How has being part of Enactus influenced /impacted you personally?
It has provided me more confidence and given me more opportunities to meet and connect with a wide range of people from both in Australia and around the World.
How has being part of Enactus influenced / impacted you professionally?
Enactus has influenced me to become the leader I always needed and wanted when I was younger. To be that person who can ask the tough questions and lead from the front.     To be the leader who has the big picture in mind and understands that every business decision has ripple effects. Plus having the ability to see beyond the numbers with an empathetic and philanthropic mindset is really important.
What skills and competencies did Enactus help you develop?
Leadership, problem solving, ability to take criticism and setbacks and more importantly use them to do things differently next time.
How would you describe the benefits of Enactus to someone who is considering joining a team?
Definitely give it a go. It puts you outside your comfort zone which is where the REAL learning happens. I have learnt more from situations where I literally knew nothing but the end goal in mind.    It really helps you apply business studies into a real-life context to not only make your projects successful but make a valuable contribution to society. For me it’s a no brainer and organizations need individuals like you and it’s up to you to demonstrated you understand what their challenges are, where they’re at, and where they need to be.
Please share some detail about a memorable experience / experiences you had whilst with Enactus.
My most memorable experience with Enactus was at the World Cup in 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa.   I was privileged to participate in a workshop with the Global CEO of Brambles Mr. Tom Gorman to assist his team in solving problems regarding food wastage in the global food supply chain, cross cultural management and how to manage in an ever-globalized world,
Briefly outline your career journey.
2006 Finished University with a Bachelor of Asian Studies (Japanese & Sociology). This included one year at Hiroshima University on exchange.
2006 I went to Japan to live and work in education, translation and as a Sister City Liaison officer between Japan/Aus and the USA.
2012 Returned to Australia to work for the University of New England in a number of roles and during my MBA studies in 2015 I joined Enactus.
2013 During my MBA studies I did a business start-up which was awarded ‘ Best New Business in the 2014 Armidale Chamber of Commerce Business Awards
2020 Joined the Regional Investment Cooperation (Australian Federal Government). This role was originally a business workflow manager.
2023 I moved full time into a more specialized Agri Lending Finance role with the Regional Investment Cooperation
What opportunities can Enactus Australia provide to you as an Alumni to encourage you to continue to engage with us?
Networking opportunities and potentially a new online platform (this could be within LinkedIn) that is interactive, and we can share ideas, experiences and learnings.