What did you do directly after school? Studies, travel, living etc

I moved to Brisbane in 2014 to go straight to university and try my hand at the city life. I ended up working in a variety of roles while studying, which proved to be a bit of a balancing act and a challenge at times. I still managed to get in plenty of overseas travel, including a few off the beaten track trips to places like Bhutan, Jordan, and Bosnia but there are many more places I am still very keen to tick off!

Did you study at University and graduation news etc?

I studied at QUT and have completed my Bachelor of Laws (Honours). I’m currently completing a Masters degree at the Australian National University.

What are you currently doing workwise?

I’m currently living in Canberra, where I am working in government in the national security space with a focus on cyber security issues. This follows several years working in Parliament House, providing policy and legislative advice in the Offices of the Minister for Home Affairs and the Minister for Defence, as well as to the Chair of the Parliamentary Intelligence & Security Committee.

What are your long-term goals?

I’d like to develop further policy expertise in national security so that I can continue making a public contribution in whatever form that may take in Australia or overseas. On the more interesting side of life I want to try and ski in as many places I can, continue adding to my growing vinyl LP collection and hopefully eventually try (probably unsuccessfully) my hand at being a hobby farmer.

What were your interests during school… sport, music etc and are you still involved?

I tried to do as much of anything and everything that was on offer while at SAAC. I loved sport, from the swimming pool to the hills of the Gold Coast hinterland for the Kokoda Challenge. Despite never being a particularly talented singer that never stopped me from having fun at choir in primary and high school.

My best piece of advice to any St Andrews student is to take as many of the opportunities as you possibly can – sport, debating, school musicals – just give it a go.

What are your highlights from school, teachers, programs etc?

The general positive college ethos and community spirit was (and still is) something I remember very fondly. Individual highlights would have to be Miss Rothman’s unbeatable enthusiasm for any house event, Mr Robbo’s sharp swimming carnival commentary, any story told by Mr Spring and then, of course, Mr Bart’s never dull modern history classes.

What challenges you faced post-school, and even post-uni?

Adjusting to a full-time uni/work schedule was not easy, and nor was having to learn how to cook on my own!

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to be able to pursue the things I want to do, even if I didn’t initially do all that well at them. I suppose there is always challenges and things that will be tough, but I do my best to view them as opportunities to grow and learn, and that tends to serve me pretty well.

Do you stay in touch with friends from school?

I do. I was lucky to have a really great bunch of friends at school and we have largely stayed in touch despite all of us now being in various cities across the country/the world. I think that is a testament to the school as well.

Have you visited the College in recent years and if so what are your thoughts on the new facilities (eg Learning Hub, Aquatic Centre)?

I last visited the College in 2018 for my 5-year reunion and was impressed by the new Learning Hub. I’m excited to hopefully get back again soon and see even more of the progress that has been made.