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Peta-Anne McNaught

With more than ten years of experience in this regional leadership role, Peta-Anne has led and supported a broad range of collaborative projects and strategic partnerships that create meaningful opportunities for students, staff, schools, and local communities. She is passionate about bringing people together to build strong networks that enhance educational outcomes and strengthen community…

Allan Hamdan

My journey into education began unexpectedly when a desire to travel led me to accept a teaching position in South Korea. What started as an overseas adventure quickly became a rewarding career, inspiring me to complete a Master of Education (Education Technology), which combined my creative arts and digital media background and ultimately led me…

Belinda Yaqub

I grew up on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland and didn’t have any special talents – just a strong interest in maths and science, and a preference for learning by doing. I also knew I wanted a career that got me outside. At different points in my life I wanted to be a vet, physicist,…

Samantha Kerr

I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I finished high school, but I enjoyed maths and science and wanted a career that made a difference. A family friend studying engineering, along with encouragement from teachers and parents, led me to choose electrical engineering—despite not fully understanding what engineers did day to day. I…

Kerralie Nardelli

In high school, I wanted to be a journalist. I left after Year 10 and went to secretarial school instead. At 16, I started working as a Records Officer for Dept Transport. I fell pregnant and was let go, so I moved on to admin jobs in law offices until my son was born. To…

Carley So

I studied chemical engineering in uni because I enjoyed math and chemistry in high school, even though I wasn’t completely sure what career it would lead to. I knew an engineering degree would open doors and give me options. In my third year, I started exploring what those options could look like through internships. I…

Emma Moebius

In high school, physiotherapy was often suggested as a career path because I was strong in STEM and enjoyed sport. But I wanted variety and problem solving, so I chose to study a degree in Construction Management instead. That decision shaped a career I’m incredibly proud of. Construction has given me the variety I wanted…

Kristy Petroff

Science was never on my radar growing up. I was the drama, history, and literature kid, until a diving trip to Thailand changed everything. My instructor had this way of explaining the complex ecological relationships happening right in front of us underwater, and something clicked. I didn’t just want to see it; I wanted to…

Lucy Ross

During high school I had no idea what career path I would take – I had a passion for dancing (at one point I actually thought I wanted to pursue that full time) but also enjoyed academics. I ended up studying a dual degree of Journalism and Law at university – not because I knew…

Tegan Doblinger

I had no idea what I wanted to do when I was finishing school. I’d studied maths, physics and any of the hands-on elective courses that I could literally get my hands on (electronics, automotive, woodwork), because I really enjoyed taking things apart and figuring out how they worked and then putting them back together…

Brienne Makovsky

My journey into sustainability wasn’t a straight line. I even did an extension year in high school studying jazz guitar, but I always knew I was drawn to STEM and fascinated by buildings. I grew up and went to school in Brisbane, then moved to Melbourne to study Architecture at Deakin University. I chose architecture…

Libby Ireland

I began my construction journey in Year 10 as a non- ATAR student, where I completed a TAFE Trade Taster course and quickly realised I loved the industry. This led me to compete in the Australian WorldSkills Carpentry competition for Queensland, where I placed third. In Year 11, I completed a Certificate I in Construction…

Dips Narayan

When I left school, I had no idea I’d end up in construction — I actually studied videography. After travelling Europe on my OE, I landed a job in London with an infrastructure company, and that’s where everything changed. I realised I loved being part of something real — where ideas turn into buildings you…

Dr Lulu He

I experienced a catastrophic earthquake in my home country in 2008. That’s the starting point of my career focusing on disaster management and natural hazards research. In 2015, I moved to Australia to do my PhD in Disaster Management, during which I conducted fieldwork and research to investigate the disaster management following the 2010-11 Christchurch…

Mia Hoffmann

When I finished high school, I took a gap year before enrolling in a Bachelor of Arts (Writing). I chose this degree because while I knew I wanted to go to uni, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be when I grew up, but I’ve always been a “words person”. After I graduated, I…

Kalina Krzak

Some people grow up knowing exactly what they want to be; that was definitely not me! High school was not a great time for me, and I missed a big chunk of my senior years due to illness. After graduating, I enrolled in a dual engineering/science degree and picked aerospace for my engineering major (because…

Suhaila Muhamad

My journey may be slightly different than the rest! Before graduating from high school, I was offered a scholarship to study at an engineering university in Malaysia, one owned by the national oil company. That opportunity set my early career path towards the oil and gas sector, which suited my desire to travel and work…

Tara Pollock

In my final year of school, I was unsure about what career I wanted to pursue. I chose to study a dual degree in Biomedical Science and Commerce because I was interested in both areas and wanted to keep my options open. At university, I enjoyed learning and trying new things, and during my final…

Harriet Krueger

My journey is not so different to most others, I had NO clue what I wanted to do all throughout school and even through my first years of university. I stuck to studying what I liked and what I was interested in (economics and psychology), purely so I wouldn’t get bored during the long 4…

Grace Sancataldo

In year 10 my school advertised an Australian School Based Apprenticeship (ASBA) called ‘Women in Construction’. The program enabled school girls to attend site 1 day a week for 24 months, rotating between different trades every 3 months. Having no clue what I was passionate about or what I would pursue after school I gave…