Curtin Commerce graduate Leighton Bradfield knows this feeling all too well.

During his first year of university, he was confronted with a tragedy that no human should ever have to encounter in their lifetime.

Leighton and his close friend, Lockie O’Donoghue faced the devastating loss of two close friends to suicide within just two months.

Struggling with their own mental health battles, Leighton and Lockie decided to channel their grief, experiences and shared commitment into a transformative mission, founding .

20Talk is an evidence-based charity that gives young adults the tools to tackle life’s challenges and a safe space to find true connection through the power of real, honest conversation.

Today, we live in a world where our phones have often become an easy escape from the realities and conversations we often need to confront.

Launching in 2024, is a mental health challenge that seeks to change this.

For 20 hours, participants sit silently with what many of us spend our lifetimes avoiding: ourselves.

“The purpose of this event is to help people self-reflect, we are often so distracted by technology that we don’t really look inwards anymore,” Leighton said.

Leighton said deciding to tackle such a big and important issue in society wasn’t just an idea – it was necessary.

Today, Australians are more likely to die by suicide than from skin cancer.

With suicide being the leading cause of death among Australians aged 25-44 ().

Disturbingly, only two per cent of mental health funding is directed towards prevention charities, while 98 per cent is allocated toward interventions and crisis management.

Drawing from their own experiences navigating the challenges of early adulthood, 20Talk arose out of recognition that the current mental health system is clunky, unrelatable and overly abundant.

Consequently, leaving many young people unsure of who to trust.

“As a result, you’ve got many young people and those on the fringes of society who don’t want to engage with a clinical service.”

Going beyond conventional mental health support, 20Talk strives to empower young adults to take charge of their mental health journey.

Through their evidence-based programs, they foster a culture of personal and community wellbeing, creating a supportive and understanding environment where every conversation matters.

“If we don’t have these honest conversations, then people feel more isolated.”

Since its beginning, 20Talk has raised more than $3 million for youth mental health.

Serving as a powerful reminder to young Australians that taking your mental health seriously doesn’t mean doing it alone.

“We all desire and need connection,” Leighton said.

“We all go through tough times, and once you understand that you can really speak to anyone and connect in some way.”

If you see a friend going through a tough time, Leighton said don’t be afraid to start a conversation.

“If anything, sit with them in the darkness, ask them how they are going, and just be there,” he said.

“Finally, listen to them and encourage them to seek professional help.”

In the future, Leighton and Lockie are looking to expand 20Talk over east.

“At the moment, our goal is to have all our mental health maintenance training free in all universities across Australia.

“We will also be setting up our Sydney office next year as we are looking to expand our 20Hours program to more than 20,000 people per year.”

Learn more about 20Talk’s programs .

We understand some readers may find this content distressing. Support is available through Lifeline (13 11 14) or the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467).

Like many, Karen’s path to success wasn’t linear.

At just 29, she became a single mother following the breakdown of her marriage.

“I was on a single-parent pension, and I wasn’t happy in that space,” Karen said.

“I desperately wanted to give back to the community that was supporting me.”

While working at a party shop to make ends meet, Karen began studying to become a paramedic with St John WA.

Qualifying as a paramedic marked more than the beginning of a career it transformed her family’s future.

“The first thing I bought with my first pay cheque was private health insurance for my girls,” Karen said.

“I wanted to show them that anything is possible.”

For more than a decade, Karen witnessed both the best and worst of humanity on the front line.

Then, in 2014, her own life changed in an instant.

While on shift, she was violently assaulted in the back of an ambulance by a patient affected by drugs and alcohol.

“He was sitting on me with his legs locked against the metal frame of the stretcher, and I could feel this intense pressure on the left side of my back.

“In that moment, I genuinely thought my ribs were going to break.”

Although Karen escaped the immediate danger, the impact of the assault remained long after the physical injuries healed.

Her recovery spanned years and included three surgeries with extensive rehabilitation to her right wrist and, eventually, a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“But when I returned to work, some concerned colleagues noticed something had changed and I was guided to seek help.”

With support from her doctor and a life coach, Karen began to heal. It was during this time that she discovered the profound impact therapy dogs could have on mental health.

“When I was consumed by all these horrible thoughts, one of the few moments of happiness I felt was visiting my GP clinic to spend time with Olav, the therapy dog,” she said.

That simple but powerful observation inspired a much bigger idea.

Almost a decade after the assault, Karen founded , a charity providing frontline mental health support through trained therapy dogs and experienced first responders.

Six-year-old golden retriever Angus became the program’s first therapy dog.

