The Dragon by St George's School, Edinburgh

Issue 04 | Spring 2020

INSIDE Page 9 People Power Interview with Georgia Stewart, Co-Founder of Tumelo

Page 13 Committed to the Environment Update from the St Gâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eco Committee

Page 16 Embracing the Elements Interview with Heather Gray, Environmental Project Manager for SHE Transmission

A WORD OF

WELCOME

We are delighted to bring you the fourth edition of The Dragon, the magazine of the St George’s Foundation. This edition’s theme is Looking to the Future. We feature alumnae who are working to make a positive difference to the world, through renewable energy, new financial technology, or with overseas development projects, some in fact inspired by experiences of St George’s international exchanges. Please note that The Dragon is now being delivered to you in a fully biodegradable polywrap, which we would encourage you to recycle. We are pleased to report that our ‘Network for Life’, powered by the St George’s Foundation online platform, is growing from strength to strength and now has over 660 online members. We’re always thrilled to hear of alumnae who have reconnected via the Network - please let us know and share any photos with us for our photo gallery. We would encourage you to visit the site and register to keep up to date with news and events across the St George’s Community. Also, sign up to NETWORK St G’s, the careers and professional network within the platform, which allows you to: CONNECT – with the St George’s Community INTERACT – with the groups most relevant to you GIVE BACK – request or offer mentoring, work experience, internships or advice at any stage of your career. All Old Girls are invited to attend the annual Summer Lunch on Saturday 6th June (please see invitation on page 15) – a regular highlight and your opportunity to revisit the school and meet up with former classmates. Sign up via the Network or contact us directly. Please do keep your feedback and suggestions coming – the Foundation Office always welcomes your input.

The Dragon Editorial Team Tel: 0131 311 8000 email: foundation@stge.org.uk foundation.stge.org.uk St George’s Alumnae Group @stgealumnae

2 | Spring 2020

St George’s School for Girls, Edinburgh, alumnae networking group

contents 02

WORD OF WELCOME From the Foundation Office

BREATHING FIRE INTO THE DRAGON Introduction to The Dragon team SPARKS TO FLAMES Celebrating success and sharing news within the St George’s community FROM THE HEAD Alex Hems, Head, observes the importance of the school’s wider community and the impact it is having on building a more sustainable future PEOPLE POWER Feature interview with alumna Georgia Stewart, Co-Founder of Tumelo

OGA PRESIDENT’S REFLECTIONS Welcome and news from the OGA

SISTER OF DRAGONS Winner of the OGA mascot naming competition

OGA SUMMER LUNCH Invitation to join the OGA annual Summer Lunch EMBRACING THE ELEMENTS Profile interview with alumna Heather Gray, Environmental Project Manager, SHE Transmission BACK TO THE FUTURE Alumna Alison Girdwood looks back at her life as a pupil from 1971 to 1978 and her career since school THIS IS MY DAY NETWORK St G’s asks alumna Catriona Morrison to share insights into her working day in Perth, Australia CONNECTING COMMUNITIES Alumnae Catriona Spaven-Donn and Fiona Walker share their experiences about school exchanges amongst other communities and the personal impact made OUR PEOPLE Births, marriages, deaths and tributes from the St George’s community KEEP IN TOUCH Ways to stay in touch with the St George’s community, including dates for your diary

OGA Editorial Liaison Mary Comer

COMMITTED TO THE ENVIRONMENT The Eco Committee in action across the school

Editors Kate Forster and Lesley Abbott

16 19 23 24 26 28

Design & Print The Dragonfly Agency

Spring 2020 | 3

BREATHING FIRE INTO THE DRAGON

We want to share a snapshot of the team that breathes life (or fire) into The Dragon. In this edition we feature Alumnae Relations Manager Mairi MacNaughton née Macdonald, (Class of 1980).  Name Mairi MacNaughton (Macdonald) Connection to St G’s I joined St George’s as a pupil in Primary 1 when I was five years old and stayed until the end of U6. I then did four years teacher training at Dunfermline College of Physical Education before I returned to the school in 1986 to work in the PE department and Houldsworth Boarding House. After 30 years down South, I recently returned to Edinburgh and now hold the positions of Alumnae Relations Manager and Holiday Club Leader at St George’s. Occasionally, I also help in the PE department. Your role in bringing The Dragon to life My role is to help and support the editorial team. To be able to contribute ideas or contacts where possible because, even though I have been away from Edinburgh for some time, I have kept up with many St G’s old girls. It is lovely to be able to liaise with some of them and encourage their input into The Dragon. Favourite section of The Dragon If I had to pinpoint one section, I think it would have to be ‘Back to the Future’ as it fascinates me to hear how different aspects have evolved and progressed over the years. I also like the variety of articles included as they cover the different ages, careers and news about Alumnae.

