Haileybury Voices - Grace Sutcliffe (OH 2015)

Haileybury Voices - Grace Sutcliffe (OH 2015)

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:08

Welcome to Halibury Voices, the official podcast of the Old Haliborians Association. I'm Pav. I'm Shanka. This is a show where we go beyond the blazer and share the stories, lessons, and experiences of the Halibury community.

SPEAKER_00 0:22

Now, Pav, do we have an amazing guest today? Not only are we seeing the Halibury leaders emerge, she graduated in 2015 and is now forging a career within policy.

SPEAKER_01 0:34

Shankar, she's worked for a federal MP, a state MP, worked at the Attorney General's office, and now she's forging a career at Treasury Wine Estate. You know what that means, Shankar. She can recommend a great drop of wine for us and our listeners. Love that. So let's go and listen to our guest. Let's go.

SPEAKER_00 0:53

Grace Suffcliffe. Welcome to Halibury Voices.

SPEAKER_03 0:56

Woo! Thanks so much for having me. I'm so happy to be here.

SPEAKER_01 1:00

No, great to have you on. It's a very exciting career you've got. So looking forward to getting into it. So let's go from the beginning. The Halebury Connection.

SPEAKER_02 1:07

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 1:08

Give us a couple of uh give us a couple of memories that you remember. Actually before that, what year you were. Uh a couple of memories, teachers and influential mentors.

SPEAKER_03 1:19

Yeah, sure. So uh finished school in 2015. Um went to Halebury basically from the get-go, so I was there for a long time. Um which campus? So I started the Berwick campus, um, because I grew up on like 10 acres Upper Beaconsfields. Nice. Um, which was cool, and then yeah, made the move to Keysborough in year nine, um, as a lot of people do. Um, so many great memories. Um I was thinking about them the other day, I was like, had so much fun. Um I think for me senior school was the best part because I feel like that's sort of when you know who you are and you know who your like really good friends are. Yeah. Um, you know, many of whom like I'm still good mates with today. Um and I think the best memories were probably, yeah, of my friends and my teachers. Um my teachers were amazing. They kind of like felt like a friend in a way, especially like in senior school. Um and I felt like they, you know, taught us and um like really respected us and like we weren't just like teenagers, we were sort of like future leaders in a way. Um uh yeah, so had the best time. And oh actually, one thing I remembered is in year twelve I got to go to the China campus, the opening of the China campus, which was really cool. Oh, cool. Got to go there for like a week.

SPEAKER_00 2:41

How was that?

SPEAKER_03 2:42

Um how did you score that? That's the more important question. Um yeah, it was such an amazing experience. Um I think so I was a prefect and I think they wanted like four people to go, but then you had to like submit an expression of interest and that sort of thing about why you wanted to do it. Um, and yeah, I thought it was like such an amazing experience. I was like, definitely put my hand up for that. Um we went there for like a week, went to the Great World of China. Oh wow. Um, yeah, got bussed around to all the all the sites, um, and actually stayed at on campus at the school.

SPEAKER_00 3:16

How was the China campus?

SPEAKER_03 3:18

Yeah, uh amazing. It was huge. Um and back then it was still being built. So sort of like it felt like you're in the middle of nowhere, and I'm sure it's changed massively now. Um it was like a big school, middle of nowhere, and there was all these houses being built around it, which is obviously where the staff and um everyone was gonna live. Um so yeah, and yeah, obviously super different to here, so it was really interesting to see that um differences in culture.

SPEAKER_01 3:45

So, what did the what what did the week entail when you went there? Oh, you're testing my memory now, but ten years ago. Apparently.

SPEAKER_03 3:53

Um definitely sightseeing and then chatting to the students. I remember talking to the students, we had someone um sort of like take us around the school, um, and then we went to go to an opening ceremony. Unfortunately didn't go ahead. Um but yeah, it was it was fantastic. Very nice. Yeah, and I'm sure the campus is even bigger now with um lots of students. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:20

Nice. Now, Grace, what do you do for work?