Since then, Karen has recruited four additional therapy dogs and their handlers, each with at least 15 years’ experience as a first responder.

“Our goal is to bridge the gap between First Responders doing their job and seeking support.”

With rates of PTSD among emergency service workers continuing to rise, Karen believes peer-led support is more important than ever.

“The first responder world is unique because we put enormous pressure on ourselves to be OK,” she said.

Throughout the challenges of raising two daughters while building a career, karate has become Karen’s constant.

Now a sensei, she credits the discipline with helping build the resilience that has carried her through life’s toughest moments.

“I truly believe my resilience as a paramedic is connected to my karate practice,” she said.

“My advice is to build a fulfilling life outside of work. If all your identity is tied to one thing and you lose it, you risk losing yourself too”.

“And above all, approach life with kindness. You can collect trophies, medals, accolades and titles but they should never define who you are.”

One was grounded and familiar; the other shimmered with possibility.

Long before stepping onto a Hollywood red carpet event or working behind the scenes at the Oscars, Curtin marketing graduate Jordana Ripp remembers discovering a love for movies.

Sitting cross-legged on the living room floor at the family’s California home, Jordana was blown away by a VHS copy of The Little Mermaid.

“We had just moved into our new house in California, and Dad brought home the tape, which had just come out, and I watched it so many times,” she said.

For many children, that kind of magic fades with age. But for Jordana, it stayed.

Back home in Perth – one of the world’s most isolated cities in the world – and a long way from Hollywood Boulevard, Jordana held onto the dream of one day working in the entertainment industry.

Determined to turn that dream into reality, Jordana enrolled at șìÌÒÊÓÆ”, where she studied communications and marketing, blending her love of storytelling with her fascination for film, fashion and pop culture.

But like many graduates, the path ahead wasn’t instantly clear.

Following graduation, she worked briefly at her father’s construction company.

“The building industry wasn’t on my vision board, but there wasn’t really any outlet for the opportunities I was interested in,” she said.

What started as a side hustle soon became one of Perth’s premier local fashion blogs, covering fashion in film, reviews and photoshoots.

Jordana would go on to cover Perth events, new store openings, and rub shoulders with up-and-coming designers in WA.

Before long, those small local assignments grew into opportunities to cover Australian Fashion Week, collaborate with global beauty brands and attend New York Fashion Week.

Fifteen years later, that once-humble side hustle evolved into -Jordana’s thriving digital marketing consultancy where she works with some of the world’s biggest entertainment brands.

Today, Jordanna has helped creators with a combined following of more than 26 million people and worked with powerhouse names including , , , and .

But getting there required a leap of faith.

Leaving Perth to move to Los Angeles was both exciting and terrifying.

Five months later, she landed a role at Sony Pictures.

For the girl who once dreamed of Hollywood from her living room in Perth, it felt surreal.

“Standing on the red carpet on Hollywood Boulevard was such a dream come true.”

Over the next decade, Jordana built a career inside one of the world’s most competitive industries, working her way from Coordinator of People and Organisation to Digital Marketing Executive at Sony Pictures.

But beyond the glamour, Hollywood taught her resilience.

“I just tried to push boundaries as much as I could.”

That persistence eventually led her to one of the biggest moments of her career -working on the 2024 Oscars.

For someone who grew up watching award shows from the other side of the world, the experience was almost impossible to comprehend.

Yet behind the glitz, gowns and flashing cameras, Jordana discovered something surprisingly grounding.

“When you’re behind the scenes, you realise that the people running these events are just incredibly hard-working humans,” she said.

Despite everything she has achieved, Jordana says the most important lesson she has learned is not to fear failure.

“The biggest lesson I’ve learnt is to see failure as a necessary part of becoming successful,” she said.

“It’s not the end of the world if a door shuts. If you have the drive, you’ll always find another way through.”

, Head of Digital Marketing and Talent at

Graduating from Curtin with a master’s in marketing (2011), Jordana is a passionate digital marketing and entertainment professional with more than 13 years of experience. Growing up in Perth for most of her life, Jordana decided to take a leap of faith and move to LA to pursue a career in entertainment marketing. Since moving, she has managed to work with global brands including Sony Pictures Television, Netflix, NASA, the 2024 Oscars, L’Oreal and Universal Pictures, plus many more.

With close to a decade of experience in the industry, Brodee’s dedication to uncover the enigma of life below the waves led to an extraordinary opportunity.

World leading historian, Sir David Attenborough’s film crew reaching out to Brodee’s team, led by Grace Russell, to film his most recent documentary, .

Brodee’s specialised diving skills and wealth of experience working with blue whales led to her becoming a safety diver for part of the film.

