory you’d like to share?
I had so many incredible adventures at College, many of them sports related. Meeting my future husband at 5 am on the main steps on the way to hockey training (he was the coach) is definitely one of my favourite memories.

You were part of the Rosebowl Swimming and Tennis teams while at College. What did you enjoy most about competing in intercollegiate competitions?
Hockey training sessions aside, I loved how supported the teams were by the whole College and how sport allowed me to make friends with students in the other colleges. We won a Rosebowl in my Fresher year; it was the first College win in a while (possibly years), and the Victory Dinner was next level.

How do you feel your time at �鶹ԭ�� influenced your post-College life?
The connections and friends I’ve made have been the most valuable part of my time at Drew’s. Straight out of university, I lived in a share house with four other Drew’s students. While Sydney seemed so big, it was rare that we didn’t bump into someone from the intercollegiate community while out and about. This still rings true today! Drew’s alumni have played significant roles in my life – they were bridesmaids and groomsmen at our wedding, became my children’s godparents, and now also my business partner.

What made you want to enter the design and art industry?
Art runs in the family, and I can’t imagine life without it. I was encouraged to support myself from the get-go, and I wasn’t keen on being a stereotypical penniless artist. I chased a big career in corporate advertising, leading a team as a Creative Director in an ad agency, working 12-hour days, and on the weekends, I would paint and do graphic design work to unwind. It wasn’t until we moved to Tamworth and I went on maternity leave that I started to take these weekend art sessions more seriously. I think deep down all I’ve ever wanted to do was paint, but I didn’t back myself to do it straight out of school.

In the lead-up to starting your own company, you had many roles, including Marketing Coordinator and Digital Producer at Momento Pro and Creative Director at Orange Line. How did these roles shape your time in the industry and help you to go out on your own?
I think it’s always the first jobs that teach you the most, and my time at Momento Pro certainly allowed me to learn and grow. It was a small business, very forward thinking, and my bosses were very generous with their time and sharing their learnings. They taught me so much about small business, and I took this knowledge and applied it to start my own things. My climb to be a Creative Director was hard yakka – the hours were long and the responsibility for a team and managing clients’ budgets was also daunting at times. However, it taught me resilience and just how far I can push myself.

I started working on Long Lunch Linen in 2018 when I was two weeks postpartum with my first child. I was so used to working long hours that I’m not afraid to say I became bored senseless with a baby who was either feeding or sleeping most of the time. I absolutely adore my kids, but felt there was so much ‘wasted’ time parenting a newborn. So, I found a gap in the market, used my graphic design skills to build a website and branding, used the business knowledge I’d learnt at Momento Pro and because I knew I could do long hours on little sleep, and I pushed through. Was I mad? Certainly. Was it worth it? Definitely. Long Lunch Linen launched six months later and has grown steadily ever since, taking on a business partner in 2021 (a friend from Drew’s) and making the cover of Country Style Magazine for Christmas the same year.

Now that Long Lunch Linen is up and running and paying my bills, my art practice plays a much bigger role in my day-to-day. I take on branding and graphic design clients every now and then, but my time is focused on art commission work and painting towards shows.

Starting your own company is not easy. What would you say is the biggest challenge in starting and running your business?
Starting a company was and still is a rollercoaster of both thrilling and terrifying moments. But I knew that if I got the numbers right, then the business side of things would take care of itself. Balancing family and work is another matter, and I still struggle to strike the right balance between my own ambitions, my husband’s demanding job and being the type of parent I want to be. Every day is different, but that is what I also love about it.

As an artist, you have recently exhibited your works in a collaborative exhibition with Sophie Corks called ‘All Year Round’ at Byng Street Boutique Hotel in Orange, NSW. Congratulations! Can you tell us a bit more about the inspiration behind the exhibition and your process?
We bought a farm near Orange three years ago, and I met Soph not long after we moved there. We hit it off and we’ve been ‘Work From Home Wives’ ever since. ‘All Year Round’ was our second exhibition together, and it centred on the distinctive change of seasons in the Central West. I focused on creating vividly coloured landscapes, and Soph’s work complemented mine with joyfully bright houses and streetscapes. We worked in tandem, sending colour palettes and compositions to each other for critique to create a cohesive collection to exhibit together.

