Year 12 students enjoyed a Careers event hosted by the OGA on Tuesday 30th May where three Old Girtonians returned to Girton to share their professional and life journey since leaving school during an extended session of VCE Motivate.

Students heard from a Quantitative Trader, a Quality and Risk Consultant and a Family Lawyer.

Steven Maharaj (Aherne 2013) had always envisioned himself working in medicine and initially pursued doing this, however when things didn’t go to plan, he ended up diving headfirst into finance.  Steve pursued higher education in applied math by completing his Bachelor’s degree and his Masters specialising in applied math. After completing his studies, Steven started his career as a Quantitative Trader for a trading company based in Sydney.  Steven’s profession has taken him to different parts of the world, giving him a chance to explore and appreciate different cultures. Steves engaging personality had our Year 12 students full attention with his 5 tips on how to be successful in life and career.

Jessica Muir (Aherne, 2011) pursued a Bachelor of Health Science/Master of Occupational Therapy Practice at La Trobe University in Bendigo. It was during her placements and subsequent work experiences at Bendigo Health that Jessica discovered her calling.

As Jessica’s academic and professional journey unfolded, she devoted herself to making a difference in the lives of others. Working in diverse roles and settings within the healthcare system, her career as an Occupational Therapist flourished. From acute and subacute care to mental health and community-based rehabilitation, she embraced the ever-changing landscape of her field. As Jessica continues on her professional journey as a Quality and Risk Consultant at Bendigo Health, her story stands as a testament to her unwavering commitment and diligence in enhancing the wellbeing of others.

Jess reflected on her time during her University years and the opportunities that have come along across her carrer, she had some sage advice for our Year 12 students never allowing your fears to stop you from taking on new opportunities.

Our third speaker was Will Griffin (Frew, 2015) who shared with Year 12 students that it wasn’t until August of Year 12 that he decided to pursue the Aspire programme at La Trobe University after some guidance from his Head of House Ms Kurrle. Life had surprises in store, leading him to pursue tertiary studies in law and business. While his journey began with a passion for music and science, fate had a different plan. Today, he stands proudly as a prominent figure in the legal landscape, representing justice and advocating for those in need. Today, as a lawyer, Will finds great fulfilment in his work, particularly within the area of family law. Will had humbling advice for our Year 12 students, which was to finding work life balance and practicing gratitude.

It was an informative and fun afternoon, where our students enjoyed hearing from alumni and gaining some insights into what their future may look like.

The OGA is very grateful for the time that the three speakers gave to our Year 12 students.