Swimming eye to eye with the beautiful animal she’s dedicated her research career to protecting for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, completely blew her mind.

“I was so overwhelmed I ended up waving at the whale – you can see my hand in the film.

“It was definitely a pinch me moment, I’ve never felt so small yet so connected to the natural world, it was just insane.”

This moment served as a powerful reminder of how deeply connected we are, as humans, to the ocean, and the importance of protecting these fragile yet vital ecosystems.

As our oceans continue to bear the brunt of climate change, paving the way forward for the next generation of aspiring marine scientists has become even more important.

Brodee still remembers the day she fell in love with marine science.

She was eleven years old when a visit to a pearl farm in Broome on the Kimberley coast in Western Australia opened a whole new world of possibility.

“I didn’t know what marine science was until I went to a pearl farm in Broome,” she said.

That evening her dad explained that studying the ocean and its creatures is a profession. From there, Brodee knew she wanted to be a marine scientist.

But when she approached the end of her undergraduate degree, she yearned for more.

It wasn’t long before she began her Honours in Marine Science at Curtin.

As part of her Honours program, Brodee completed fieldwork onboard a whale watching vessel in WA’s Southwest region, collecting photo-identification imagery of whales to assess their population.

Not long after her degree she began working on the same whale watching vessel as their onboard marine biologist. This is when she witnessed her first pygmy blue whale, and the rest is history.

“I still remember the blue whale coming up from the depths of the crystal-clear water, almost glowing – we call it Gatorade blue,” she said.

This moment set her on a path toward a post doctorate in the socioeconomic value and acoustic ecology of pygmy blue whales, helping to inform conservation efforts for the endangered species.

But these incredible career opportunities have not come without hard work and perseverance.

Having spent the last decade working in marine science, Brodee has experienced first-hand how challenging it is for early career scientists to break into the industry.

On a mission to change this, Brodee and her friend, Emily created the to give aspiring marine scientists the network they wish they had when they started their careers.

Through the power of community, Brodee and Emily have created a space that empowers the next generation of marine professionals through mentorship, hands-on experience and purpose-driven pathways that connect science, industry and community.

When it comes to pursuing a career in marine science, Brodee’s advice is to say yes before you’re ready.

“Show up, ask questions and don’t underestimate the value of genuine relationships and showing up as the best version of yourself,” she said.

“Marine science is a big world – it’s only until you start working in the industry that you realise how small it actually is, but at the same time it can be really generous to you, as long as your generous to it.”

, Senior Marine Scientist & Co-Founder and Director at and

Graduating from Curtin with a Master of Science (Honours), Brodee is passionate about protecting our marine environment for future generations. With ten years’ experience in the marine industry, Brodee has worked on various marine projects across industry, government, academia and conservation sectors. Currently, she is a PhD Researcher at Curtin’s Centre for Marine Science and Technology (CMST) where she is exploring the socioeconomic value and acoustic ecology of pygmy blue whales in Australian waters.

There were moments when it felt overwhelming, moments when she questioned whether she belonged, and whether she should keep going at all.

“When I moved up to Perth, it was really hard living on campus for the first few years,” she said.

But as the first in her family to attend university, she carried something deeper than doubt; there was a quiet determination to see it through.

A proud Torres Strait Islander woman, Brodie grew up in Western Australia’s Great Southern, between Pemberton and Manjimup.

With a strong connection to the natural world, it was the ocean that truly captured her heart.

Shaped by simple, treasured moments walking along the shoreline with her mum, collecting seashells and discovering the beauty hidden beneath the surface.

Those early memories became the foundation of something much bigger.

Now a Curtin graduate in Coastal and Marine Science, Brodie is driven by a clear sense of purpose – to give back to her homeland in the Torres Strait.

“I would love to eventually work in the Torres Strait.

Along the way, Brodie has embraced opportunities that once felt out of reach.

Being awarded the prestigious saw her travel to Fiji, where she undertook an internship supporting local marine communities.

“At first, I couldn’t even believe I had received it,” she said.

“But it taught me that when you feel scared or uncomfortable, that’s often when you need to say yes.”

Spending seven months abroad became a turning point.

“It made me feel like I could do anything,” she said.

Brodie’s dedication and impact earned her the at the Premier’s Science Awards.

Now, she is setting her sights on the next chapter – pursuing a master’s in marine science, with the goal of joining the CSIRO Indigenous Graduate Program and returning to northern Australia.

It is a journey that has come full circle from uncertainty to purpose, from homesickness to confidence.

And if there’s one thing Brodie would tell her younger self, it’s simple:

Say yes.