Is there a ‘typical day’ for you? If so, what does it look like?
My kids are early risers, so we’re often up and at ‘em as the sun is rising. I love to start the day with a walk through the paddocks with the dog, take in the landscape and daydream before getting the kids off to school. My husband, Nick, works away a bit, so on the days I’m not doing drop off, I’ll start at 8 am and finish at 2:30 for school pick-up. I don’t have a strict time split between the two businesses, so I do whatever is urgent, trying to keep it balanced overall. My youngest is at preschool this year, so I still work part-time. On my child-free days, I do the hard jobs straight up and usually end up painting at some point in the day before I stop to collect the kids. Once they’re in bed, I finish off any admin, pack school lunches, sometimes do a workout and then prep for the next day. My house is full of lists, and I always write a to-do list for the next day on the fridge so I see it first thing.

What would be your biggest accomplishment after leaving �鶹ԭ�� – within your career or otherwise?
Without sounding too ‘woo woo’, I think the thing that brings me the most satisfaction is that I’m happy. It sounds simple, I know, but I pushed hard in the early years of my career to learn fast and be independent. I’m now at a time where I’m my own boss, we own a little slice of land, have two healthy, happy and sassy kids, plus a husband who still makes me laugh 18 years on. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, and every day there’s a challenge to face, but on the whole, each day there’s also something to smile about.

What advice would you give to current students wanting to explore a career in the art and design industry?
Be brave. Learn as much as you can, from as many different experiences as you can find, and teach yourself how to connect with your audience in your own way. A thick hide is an asset, and resilience and flexibility is key, especially when you’re trading in art which is purely subjective… and don’t give up maths because you can’t outrun the numbers.

What do you do outside of work? Do you have a favourite hobby? How do you unwind and switch off?
I’m living a boomer fantasy and my city friends say that. In my spare time, I ‘homestead’. In reality, I’m just pottering around the garden, sipping tea or wine and making sure the plants aren’t dying. Our farm also grows truffles, so I’m in the process of training our dog Butter to hunt for them. She’s a great dog, but I’m an average trainer, so our progress is slow, but we found some last season. Who knows what bounty the next will bring!

Looking ahead – what’s next? What are you hoping to achieve this year?
My goal for the year is striking a better balance. Not necessarily doing less or more, but doing what we already do better. Finding more truffles would also be great.

You can follow Carina’s art or business below:

The post Carina Chambers (Fr 2007) appeared first on St Andrew's College.

Now, with years of research and collaboration under his belt, he plays a key role in shaping Sweden’s geological landscape, particularly in areas related to environmental challenges and resource management. Balancing a fulfilling career with a rich family life, he remains connected to both his work and his roots, offering valuable insights into the world of science and exploration.

Tell us a little bit about yourself; where are you originally from and where did you grow up?
I am from Dorrigo, a small town in northern NSW. I spent my first eight years on a dairy farm before my parents wisely decided to leave dairy farming and buy a supermarket in town. My high school years were spent in a boarding school near Lismore. I was a good student and enjoyed sports. Boarding school was the first step towards broadened horizons, in part because we had a lot of students from the South Pacific, especially Papua New Guinea, as well as Malaysia.

What made you choose �鶹ԭ�� College? What appealed to you the most?
Mostly because it was Presbyterian, which represented an important change from boarding school. The appeal was in living on campus and having a great opportunity to develop a network of new friends, which it very much delivered.

At College, what were you involved in, and do you have a favourite memory to share?
I am not a gifted sportsperson, but I did participate in College life in general. I feel privileged to have landed in a Fresher year with a great group of men. My favourite memory is one of mateships and the great luxury of living on campus at Sydney University.

How do you feel your time at �鶹ԭ�� influenced your post-College life?
Coming from rural NSW and having boarding school experience, �鶹ԭ�� played an important role in broadening horizons and helping to develop a social network. Our parents told us, and it’s true, you’ve really got to make the most of those university years where your primary responsibility is to yourself. Learning to work hard and play hard was a key influence from �鶹ԭ��.

What drew you towards studying and working in the field of Geology?
I have a broad range of interests, so as an 18-year-old, I did not really know what career path to follow. I originally trained as a chiropractor, which included a Bachelor of Science at the University of Sydney followed by a Masters at Macquarie University. I was always an outdoors kid, and I spent 12 months during 1997-98 working in Elgin, in northern Scotland. During that time, my weekends were frequently spent ‘bagging Munroes’, which is climbing the mountains of Scotland, drawing me towards wanting to understand landscapes. That’s how I fell into geomorphology, which is my speciality within geology. So, a couple of years of retraining at the University of Melbourne were followed by a PhD from Stockholm University and then four years as a postdoc at Stanford University. If I had my time over, I would have studied applied mathematics at the University of Sydney.