SPEAKER_03 4:25

Um well I work for a wine company, Treasury Wine Estates, um, which is super fun. I love it. I'm very passionate about wine and the wine industry, so kind of felt like a yeah, felt like a natural move. Um so I only started there about six months ago. Um previously worked in government um and now work in like the public affairs team there. So basically monitoring for like policy developments um globally, because it's a global company, and then basically letting my team and um the right people know about you know those policy developments and how they impact the business, um, you know, any commercial risks, costs, etc. So yeah, it's a pretty exciting space.

SPEAKER_01 5:07

So how did Hay Library shape your interest in getting into public policy and politics per se?

SPEAKER_03 5:13

Yeah, oh I actually was thinking about this the other day because I was like, there's a distinct memory where I was like, this is what I want to do. Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_01 5:20

Well to hear because like you know, most of us don't know what we're doing until very later on. Oh, for sure. Still don't.

SPEAKER_03 5:28

I think we're all still working it out. Um, but I think my definitely my interest started year 11, or maybe it was year 10, um, doing politics VCE. Wow. Um so shout out to my teacher, Mr. Willis. Um it was super engaging and I was like, yeah, that's something I'm really interested in and passionate about. Um and then I remember in year, I think it was year 12, we had the chance to go to like a budget um delivery sort of event. Um so like the treasurer at the time spoke to us and like there's other students there and that sort of thing. Um I was like, wow, this is fascinating. Anyway, that sounds really nerdy, but that's great. I think that's awesome.

SPEAKER_00 6:12

Like that you get to number one, obviously Halery allows you to go and see that. That's actually helped shaped what you wanted to do. Definitely. I guess when you were there and you saw that, what was it about it that you're like that in you were like, I resonate with this?

SPEAKER_03 6:26

Yeah, oh I think it's the impact you have on community. Um, you know, mostly for good, hopefully, but not always. Um but yeah, the the power of of government is like quite, you know, astounding and just just to have that impact on community, I was like, oh I'd love to, you know, hopefully make a difference one day and be part of that. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:49

Yeah, wow. So you you're not just an alumni, you're also you were also involved in the OHA a couple years ago in the community relations portfolio. So what made you stay uh connected with us and uh what was your role there in particular? What were you trying to do?

SPEAKER_03 7:06

Yeah, so I um organised events um as part of that portfolio and um I guess I was really focused on engaging the you know young alumni, um, you know, hopefully straight out of school to like keep them connected because I think once you get people engaged, you know, straight out of school, hopefully they'll stay connected. So yeah, no, I loved it, and I just I was drawn to it because I just wanted to give back. I was like, you know, Halo Bree has given me so much, I'm like forever grateful for the education that I received, um, and you know, the sacrifices my parents made to send me to the school and I thought, oh, better give back. Um yeah, so no, it was really, really rewarding. Um, and then yeah, did that for about I think two and a half years. Um, and then you know, life just gets a bit busy, but um who knows, maybe I'll come back.

SPEAKER_00 7:58

I'm sure we'd love you back. So give us the um give us the breakdown in terms of how you sort of got into the pathway of that because you were um in Canberra for a little bit.

SPEAKER_03 8:09

I was, yeah. Yeah, so um yeah, so I guess going back to when I finished school, um, I did a Bachelor of Arts um majoring in politics and English, so obviously like that politics um interest was still there um at Melbourne Uni, and then I went straight into a master's degree in public policy because I was like, oh, I'd really love to get like a more deeper understanding um of policy and how it's designed, which like spoiler alert, um uni, you know, it teaches you great things, but what happens in the real world is very different.

SPEAKER_00 8:44

Seems to be a common thread to everyone that we speak to.

SPEAKER_03 8:48

Um so yeah, that was fantastic and um yeah, learnt a lot there. And then I was like, oh, I think you know, government's probably another like natural step, I guess, from studying public policy. Um so managed to get into the grad programme at the Attorney General's department, which meant I had to move to Canberra. Which, you know, I was like, oh, it's a bit of a bummer, but it was actually a great experience uh moving to Canberra. Um because you know, obviously Melbourne. What are you gonna do in Canberra?