“If an opportunity comes your way and you’re unsure just do it,” she said.

“Have faith in yourself. You’ll get to where you’re meant to be.”

, Marine Research Intern at

Graduating with a Bachelor of Science (Marine Science), Brodie is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman with family connections to Saibai Island. Brodie was named WA’s Aboriginal STEM Student of the Year at the 2024 Premier’s Science Awards. In addition to her academic achievements, Brodie has received multiple prestigious scholarships and has participated in various industry and international marine programs, including the New Colombo Plan Scholarship and CSIRO Indigenous Time at Sea Scholarship (ITSS). With a passion for marine science, Brodie aims to combine culture, science and research to strengthen Indigenous voices and representation in marine research.

That courage began in the 1980’s – when Marion took a brave leap of faith and left an abusive relationship in search of safety and a fresh start.

“I was in a very violent relationship in Sydney, and it seemed to me the only way I could truly be safe was to move somewhere he couldn’t find me,” she said.

At the time, domestic violence was rarely spoken about openly, and many women carried their shame in silence.

“Back then, most women didn’t go to the police. You didn’t tell anybody,” she reflected.

Starting again in a new city required extraordinary strength, but Marion slowly rebuilt her life, career and confidence – proving to herself that she was capable of far more than the limitations others had placed upon her.

Over the decades that followed, she would go on to play a significant role in shaping Perth’s economic and cultural landscape, while advocating for fair, inclusive and accessible opportunities for women.

But long before her leadership roles, Marion’s values were shaped by the strong women who surrounded her growing up.

Among them was her grandmother – a quiet but formidable influence whose determination left a lasting impression.

“At the time, her career was quite unusual,” Marion said.

Inspired by this example of independence, Marion began her career in banking before moving into the credit union sector, a path that eventually brought her to Perth to work in the emerging Information Technology (IT) industry.

“It was very male-dominated, and women like myself were mostly in support roles,” she said.

“But it was still an opportunity, and I learned a lot.”

Like many women, Marion also experienced the challenges of balancing work and family when she welcomed her first child.

“At the time, there was an assumption that if you became pregnant, you would simply stay home to care for your child whilst your husband went to work,” she said.

“I did for a while, but financial circumstances meant returning to work earlier than I hoped.”

That experience deepened her understanding of the structural barriers many women face – particularly when it comes to childcare and career progression.

During her time as Executive Director at the , Marion saw first-hand how these challenges limited women’s opportunities.

“That made it incredibly difficult for women to return to work full-time or move into leadership roles.”

While progress has been made over the years, Marion believes true equality still requires continued effort.

Today, Australia’s national gender pay gap remains significant, and many boards still lack a balance of female representation.

Marion has also observed the long-term consequences for women who spent decades working but still struggle with financial security later in life.

“I was part of the first generation of women who were told we could do anything – but the systems around us didn’t always support that promise.”

Despite these challenges, Marion remains hopeful.

At the heart of real change, she believes, is something simple yet powerful: respect.

“And when they flourish, society benefits as a whole.”

Today, Marion dedicates much of her time to mentoring and coaching emerging leaders – particularly young women navigating their own careers.

It is a role she finds deeply rewarding.

“There’s something incredibly special about women who support other women,” she said.

Watching others grow and discover their potential is one of the most fulfilling parts of her work.

When it comes to leadership, Marion believes courage is one of the most important qualities young women can develop.

“In leadership, you will make decisions that not everyone agrees with,” she said.

Looking back on her own journey, Marion says she would offer her younger self a simple piece of advice.

“Take every opportunity,” she said.

“And if the opportunity doesn’t exist – create it.”

, Non-Executive Director, Executive Coach & Mentor

Graduating from Curtin with a Master of Business Administration (2009), Marion is a trusted thought leader, strategic advisor and transformational chair, with more than 20 years’ experience working across a range of diverse sectors. Marion’s leadership has been recognised with the Order of Australia, the John Curtin Lifetime Achievement Award and Induction into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame. She is also a member of Chief Executive Women and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Breast cancer was always something the Curtin Masters of Physiotherapy graduate took seriously, after her Mum was diagnosed in 2008.

That experience made regular screening a priority because she knew that early detection could save lives. Still, she never really believed it would happen to her.

Expecting to be told that the scans were all clear, Emma was shocked to hear her ultrasound came back abnormal, and she needed a biopsy.

“When my doctor called me to deliver the news that the biopsy results were also abnormal, I was sent into a terrifying spin of panic and distress,’’ she said.

“I couldn’t believe the words that I was hearing.”