In your time in the industry, you’ve had many roles that carried out scientific research and have published many articles and journals about geology within Europe. How has this experience shaped your view of the industry?
Geologists have a key role in shaping the future by helping our society meet environmental and social challenges and in exploiting opportunities to improve standards of living. As a small, highly educated, and innovative country, Sweden is rapidly gearing its economy to take advantage of decarbonisation. At SGU, we interact directly with the Swedish government (presently centre right, supported by the far right), both being directed in what activities to pursue and in providing an advisory role. For example, there is considerable interest in locally sourcing critical minerals to support technological advances and electrification of transport and manufacturing. Being a neighbour of Russia also necessitates Sweden to be very strategic in its planning, and there is now considerable activity to improve Sweden’s security. SGU has an important role to play there in terms of mapping, for example of bathymetry, and contributing to national self-sufficiency in the event of an acute crisis. More broadly, the rate and scope of innovation in geology is astounding, and there is no shortage of interesting research questions to pursue.

Is there a ‘typical day’ for you as a State Geologist? If so, what does it look like?
I develop and lead research projects and co-lead Research and Innovation at SGU. I work extensively with erosion, i.e. coastal erosion through sea level rise and storms, wind erosion of agricultural soils, and bedrock cracking and glacial erosion for the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company, which is soon to commence construction of a permanent geologic repository for spent nuclear fuel rods. Sweden is a consensus-based society, so we have a lot of meetings. So, a typical day is made up of meetings, doing research, and writing new research proposals, interrupted by morning and afternoon ‘fíkas’.

What is the most enjoyable part of your work?
Without a doubt, it is doing research with my close collaborators, including scientists at the Swedish universities and at Purdue University and Stanford University in the USA, with whom I have worked for many years. I’ve had the great fortune of working with some brilliant minds who also remain grounded and are fun to work with.

What is the best part about living in Sweden? Do you miss Australia?
The best part is the possibility to travel to Europe and experience its huge diversity of cultures and landscapes within a relatively small area – at least from an Australian perspective; my Danish wife would beg to differ. The Nordic countries are also famous for promoting work-life balance and offer outstanding support for working parents. The worst part is also easy – November; which brings me to the question of ‘do I miss Australia?’ Yes, I do, a lot. From my experience, Australia offers an unbeatable quality of life, and I am looking forward to moving back there (at least half-time) within about a decade from now. I miss my mates, even if I am not the best at maintaining regular contact.

What would be your biggest accomplishment after leaving �鶹ԭ��?
There is a lot of satisfaction in each new research paper but perhaps my biggest accomplishment is my breadth of experience gained through having lived in five countries.

What advice would you give to current students wanting to explore a career in the sciences?
Science is fundamental to understanding and addressing present environmental and societal concerns and in exploiting the many opportunities to innovate a better future. Scientific knowledge is essential, and we must get better at communicating its benefits. Whereas science offers many possibilities to contribute new knowledge and to create solutions to key modern challenges, its greatest gift is learning how to think. It teaches us how to adapt our worldviews to well-founded evidence rather than trying to adapt evidence to our worldviews. Science is both invigorating and humbling. My advice to current students is to learn quantitative skills, learn how to communicate, and gain a diversity of experiences through, for example, student exchange programs, and seize the opportunities that are out there. You’ll know you’re on the right track if you’re also having fun doing it!

What do you do outside of work? How do you unwind and switch off?
I have hobby research projects that keep me busy. We have a dog, I have two teenage sons, and we have recently adopted a third boy from South Africa. So, there are important things to focus on outside of work. Summer vacation is also crucial. In Sweden, it is mandatory to take 35 days of annual vacation, and this year, we will be driving down to France. We found a great place in the foothills of the Alps last year, which we will be returning to this summer.

Looking ahead – what’s next?
Having recently adopted a child and moved house, a quieter, less eventful year is at the top of the list!

The post Brad Goodfellow (Fr 1990) appeared first on St Andrew's College.