Kilvonian Profiles
Carla Purcell, Class of 2004
Q. Tell us a little bit about yourself
A. I graduated from Kilvington in 2004 and went on to study Commerce/Law at Deakin University. After finishing university, I was admitted to practice law in Victoria and worked at Ashurst (formerly Blake Dawson) as an Employment and Industrial Relations lawyer before following the IR pathway further by moving to Sydney to work as an Industrial Relations Manager at Qantas. Whilst at Qantas, I realigned my career trajectory and moved into operations and people management where I was Qantas’ Head of Sydney International Airport. Most recently, my husband and I relocated back home to Melbourne where I am currently the Director of Passenger Service Delivery (Operations) at Yarra Trams overseeing the day-to-day operation of the Melbourne tram network, and I am responsible for 1,800 people including all drivers and customer service staff.
Q. What is your favourite memory of Kilvington?
A. Some of my fondest Kilvington memories were outside the structure of the classroom and being involved in the various swimming, athletic, cross-country and netball teams. Specifically, my fondest memory was in my final year during the GSV Athletics Carnival anchoring the Kilvington 4x400m relay team alongside my sister and two other Kilvington alumni (who, in a very strange turn of events I am now related to via marriage). Whilst we didn’t win the race, it was amazing to be part of the final race of the Carnival and sharing the experience with my sister while my time at Kilvington was coming to a close.
Q. Did you end up where you expected you would when you finished school?
A. Not at all. I had never contemplated a career in operational management when I was at school, but then again, I didn’t truly understand the opportunities that were available. Studying law wasn’t my initial goal either, it was an ‘add-on’ to Economics. Having said that, I absolutely love where I’ve ended up and the indirect way in which I got here. By following the opportunities which presented themselves along the way when they interested me, I’ve ended up in a place which is better than I could have expected at the end of Year 12.
Q. What has been your biggest highlight so far?
One of the biggest achievements has been the introduction of self-service check-in at Sydney International Airport - this was revolutionary at the time and changed the way in which customers travelled. No longer did they need to queue up for long periods waiting to check-in, but now could check-in, change their seat, drop their bag and be on their way within 90 seconds. From a customer perspective, it meant that customers could spend more time shopping or enjoying the Lounge experience and away from the stresses of an airport check-in hall.
Q. What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve had to face to get to where you are now?
A. The COVID-19 crisis which has disrupted the world in 2020. In my current role, I am responsible for the safe operation of the Melbourne tram network, which includes the many people who work to provide a safe and reliable service every day. Public transport is an essential service and relied upon by many to gain access to medical providers and essential amenities, but public transport workers are not immune. We need to keep our people safe so that they don’t fall victim to this horrible virus, which enables them to keep operating Melbourne’s trams. This delicate balance of our responsibility to our employees, while also meeting the needs of the wider community, presents innumerable difficulties - not to mention the significant financial impact that the crisis has caused. While at the time of writing this, we are a long way away from being through this crisis, I am proud of the way that we are supporting our people and the wider community.
Q. What advice would you give to others who might be faced with similar obstacles?
It goes without saying, but I sincerely hope that this pandemic is not something that any of us will see again in our lifetime. My best advice is to ensure that you do not get overwhelmed in the face of uncertainty and seek the skills and expertise of those around you. You do not need to do it alone and it is important that you communicate often, with purpose and authentically. No person is an expert on everything and being able to seek the advice of others allows you the support you’ll need in the face of a crisis. In recent times, we have had to be prepared to adapt and adjust plans regularly and to keep up with the changing situation. Being being able to lean on other people’s knowledge and abilities has enabled me to stay on top of my responsibilities.
Q. How did what you learn at Kilvington help make you the person you are today?
A. Whilst at Kilvington, I was involved in many sporting teams and was also the Fethers House Captain in Year 12. By being involved in many co-curricular activities, in addition to my studies, it helped me to develop valuable leadership and time-management skills that laid the foundation for the roles I have held since.