SPEAKER_01 9:22

Apart from policy.

SPEAKER_03 9:24

Yeah. Um no, I actually had an amazing experience in Canberra, I think, because I did the grad program, so it was like I was basically surrounded by, you know, I think we had 70 grads in my huge, yeah, which is massive grad program. Um and that's just in one department. So then times that by all the departments, there was like a couple of thousand grads. We're all the same age. Yeah, we all don't know anyone, we've moved to Canberra. We're like, do you want to be my friend? Do you want to hang out? And like, um yeah, so you just made heaps of friends and yeah, it was heaps of fun.

SPEAKER_01 9:58

I'm sure that's where your love for wine started. Indeed. No, well before that now.

SPEAKER_03 10:04

We'll get to that a bit later on. Um, yeah, no, it was it was a lot of fun. And uh then what I did I do after that. Oh, so you stayed there for about um two years in Canberra. Then I was like, look, it's been a great time, but I need to go back to Melbourne. Uh also difficult because I'd been through like COVID in Melbourne. Then I got stranded in Canberra away from like my partner and um now husband, by the way, who's also an old Haley Buren, so there you go. Oh very um, and yeah, my family and stuff like four months, so that was a bit rough. Um so then after that I was like, yeah, it's time to go home. Um and I was lucky enough to keep my job um and move that to Melbourne. So then we started a little Melbourne office. So I was one of like the first people to do that, which is cool, and yeah, and then now I'm Treasury Wine Estate, so there you go.

SPEAKER_01 11:04

Just be just before we continue with your journey through your career, we've got a term here, once a Halo Burian, always a Halo Burean. What does that mean to you?

SPEAKER_03 11:14

Oh that's a good question. I think I think it means community, honestly. I think the Halo Bree community is um super special and yeah, for me I've always felt a connection to the school and the people that went there. Um and yeah, I think that sense of community is just so important. Um, so yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:39

Now before stepping into the federal public service, you worked in politics straight out of school uh for a federal minister and a state MP, which is huge responsibility at such a young age.

SPEAKER_03 11:51

Lovely that I was given that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:54

What was the experience like?

SPEAKER_03 11:56

Um no, I had an amazing experience. Um but looking back, I just think, oh, I can't believe I got into that job when I was like 20 years old or 21 or something.

SPEAKER_01 12:10

Making critical policies for the Western That was here in Victoria.

SPEAKER_03 12:13

Yeah, in Victoria. So while I was studying at uni um through my Bachelor of Arts and Masters, um I worked for a federal minister, and I'll tell you the story of how I got that job because I just look back, I'm like, I can't believe I did that. So um basically um the lady that I um worked for, she had this like community event. Sorry, going back a step, I was like, oh, I would love to like get involved in politics, how do I do that? Whatever. Um she was the federal minister of I think oh finance, that's right. She's a finance minister. Right. Or financial services minister, I should say. Um, back then. And um, you know, I'd seen her on TV and stuff like that, oh what an amazing lady. I should work for her. Crazy, a crazy thought. And then I was like, oh, how do I, you know, introduce myself. Um, you know, found out she was going to a community event, so I just rocked up to this community event, uh, brought my CV along. Oh wow and I went up to her and I was like, hello. I'm great. I'm studying politics at uni. Um and then ended up having a chat to her staff, and then that day um she basically offered me the job in front of everyone. So the staff member was like, Oh, she can't take it back now because um it's been in front of everyone else. Um that's how I got the job anyway. And I just looked back and I'm like, I cannot believe I had that confidence I would not do it.

SPEAKER_01 13:45

How was the experience working under her?