Given the cancer’s aggressive nature, Emma’s treatment plan involved a year of intensive interventions, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy.

“I had been working long hours as a physiotherapist at Hollywood Hospital, so it felt very strange to suddenly go from treating patients in the hospital, including those with breast cancer, to becoming a patient myself.

“The situation felt very grim, and I couldn’t see any way forward,” she said.

Despite feeling she was at a low point in her life, Emma was excelling at work, having just been appointed National Chair for the ‘s Orthopaedic Group.

Emma was determined not to let her health affect her ability to fulfil this exciting role.

“I was prepared to endure whatever side effects I might have from the treatment; however, losing my hair was one of my biggest fears,” she said.

Fortunately, the cold cap was an absolute game-changer that allowed Emma to keep all her hair during the treatment, boosting her confidence and mental health during a time when she felt so vulnerable.

Refusing to let the diagnosis hold her back, Emma focused on chasing her goals and making the most of every moment.

She was able to return to part-time work at the start of her chemotherapy and continued to play netball.

A few months after her radiotherapy, Emma decided to enter the Ramsay Healthcare Triathlon Pink Series.

“What I did not expect was how much I enjoyed the sense of achievement in pushing my body, proving I had control and knowing that the cancer had not compromised it,” she said.

During such a dark time in her life, Emma found solace in her local running club, which gave her a sense of purpose, belonging, and a renewed sense of self.

Through her local running club, Emma made lifelong friends and entered long-distance running and triathlon events, including achieving her half-marathon (21.1 kilometres) goal in the 2023 HBF Run for a Reason.

Through her fundraiser for the she formed the group, ‘Hollywood Physio’, with her physiotherapy colleagues who were keen to support the cause and run alongside her on the day.

“It was so important for me to raise as much money as possible as a way of personally thanking the outstanding organisation and staff that have provided me with so much care and support,” Emma said.

Together, the fundraiser was a great success, and a total of $12,643 was raised.

For Emma, this run represented her breast cancer journey.

“It was tough, but you will eventually get through to the finish line with persistence and determination,” she said.

Over the past few years, Emma has combined her clinical experience as a physiotherapist with her own lived experience to help other people navigate their cancer diagnosis.

As a Senior Physiotherapist in Orthopaedics at Hollywood Private Hospital, being a cancer survivor has changed her approach to professional practice.

“Sometimes it’s the little things, like instead of walking in and standing in front of the patient, it’s grabbing a chair and sitting down next to them, listening, and then deciding what’s best for the patient at that given time,’’ she said.

“Over the years, I’ve found that we tend to treat patients very similarly because we’ve got a goal or a box to tick, and sometimes we lose sight of the fact that we have a person in front of us who has experienced trauma.”

“I now see life with a completely different perspective, and this has led to many new opportunities and interests that I would never have thought were possible.”

With more than 17,000 women being diagnosed with breast cancer every year in Australia, early detection can save lives. .

, Senior Physiotherapist at Hollywood Private Hospital

Born and raised in Perth, Emma has 20 years of senior orthopaedic physiotherapy experience in both elective and trauma departments across the private and public sectors. Since graduating from Curtin with a Master’s of Physiotherapy in 2003, Emma has been responsible for establishing the Accelerated Rehabilitation Program (ARP) for elective joint replacement surgery at Osborne Park Hospital. In 2021, she took on the role of National Chair for the Australian Physiotherapy Association Orthopaedic group. A proud breast cancer survivor and marathon runner, Emma is also passionate about supporting those affected by cancer.

As a young girl, she was singled out and teased for her curly hair.

Today, she celebrates that same uniqueness and inspires others to embrace their own.

“I remember Mum telling me that my hair looked like Nicole Kidman’s, which would make me feel better,’’ she said.

“I definitely had my struggles during my school years, but later on in life, you realise that your differences become a beautiful part of who you are.”

After finishing Year 12, Kim leaped into the unknown, becoming a foreign exchange student in the Netherlands – an experience that opened her eyes to the world and planted seeds for a life of adventure, growth, and self-discovery.

Over the past 25 years, Kim has evolved into a , helping thousands of executives from ASX and Fortune 100 companies across London, New York, and Perth lead with purpose, confidence, and authenticity.

We sat down with Kim to learn about her remarkable journey and what it means to be a confident leader in today’s world.

What led you to become a Leadership Development & Executive Coach?

Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work across three continents, which has given me a greater appreciation of different cultures and the unique influence they can have on you.

From my experience, Tall Poppy Syndrome disables us from getting what we want and discourages us from celebrating our progress and success.

Confidence is the basis of everything in business, no matter the industry.

