On Tuesday 30 May 2023, our A.B. Paterson College Board hosted 53 industry leaders at our annual Business Industry Breakfast taking place at Southport Sharks. Representatives included accountants, educators and solicitors, corporate managers and financial advisors, paramedics, and entrepreneurs as well as authors and engineers. Our Year 12 students seized the opportunity to network with industry mentors and to ask advice on career pathways to enable them to flourish, thrive and stand out in a crowd beyond A.B. Paterson College.

Deputy Board Chair, Ms Nicole Kelly welcomed our students and guests and reiterated that this breakfast is more than just a gathering of professionals and students; it is a convergence of dreams and aspirations. She continued to remind students that, success is not solely defined by financial gains or professional accolades. It is about finding fulfillment in whatever you do, making a positive difference in the lives of others, and leaving a lasting legacy. It is about finding your passion, harnessing your unique strengths, and aligning them with a purpose greater than yourself. As Ms Kelly concluded her welcome address, she urged students to embrace this opportunity to help shape their future and create a world that reflects their values, aspirations, and ambitions.

As breakfast was served, our special guest speaker, Karen Phillips, Executive Director of the Women in Business Awards of Australia and Women in Business Australia, spoke of the importance of becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable, particularly with the developments we have seen in the Generative AI field. Ms Phillips’ speech highlighted that only three professionals in the room, of the 53 in attendance, had careers in the same field in which they initially started. This exemplified how, in today’s world, our professional journey changes over time and the initial goals that we had whilst studying at school, although valuable, often change.  

The guest panellists: Ryan Kogelman (former owner of RDK Sports Management), Scott Williamson (Domestic Regional Manager at Bond University), Sarah Jane Gourley (National Disability Service - Project Leader for the Community Services Gateway to Industry Project) and Charley Ellwood (2022 graduate and College Captain of A.B. Paterson College, also shared their insights into their own journey and imparted their wisdom and guidance through sharing their own experiences since leaving school. A common theme that was highlighted throughout the morning that Ms Sheehy reiterated in her closing of the event, was to take every opportunity available. Ms Sheehy urged the students to use the remainder of the event to seek out those mentors in the room, to make connections and seek their advice and guidance; to use this opportunity to their advantage.

As the event drew to a close, the atmosphere in the room was buzzing with stimulating conversation whilst students sought to absorb valuable advice and quiz our guests about their career pathways and professions, ultimately making vital connections within our community. Our annual Business Industry Breakfast was thoroughly enjoyed by our students as they head into their final six months at our College.

Charlotte Brook | Head of Senior School