SPEAKER_03 13:47

Um I was fantastic, she had a fantastic office, um, really great people. I think the probably the hardest part of the job was it was completely front-facing. So, like, um, you know, I was in the electorate office, so basically anyone and then the community can just like come into the office and like, you know, talk to you. Um you have to like, you know, resolve their problems essentially. Um and you know, obviously people can be quite difficult. Very often the um problems are very sensitive and emotional as well. Um, so it definitely taught me a lot about I guess how to manage that kind of conflict and stakeholder engagement and that sort of thing. And um yeah, but it was honestly it was really rewarding, and I guess going back to community, honestly, that's how you can probably give back to community because trying to help people. Um yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:40

So what did that experience uh do with helping you with decisions and how policies affect communities?

SPEAKER_03 14:49

I think um it probably taught me um how much you know a policies decision can impact someone um you know directly, like it can really impact their life. Um and you know, again, that's for better or worse. Um so yeah, I learned a lot from that experience because um, you know, for example, helping people um with you know NGIS support, how do they actually get onto NGIS? You know, helping people with Centre Link, um immigration issues, like these are all huge um like you know issues that really affect people's day-to-day lives, and that's really how policy can impact. Um and I always find it interesting because people always like, what a what is policy? Like, why do you care? And I'm like, guys, this is like gonna impact your day-to-day life.

SPEAKER_01 15:42

Like it just shows that we don't know like how important policy is.

SPEAKER_00 15:46

Oh, sure. I to be fair, I don't even know like how still how this all this all works, right? This policy stuff works.

SPEAKER_01 15:52

Well it's always and it's always seen in a negative light majority of the time because you only hear about the bad stuff, right? Like on TV, you know, there's the state election going, the federal election, they're not doing this, they're not doing that, but then there's so much that they are doing that we just don't know about.

SPEAKER_03 16:06

Definitely, yeah. And I think um as well, often I guess the media talks about you know the politics rather than the policy, and those two are like they obviously, you know, they intertwine a lot and interact a lot, but they are definitely separate things. Um and I guess that's where the government departments, you know, they're completely separate to the government of the day. They obviously interact a lot, but they're meant to be, you know, impartial and separate.

SPEAKER_01 16:34

So so just with policy and when it is when the comms are coming out to the public, do you think it's clear majority of the time when it's when it's done, or is it no? That's what I thought because we don't know about it. Like like you said, like you you obviously know about because you're very in the detail.

SPEAKER_03 16:55

Yeah, yeah, for sure. Oh no, definitely not. I think yeah, communication between government and community is definitely not clear, like even how government departments write things like online, often you're like trying to like decipher what does this actually mean, like who's impacting. And that is honestly why um, you know, my job exists as a policy analyst because I'm there trying to decipher what the department's actually saying and then trying to advocate um to them on um, you know, behalf of the um business, how that actually impacts industry. Often government doesn't um not they don't consider impacts on industry, but I think there's definitely a a um I guess a miscommunication or or lack of understanding on how it can impact business. Yeah. Anyway, there's my politics lecture for the day.

SPEAKER_00 17:47

Well, we'll go into a bit more, um, but you joined the attorney general's department. Um, I guess for people that may not know what is that, and I guess the next piece, going in as a graduate, what does policy writing mean? What does that do?

SPEAKER_03 18:04

Yeah. Um, yeah, I feel like it always sounds like just a totally different world. I guess it is. Yeah. Um so the attorney general's department, um, basically the role of department is to uphold the rule of law, like that's the um, I guess, the purpose of the attorney general, and then departments there to support the attorney general of the day. Um, so when I joined as a grad, we did like three rotations, so classic kind of grad program. Um so I think they were in three divisions, so it was like industrial relations at the time, which is no longer there, um, and then uh family safety policy and national security. So we had to rotate through those. Um yeah, which is really interesting. And again, I think um the experience of Hay Library and my union degree definitely set me up well for the grad program. Um because I sort of understood how um I guess government works already before jumping in the department from my experience in politics. Um and yeah, sort of how to engage with people and you know, had that office experience already, which is really good. Um So yeah, that was great.