At the end of the day, your success stems from your self-belief and confidence in yourself.

When we’re not confident, it can be challenging to access and harness our skills.

Ultimately, this led me to start while in New York.

What was one of the biggest lessons you learnt at Curtin that you apply today?

The importance of being open-minded and experimenting.

By experimenting, I mean stepping into whatever is interesting to me, like pursuing a communications degree.

Being open to the world around you can be hard, particularly if you are constantly surrounded by others who think similarly. It takes true discomfort and courage to step out and embrace the world around you.

How does one identify their superhero strengths?

You can build confidence by going back to who you are and truly know yourself.

Your belief in yourself allows you to unlock your superhero strengths, but it’s important to be intentional in driving and energising this mindset.

Taking time to understand what drives you will help. Often, we want a quick fix for confidence, but that’s not always possible.

One way to ignite your confidence is to catch your negative thoughts before they spiral, because they will just drain your energy.

A technique we use with leaders is to name your inner critic and make it more visible, so that you can normalise what’s happening and make it easier for you to catch these negative intrusive thoughts as they arise.

Next, get curious when you become triggered into having these negative thought spirals. For example, if you were criticised for public speaking in the past, a similar experience today may remind you, either consciously or subconsciously, of this previous experience.

Finally, ask yourself, what evidence do I have to counter that negative thought, and then use this positive evidence to offset that negative thought.

Were there any role models who shaped the leader you are today?

My mum.

I don’t think I truly appreciated my Mum’s guidance as a child.

It was only when I grew older that I started to really understand her impact on my life.

The stories she told me when I was young encouraged me not to follow what everyone else was doing.

She wasn’t scared to be the parent who spoke up at school and always followed her heart and instinct. By walking her own path, she allowed me to do that.

I’m also inspired by Oprah Winfrey, as she represents someone who isn’t looking for validation from everyone. She speaks her truth with such conviction, which I really admire.

Finally, any advice for young graduates aspiring to become future leaders?

Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want.

This comes down to learning how to navigate yourself and actively working on celebrating your wins because that is a way of channelling and understanding your progress.

And don’t be afraid to reach out for support or to your community – I couldn’t balance my life, family, and career without my husband.

, Founder of

Graduating from Curtin with a Bachelor of Arts, Mass Communications (2000), Kim has 25 years of experience working with leaders in Fortune 100 companies across London, New York, and Perth, including Goldman Sachs, Mastercard, and Deloitte, to name a few. As the Founder of Tall Poppies Leadership, Kim is a sought-after Global Leadership Development and Executive Coach dedicated to empowering people to stand tall and embrace their unique talents.

Growing up in Perth’s northern coastal suburbs, the Curtin Business School graduate’s parents instilled in her the importance of independence from a young age.

Since starting her modelling career at the age of 16, Sarah has spent more than a decade of her life perfecting her craft, working with some of the world’s biggest fashion brands, including Burberry and Hugo Boss, and esteemed industry icons, like Naomi Campbell.

Hanging up her heels for a business jacket, Sarah is now on the cutting edge of technology innovation, working as a Senior Enterprise Solutions Consultant at , where she provides digital solutions for some of Australia’s largest organisations.

Did you always want to pursue a business career?

Spending more than a decade of my early life modelling around the world, I always knew I would return to a steady career.

Starting modelling straight out of high school exposed me to a wide array of opportunities that allowed me to travel, work across different cultures, countries, and meet many kinds of people. This was a great foundation for the first decade of my career.

However, pursuing business was always the long-term plan. I always wanted a job that connected me to industry and gave me a chance to contribute to solving complex business problems, which is something I find very fulfilling.

Just before the start of the COVID pandemic in early 2020, I had unknowingly timed my exit strategy from modelling to business perfectly. For the past several years, I had been working to complete my Bachelor of Commerce through flexible online study, which was made possible through Curtin’s various satellite campuses around the world.

What lessons did you learn from modelling that you carry with you in business?

I moved to Sydney when I was 17, to further my modelling career which eventually took me abroad.

Initially, I went through a challenging period marked by frequent rejections and tough industry pressures, which led me to question whether I wanted to continue in modelling. However, despite these setbacks, new work opportunities always kept coming.

During that time, I had to reflect and remind myself not to spend my energy focusing on the rejection and instead reframe my thinking to acknowledge that by all other measures, I was succeeding at what I was doing.

Ultimately, being able to sustain work and a steady income signalled to me that I belonged in the industry. Being passed over for a role doesn’t reflect a personal flaw; it often simply means you weren’t the right fit for that client’s needs or circumstances at the time.

