Career Snapshots

Alumni Snapshots

We launched our Alumni Career in Snapshot series in 2020.  It has been wonderful to discover what our former students have been doing in their career pathways.  Below are the snapshots of the series so far.  If you would like to take part in future snapshots please email Brigitte Read bread@killester.vic.edu.au or Kylie Taberner ktaberner@killester.vic.edu.au

Dr Lesley Cheng

 

We are thrilled to launch the first of our Alumni Career Snapshot series. The first snapshot is of Dr Lesley Cheng who was in our Class of 1998. Dr Cheng has worked in some of the world’s finest institutions, The American Hospital Dubai, U.A.E, The University of Melbourne and most currently at La Trobe University.  Her latest work involves working to further develop blood-based diagnostic tests for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, in addition to cancer and infectious diseases. Wow!

Dr Cheng had some sound advice for our girls- “Work on your communication skills together with your studies. All company goals require a team of people with different expertise. There’s no point in being good at what you do if you can’t communicate with others or non-experts.”. Click on the link to find out more about her career pathway and highlights. https://bit.ly/2GVE7B1

Vicki Macdermid

 

It’s time for our next Alumni Career Snapshot and today we profile Vicki Macdermid, a graduate from the class of 1975. Vicki truly has had an inspirational career starting out in a Graduate Accounting role, then working her way up to become the first female partner at the firm, and now being the owner of her own business where she is a Thought Leader, Speaker and Creator of The Power Quotient, a model for mapping and achieving extraordinary potential for leaders and their teams.

Vicki has worked exceptionally hard to get to where she is today. Throughout her career she has understood the responsibility of being a leader and sought to help those around her on their career paths. Perhaps that is why she has ended up where she is today as a thought leader, working to inspire others to fulfill their true potential. As a woman working in a field dominated by men it may have been challenging to be the first woman to take maternity leave, the first to work part-time and the first to be a partner but she didn’t let that deter her. Quite the opposite, she used that as fuel to pursue her dreams.

One of her career highlights was delivering a TEDx on Connection and Intention through horse power in 2019.

Vicki, we know that your journey will inspire our Killester girls. Thank you for sharing your path with us! https://bit.ly/3fNBEGg

Marta Miranda

Our first alumni 'career snapshot' of 2021 is of Marta Miranda, a graduate of our class of 1993. Marta has held a broad range of roles in her career: Community Radio Grants Manager, Master Data Manager, Account Manager, Data Lead on Large System implementations and Promotions Coordinator. She has also spent the last 25 years volunteering in community radio outside of her normal day job, this is something that has brought her great joy.

She attributes her career progression to hard work and her willingness to try new things. She started studying at a TAFE briefly, and then moved on to an office role and slowly moved her way up organisations to more senior positions the more experience she had. Even today she acknowledges the impact her first manager had on her career, he always encouraged her to not be afraid to make a mistake and give things a go. That advice stayed with her throughout her career. 

Marta’s advice to our Killester girls was: “Don't overthink things, there is so much emphasis to be someone specific or do something specific. I encourage you to always put up your hand to try new things in the work environment and to look for ways to enhance your developmental path.  You have nothing to lose in life by giving something a go or trying something new. There is no right or wrong in a career, do what makes your heart sing.  You really want to be in a position to say "at least I gave it a go", you will find your way and find what truly makes you happy.” What a wonderful perspective and sound advice.

Marta’s story goes to show that perseverance, hard work and being open to new ventures can lead you down the right path.

https://bit.ly/3tmhBVP

 

Dr Kathleen Lawson

 

Our next Alumni snapshot is focused on Dr. Kathleen Lawson. Dr Lawson’s varied career path shows that it’s never too late to change direction to pursue your dreams. She has been a Travel Consultant, a Nurse, a Chiropractor, a Business Owner, a Lecturer and most recently her love for music has led her to combine her career in Health and Wellness and Music, recently completing a Master’s degree in Music Therapy at the University of Melbourne. She is a true picture of a Lifelong Learner - what an inspiration.

She attributes her drive to wanting to give her two small children something to springboard from. Her story is also one that should be inspiring for our current and future students- even though her VCE results weren’t what she had hoped for, she believes that this was in fact the making of her. It gave her the motivation and drive to reach for her dreams.

Here’s a snippet of advice from Dr. Kathleen to our students: “do the best with what you've got, just get on with it, and trust that what you need will eventually be there and support your journey towards where you’re meant to be”.  Be sure to read on in her full interview on the link below.

Thank you for sharing your journey with us and reminding us that it’s never too late to pursue your passions. It also reminds us of the power of being a lifelong learner.https://bit.ly/3wBZNI2

 

Jenny Lindell

Meet Jenny Lindell who graduated from Killester College in 1970. Jenny had an interesting career by starting her life as a Medical Imaging Technologist and then shifting across into Politics. She began her political career as an Electorate Officer, then became a Member of Parliament and finally ended up as Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. Jenny was the 35th person to hold the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly position and only the second woman. Wow - what an incredible accomplishment.

Throughout her working career Jenny did not take the opportunities presented to her lightly. She was fully aware of the many sacrifices her parents made to ensure that she would be given the educational opportunities that her mother was denied. She found her time in politics hugely rewarding but also challenging to balance time between work and family.

Jenny had some beautiful words of wisdom for our girls at Killester. These words were in fact given to her by Sister Bernadine as she left Killester in 1970- “ ‘the high soul takes the high road, the low soul takes the low road and in between on the misty plains the rest rock to and fro‘. I have always interpreted this to mean that it’s a choice to be made - high, low, in between - nothing is set in stone, your future is in your hands.” Thank you for sharing your inspiring journey. Please read the full interview by clicking on the link below. https://bit.ly/3kDxFwK

 

Dr Susie Tang

This week we profile Dr. Susie Tang, a 2011 Killester graduate. After graduating from Killester Susie completed her Bachelor of Biomedical Science/Bachelor of Science at Monash University. She then went on to study a Doctor of Medicine at Deakin University. After 8 years of study, she is now a Junior Doctor. Her highlights of the medical field include- helping those who are at their most vulnerable, doing something different every day, and always learning something new. Her advice on pursuing a career in Medicine was “If you are passionate about making a difference in someone else’s life and love your sciences, I would highly recommend Medicine as a career. It’s a life-long journey but definitely rewarding!”. Congratulations Susie - we are proud of all that you have accomplished! To read the full interview click on the link below. https://bit.ly/3oyRXef

 

Tori Hobbs

Today we profile Tori Hobbs, a Killester 2012 graduate. We are especially proud of Tori as she has been on the frontlines working as a Registered Nurse both in an Emergency Department and ICU during the pandemic. Tori Hobbs graduated from Killester and went on to start her journey towards studying Nursing. She first completed a Diploma of Nursing through TAFE and then went on to study a Bachelor of Nursing at Monash University.

Here’s what Tori had to say about being a Nurse “Some days you accompany parents as they bring new life into the world, and some days you accompany people during their last few moments, but everyday we do our best to provide care, comfort and understanding to people and put a smile on their face irrespective of what’s going on around them.”

Her story is one that proves that hard work, personal self care and pure grit are tools that will enable you to reach your dreams. We are so proud of everything that you have accomplished thus far Tori - we know that your journey will inspire and encourage our girls. Read the full interview to hear about her Nursing highlights and challenges, as well as the steps Tori took to become a Registered Nurse. https://bit.ly/2GZpMn3