SPEAKER_01 19:16

So you moved to Canberra for that role.

unknown 19:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:19

How excited were you? And um what was the key takeaway from that experience in Canberra?

SPEAKER_03 19:26

Oh it was actually a great um personal learning experience because obviously, I mean, even though it's just interstate, you're still moving your whole life somewhere else where you don't know anyone. Um, like I literally knew yeah, no one. Um, didn't have a connection to anyone. Um but luckily, yeah, the grad program, you know, had so many people that were like my age, similar interests that I got to know um and became really close friends with. Um, but I think when you move, well, whether you move interstate or to a different country or whatever, and not knowing anyone, you know, you've really learned to rely on yourself completely. So I mean I think I've always been an independent person, but it teaches you complete independence, like there's no one if something goes wrong, you know, you're kind of just there, you've got to sort it out yourself, um, which is always a good learning experience. For yourself, yeah. Right. How long were you there for? Um, I think just over two years. Okay. Um, yeah, so I think enough time to sort of have a great time and meet lots of people, but Melbourne's just the best. I'm sorry for the camera listeners if you're listening.

SPEAKER_00 20:37

Um and what were some of the challenges, I guess, when moving over interstate and then also stepping into such a role? How did that all go?

SPEAKER_03 20:45

Yeah. Um, yeah, I think the biggest challenge was just knowing that you're on your own. I think that's um always yeah, I think that was the biggest challenge. Um as for the work, honestly, I felt quite confident going in.

SPEAKER_00 21:04

Not many people would say that, you know.

SPEAKER_03 21:06

Yeah, and I don't know why. I think because I'd had all those experiences before. I mean, you know, working in a political office, um, you know, you learn a lot and it's like the work is very fast-paced and um, you know, you sort of work with very limited direction. So I think going to the grade programme was like the personal side would probably be harder in terms of not knowing anyone, but then the work was maybe slightly easier in a way. Okay. I felt well well prepared, which is nice. Yeah, very good. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:39

Alright, Grace, let's talk some wine now. The best part. So you m you fast forward a few years, you're back in Melbourne. Yeah. You've finished your previous role. Yep. And now you're at Treasury Wine Estate as a global public affairs policy analyst.

SPEAKER_03 21:54

It's quite a mouthful, isn't it? Quite a mouthful.

SPEAKER_01 21:56

So can you explain to the listeners what that role entails and how public um public affairs and policy operate within a major Australian company.

SPEAKER_03 22:07

Yeah, so I guess going back to what we were saying before about how, you know, people don't understand policy, well I guess that's um, you know, why I'm there in in the role to basically decipher what the government's doing, um, what they intend to do and then basically tell people in the business um what's about to happen so we can prepare for it. Um and I think going into the role I was like really surprised about how much policy impacts the business in terms of um all the different sides. So you know you've got agricultural policy, you've got trade, you've got um tax, you've got health policy and all of that um has quite significant impacts um on the business which yeah you probably wouldn't even think about that for like a wine company or any company really.

SPEAKER_00 22:58

So can you give us an example of how something like policy would affect a business like where you're in Treasury wine or state and is that like when we're talking about like when China had the tariffs and stuff like that, is that what we're talking about?

SPEAKER_03 23:10

Definitely yeah definitely so you know trade's a huge one um any kind of tariff obviously has um a big impact because obviously it's a global company so um you know like with the US US tariffs I think the company was quite um lucky in the sense because um we already had wine that was being produced in the US so we have offices in the US and um vineyards there. So I guess we could mitigate some of the the risks with those tariffs instead of you know um Australian wine being exported to the US. So yeah I guess China tariffs US tariffs um what about the health ones? Yeah health is really interesting um so I guess the company is very mindful of um you know moderation um people making sure that people aren't you know excessively consuming alcohol obviously that's a really big health issue um so I've got to be really mindful of of that in terms of how we advertise and um labelling and all that sort of thing. So I guess there's a lot of policies in terms of you know what you have to put on the back of a wine label as an example. So you've probably seen like um you know the drink wise logo um or drink away in the UK then you've got the no no drinking during pregnancy that's I think another thing we want to know is what's your favourite wine oh my goodness that's so hard like do you want like a brand or a just a varietal?