As a model, you need to develop your personal brand to sustain yourself in the industry. This also means looking after yourself, being comfortable with speaking up, and knowing when to assert your boundaries while remaining professional.

In business, understanding the unique value you can add to a situation, advocating for your abilities, and being able to tell your story with confidence are similarly critical. There’s a lot that can be said for embracing the opportunity to stand out, even though this can feel counter to our cultural tendencies as Australians.

For me, so much has come from simply throwing my hat in the ring and daring to try. Getting out there and gaining that exposure all contributes to your personal and professional development, whether it be attending networking events or volunteering to take on stretch projects.

Do you have any standout mentors in your early career who have helped shape you into who you are today?

One of my biggest mentors was Naomi Campbell.

When I worked on a project with her in 2013, she shared this advice, which I now live by, ‘Never rest on your laurels,’ meaning not to become complacent or entitled due to past successes. Even as you become accomplished, it’s important to keep stretching, learning, and finding new ways to grow.

At the end of the day, showing up and working hard is more valuable than depending solely on past achievements to carry you forward. In our careers and life, I don’t believe that we ever truly “Čč°ù°ùŸ±±č±đ”; so, we should be striving for a constant journey of growth.

I’m also grateful for my university mentors, particularly my Business Capstone Tutor, Mel Ahmad, who taught me the importance of approaching new business challenges with creativity, advocating for your abilities as a graduate, and trusting the right business will recognise the unique value you can bring.

What do you love the most about working at Adobe?

Since joining Adobe as an Inside Sales Graduate, I’ve worked across both the Mar-Tech and Creative sides of the business, before becoming a Solutions Consultant for our Digital Media Technology.

Recently, I was promoted to Senior Enterprise Solutions Consultant, where I work closely with some of Australia’s biggest enterprises to educate and inspire them on what’s possible with the Adobe offering and how it can be best leveraged in their business.

What I love the most about the role is that we are responsible for being on the cutting edge of technology and industry transformation.

Getting insight into how some of Australia’s biggest organisations function, make their decisions, and approach innovation and change management is also very interesting. There’s a lot to love!

What is the biggest piece of advice you would tell your younger self?

1. Use extracurricular activities to stand out.

In the early stages of your career, although your degree is important in getting your foot in the door, what allows people to connect with you is your interests, attitude, and work ethic. The extra-curricular activities you are involved in outside of work help bolster your resume.

As an avid swimmer who has competed in the Rottnest Channel Swim, this experience has been a great conversation starter as a graduate and allowed the leadership team at my workplace to form a picture of who I was outside of my degree’s credentials.

If I could do it again, I would tell my younger self to start or get involved with a club at university. Ultimately, business leaders want people who are willing to contribute, and if there’s evidence of that, then you’re more inclined to break through the masses.

2.      Aim high, put your hat in the ring. Don’t be afraid of risk and failing fast.

What’s the worst that can happen – if they say no, at least you tried.

If you can walk away knowing that you gave it your all, then that’s all you can do. Be proud of yourself for taking the risk; anything outside of your control is just luck and timing.

Don’t be afraid of the risk of failure; it’s only through the mistakes you make that you will learn invaluable life lessons.

3.      Putting in the work is the best antidote to impostor syndrome.

Never resting on your laurels and always being ready to put the work in.

It’s normal to experience moments of impostor syndrome, but if you’ve met the expectations and prepared thoroughly, you can trust that you’ve earned your place. So, work hard and have confidence in the process, which sounds clichĂ©, but it’s kind of true.

Putting your hand up for new experiences is so important for your growth, because you never know what might come from it. Putting yourself out there increases the chances of those serendipitous moments happening, which might propel you into becoming the person or professional you aspire to be.

, Senior Enterprise Solutions Consultant at

Born and raised in Perth, Sarah is an Adobe product expert with more than a decade of experience working in the fashion, advertising, and media & entertainment industries. She has worked for Burberry and Hugo Boss, walked in the prestigious London and Sydney Fashion Weeks, and has been mentored by British supermodel Naomi Campbell. Since graduating from Curtin with a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing & Management (2021), Sarah is now passionate about helping Australia’s biggest enterprises harness Adobe’s suite of solutions to drive digital transformation and achieve their organisational goals.

Raised mostly by his single mother, Daniel spent much of his early childhood moving between different states and territories across Australia.

As a young adolescent, he struggled to fit in and faced significant bullying. Interestingly, he confesses he was also a bully himself in year one – a time he can barely recall – during a volatile period of his life.