SPEAKER_01 24:47

We're open to doing whatever you want to tell us.

SPEAKER_03 24:49

I'm loving at the moment I love um Fiano it's like an Italian varietal um because I feel like it's great for summer like it's a bit more exciting than a classic you know Pinot Griggio. People like ooh Fiano that sounds exciting. Yeah it does it does um but then it's still like you know a crowd pleaser I guess because I'm always conscious of like you know not everyone's into wine so when you rock up at a dinner party or whatever you sort of want to make sure that everyone's gonna enjoy it. But if I'm going to talk about specific brand I would say the Coldstream Hills Pinot Noir is outstanding. It's excellent.

SPEAKER_01 25:37

So bef I mean you we when we were talking offline you mentioned you loved wine beforehand. Yes and then when you came into Treasury wine did you get open to a different world of wine? Oh definitely like the price point's gone way way up was there stuff that just op you looked at and you're like oh my God this exists? And like where was I when this existed?

SPEAKER_03 26:01

Like sort of Oh definitely like um I remember last year so every year when there's a new so Treasury wine estates owns Penfolds don't know. Obviously an iconic Australian brand that's been going on for uh I think 150 years. I probably quoted that wrong but anyway um and I remember last year um they so every year they when they have the new Grange like everyone the um Melbourne office can try it. And it's not like it's not like a little sip it's like actually a proper glass which is amazing. So last year I was lucky enough to try the latest Grange and we'll do the same thing again this year in I think Bonnet drinks would be so good.

SPEAKER_00 26:47

How do you go back?

SPEAKER_03 26:49

Well this is the thing now I'm like we have a staff shop and um you know all the wines um obviously now I get a staff discount so I'm looking at like you know sixty dollar bottles now whereas before it'd be like oh $20 discount because I'm like oh I get $20 off that what a bargain yeah yeah nice yeah um it's a fascinating bridge between government regulation and global industry.

SPEAKER_00 27:16

How do you see your experience in politics and public service shaping the work that you do now?

SPEAKER_03 27:22

Yeah I mean I think yeah my experience is definitely invaluable and um helping me with this role you know having that real understanding of government how it works I mean government I feel like sometimes seems like a whole new world and I guess in some ways it is and having worked in the department you know you actually understand how policy is made how policy decisions are made um and then you can use that experience to then um actually advocate for the business and um yeah make sure they understand how it will impact the business and the broader wine industry.

SPEAKER_00 27:59

Yeah nice and looking back what advice would you give to current Halebury students who are considering careers in public policy or politics or just government in general?

SPEAKER_03 28:09

Oh yes I mean I think oh I'll just say get in there. I mean we need more um you know great people in politics and policy and you know I think sometimes it's probably a career that's maybe overlooked. So I definitely encourage you know in senior school if you have a little bit of an interest in politics you know take that and run with it because it'll probably open a lot of doors um and you know seize the opportunities um that you can get any opportunity you can get I mean going back to my story about how I got my first job I mean you just gotta gotta go there and um you know you don't ask you don't get yeah exactly you gotta ask for things and you know I think people are really happy to help you as well like especially as a young person you know people often see you like they're like oh you know if this person has an interest who knows where they could go so um yeah I think take opportunities and also try new things you know if you haven't thought about something before maybe just give it a go. You've got nothing to lose I think.

SPEAKER_01 29:16

So Grace you've taken on responsibility early so academically politically and through the OHO what have you learned about leadership at such a young age?

SPEAKER_03 29:28

Um it's a good question. I think leadership it's really about responsibility and accountability. I mean there's always lots of amazing things that come with leadership but I think at the end of the day um you're taking accountability and I think that's um something that you should always think about when you're becoming a leader. But in saying that also I think um I think we got taught this at school everyone is a leader. I think we've heard that a lot of times but I think it's so true. I mean looking back through my career, you know, even when I wasn't managing someone officially you know I'd be trying to be like a mentor to you know a junior staff member and help them out and um you know help them out with their you know career journey and how can they can progress and that sort of thing. Um and yeah like at school I was a prefect and um absolutely loved it 'cause I love being around people and yeah, trying to help people I guess. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:25

Public service and policy can sometimes feel like a quiet path compared to more visible careers. Why does that matter?

SPEAKER_03 30:32

Yeah I mean um like I said I think you know policy obviously has huge impacts on people's day-to-day lives so I think it's definitely a really meaningful career where you can hopefully you know give back to the community and um you know really understand how policy and um important decisions are made so I definitely encourage people if you're interested to you know have a look and give it a go.

SPEAKER_01 30:59

And you moved we as we've discussed you moved to you moved interstate for your initial role. What role did the OHA or the Halebury community play to help you with that move?

SPEAKER_03 31:10

Yeah um well I was still part of the community relations portfolio on the OHA at that time so that was really cool. So um you know I'd zoom in and um chat to the OHA committee so um it was fantastic because that really made me feel connected still you know like obviously going to an unknown place. I still had a community I guess you know waiting for me and I felt like you know if I ever needed help I'm sure someone would definitely help me and introduce me to an old Haleberian as well.

SPEAKER_01 31:43

Nice. Well Grace you know what time it is big ball time first first thing that comes into your mind you ready to go? I'm ready to go Melbourne or Canberra?

SPEAKER_03 31:54

Melbourne obviously policy or politics policy coffee or tea? Coffee.

SPEAKER_01 32:00

I'd be disappointed if you didn't say coffee Melbourne.

SPEAKER_03 32:03

Early mornings or late nights early mornings master's thesis rewarding or exhausting can I say both public service in one word oh responsibility I think leadership in one word oh can I say responsibility biggest study motivator curiosity favorite Halebury memory year twelve okay teachers who made an impact oh this is probably not gonna be a one word response it doesn't need to be one word oh okay um oh so many teachers um I'm gonna shout out to a few of them absolutely please do Una Marshall amazing she taught me um English lit I think it was um Mr Cav who taught me Revs in U11 and um Mr Willis who taught me politics and I'm sure there's many more um but those are the ones that um come to mind.

SPEAKER_01 33:18

Debate or exam?

SPEAKER_03 33:20

Exam risk or certainty risk collaboration or independence collaboration long-term goal oh long term goals in my career or whatever you want to do whatever I want oh I have so many goals um I would love to uh I guess in my personal life I'd love to do like a road trip around Australia like take a year off and just go on a caravan with my husband and my dog and um experience Australia because I think we have so many amazing sites and you know I feel like we often prioritize going overseas so I would absolutely love to do that. Nice. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:06

Most proud moment so far um being on this podcast.

SPEAKER_03 34:17

Consistency and starting things early which a lot of people don't do and everyone works differently but that's what got me through. So then you don't freak out in the last minute. Toughest lesson learnt um I think this might sound really cynical. Um I guess probably the toughest lesson is you've got to back yourself in because not everyone has your back um obviously there are amazing people out there who'll support you along the way but really only you can deliver on your you know goals and aspirations um yeah one word to describe your journey exciting one word to describe Halebree um community and one word to describe the OHA community community no uh connected I'll go with connected I'm gonna add two more uh questions red or white depends on the season depends on the meal there is no one word answer that's your answer yeah and favorite Jane Austen uh book I mean the classic Pride and Prejudice can't go wrong Grace that was absolutely amazing thank you very much for sharing the story yeah it was good it was good and we'll be watching your journey and we'll thank you we'll definitely be monitoring and seeing how you're going love it awesome thank you so much thank you thank you to all our listeners thanks for staying connected because once a Hala Burian always a Halo Burian and remember we go beyond the blazer because every Halo Burian has a story worth telling