“These experiences led me to question how we socialise, especially how boys and men socialise – and much of it didn’t align with my personal views and understanding of how I thought the world could be,” he said.

On a mission to change this, Daniel champions boys around Australia to live courageous, respectful, and empathetic lives.

By partnering with schools and communities, Daniel has encouraged more than 76,000 young Australians to recognise and resist distorted attitudes towards their bodies, relationships, and sex.

Daniel is a , recognised for his relentless dedication to strengthening the next generation to aspire to healthy relationships amid the complexities of the digital world.

Did you always envision yourself speaking to more than 70,000 students across Australia?

If you told the younger version of me that I’d be doing this, I certainly wouldn’t have believed you.

I’ve always been interested in social justice, but it’s only through my lived experiences that I’ve come to realise I need to make sure that I’m living in alignment with my values.

I believe that my work is not so much about telling people what to do but is an invitation for them to reflect on the messages they are receiving from the outside world.

I’m always looking at whether young people are being equipped with the right social and emotional tools to thrive in the fast-paced and noisy world they are navigating.

What led you to pursue a career in youth advocacy?

For me, I didn’t see any positive relationships modelled until my early 20s, so I’ve had a bit to unlearn and learn on this journey.

I’ve personally seen the carnage that can unfold in a person’s life and the world around them when we’re not healthy.

The reality is that it causes untold heartache, loss of life, and destruction of families and communities when we don’t surround ourselves with love, care, empathy, and connection.

That’s something that runs through every person’s life; we all see it.

I saw it in high school, through the callousness that boys are sometimes routinely encouraged to adopt to survive.

It’s not their fault – rather, our culture can push this onto them, and we are often tempted to betray our better nature for the sake of acceptance.

So, I sympathise with that, and I don’t judge people for it. Rather, I want to get to the heart of the real issue.

Can you share a bit about what you do?

I do a lot of yapping! I listen to young people and engage with their educators, parents, and communities.

I’m always seeking to move beyond my own biases and explore how our identities are shaped – from what’s role-modelled at home to the heroes we are upholding.

I try to tune into the socio-cultural messages that shape the world around us – the way we talk, dress, act, and even the food we eat are all culturally constrained, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

As human creatures, we are all naturally wired for connection, so it only makes sense that we would engage in certain activities to be accepted by others.

However, we should always question what we are observing and learning, and whether it’s impacting our ability to connect and relate well to others.

What are some of the biggest problems youth are facing today?

Boys are being socialised through social media and pre-existing masculine culture to perform a calloused, cruel vision of masculinity that says you should be tough.

The toughness being celebrated is not grit or finding resolve; it’s not about bouncing back from rejection or disappointment. It can be cruel and indifferent to suffering, and that’s an absolute travesty.

One of the most significant challenges is educating men about intimacy and consent, as this generation has far greater access to harmful and more extreme versions of sexual content.

My biggest concern is that they are constantly being bombarded with conflicting views of success and relationships, which can lead them to become easily discouraged because they are not going to be an overnight success story or have an idealised body.

Don’t get me wrong, the phone is a great tool and has helped me in many ways with my work and advocacy, allowing me to meet incredible humans and collaborate. But if I don’t relate to it as a tool, that’s when it robs me of my well-being, focus, creativity, and real connection.

This International Youth Day, what advice would you share with young people?

Don’t let social media algorithms run your life and shape your values; take back your power and agency.

Be selective about your online space. Don’t be afraid to unfollow accounts that undermine your wellbeing and make you feel more anxious or insecure – it could be the biggest gift you give yourself.

Don’t make life harder than it needs to be – go and find things that you enjoy.

Learn new skills and do things that make you come alive offline, go and chase that!

Choose your friends wisely and make it easy for one another.

Always think, are you making it easier for your friends to be the best version of themselves, or do people have to wear a mask or be on guard around you?

At the end of the day, young people are starving for connection. As adults, we need to make ourselves available. They will be more open to our advice and company once they know that we care about them. I think we owe it to them.

Learn more about Daniel’s work .

Discover more of our incredible graduates making an impact here.

, Youth Advocate & Educator

Graduating from Curtin with a Bachelor of Science (Physiotherapy) in 2009, Daniel is a passionate youth advocate and educator. He is passionate about championing boys across Australia to challenge culture and aspire to live courageous, respectful, and empathetic lives. By partnering with schools and communities, Daniel encourages young people to recognise and resist distorted attitudes towards bodies, relationships, and sex. He is a board member of the DART Institute, Women’s Resilience Centre Ambassador, and an ambassador for the national campaign, Consent Can’t Wait. He was also nominated for the 2025 NSW Australian of the Year.