4 | Spring 2020

SPARKS

TO FLAMES Since the launch of The Dragon, we are so pleased to continue to receive news from old girls within the St George’s community. We like to share a broad range of stories and updates to reflect the achievements and experiences of this powerful and widespread group. From small sparks come big flames – we want to hear how the fire is burning bright across our St George’s community. We would love to hear from you, whatever you are up to and whenever you left the school. Please do get in touch with The Foundation Office to share news or more general updates, or with any suggestions or comments about The Dragon.

ENTER STAGE RIGHT

We want to congratulate Sarah Rutherford (Class of 1989) whose play The Girl Who Fell ran in the Autumn of 2019 at the Trafalgar Studios in London. The tale about ‘loss, guilt and Snapchat’ has had glowing reviews: “Surprising, stimulating and touching … unusual and gripping … a unique and resonant drama” (The Times) and “Piercing, spellbinding, poignant, powerful” (WhatsOnStage). Sarah was the inaugural Writer in Residence of Park Theatre, where her play Adult Supervision, set on the night of President Obama’s election victory, had a sell-out run in 2013. It was nominated as Best OffWest End Production (WhatsOnStage Awards) and longlisted for the Bruntwood prize and described as “fiercely funny stuff” by Time Out.

TRULY SPECTACULAR

Colleen Winning née Timmons (Class of 2006) runs Truly Scrumptious Designer Cakes and is delighted to have been nominated for two upcoming awards finalist for best cake designer in East of Scotland; and best cake designer in the Scottish Wedding Awards. Colleen is particularly grateful that votes have come from customers. Why not have a look and get your mouth watering with the scrumptious treats on offer at www.trulydesignercakes.co.uk

Sarah is now working on a new musical.

Spring 2020 | 5

sparks to flames

WEST COUNTRY TO THE SOUTHERN

HEMISPHERE

Sally Ridley (Class of 1980) was in touch to let us know she will start working for Natural History New Zealand (NHNZ) shortly – however, it’s based in Bristol and she’ll be filming in Scotland! Sally has worked in TV production since 1985 across a wide range of programmes, recently focusing on wildlife and natural history. For the last six years, she has worked for a company which leads partnerships between schools and businesses in the Greater Bristol area.

FUTURE IN

HER HANDS

Huge congratulations to Alison Noble (Class of 2016) who, while combining studying History at the University of Glasgow with her passion for philanthropy, has been selected for the University’s ‘Future World Changers’ programme. The initiative recognises ‘inspirational students with diverse talents and ambitions to make the world better’. Alison recalled a visit by Maasai warriors to St George’s which sparked her enthusiasm for philanthropy. At university, Alison has been involved with homeless and mental health charities and was recently Director of Charity for the University of Glasgow charity fashion show, which raised over £34,000 and was named Society of the Year.

6 | Spring 2020

In December 2019, she was awarded funding from the University’s June Cockburn Prize to help her reach her goals. Her current project is to establish a ‘round up’ system on campus, whereby customers can round up spending to the nearest pound at checkout, with the extra money going to charity. More information on these projects is available at the following podcasts: www.gla.ac.uk/alumni/welcomehome/ soundtracks/jordandaly/#d.en.701773 www.gla.ac.uk/study/studentlife/ worldchangers/alison/

PILGRIM’S PROGRESS

It was lovely to hear from Sue Bertram (Class of 1980) who wrote to tell us of her travels and fundraising undertaken during a recent career break. Along with a group of friends, Sue decided to tackle the world’s most famous pilgrim route – ‘El Camino del Santiago’ – an epic and ancient 500 mile walk across the French Pyrenees and through northern Spain – over a six-week period. She commented: “Our 42-day journey started in St-Jean-Pied-de Port, France and ended in Santiago 42 days later, having traversed the Navarre, La Rioja (including a free wine fountain!), Castilla y Leon and Galicia. The countryside, dotted with churches and castles, was stunning, the locals were so welcoming, and the home-made food was delicious and well-earned (the Santiago cake is highly recommended). El Camino provided great mental relief away from city life. It was wonderful to be surrounded by nature’s beauty. “We had a huge ‘fiesta’ at the end in Santiago to celebrate one of the group’s 60th birthday, along with 40 friends and family – a night to remember! We were very proud to

join the queue, with our full Pilgrims’ passports of stamps collected en route, to receive our ‘Compostela’, the official certificate of pilgrimage and a true endorsement of our journey. “The walk gave me time and space to grieve for my father, who was a keen hillwalker himself. We were also pleased to have raised AUS$6,000 for animal rescue and cancer prevention charities in the UK and Australia”.

sparks to flames

SNACKING

NEVER TASTED

SO HEALTHY

We are delighted to share news from Sara Roberts (current parent) who has recently joined the alumnae community and hear more about her business, Healthy Nibbles. Healthy Nibbles originated in 2014 after Sara struggled to find healthy and nutritious snacks on the go. Six years on, she is leading the charge by bringing healthy choices to offices, travel hubs, and front doors. Healthy Nibbles is a female-led business, committed to building a sustainable operating model with purpose at its core. To date, over 400 healthy, onthe-go snacking products have been sourced, all free from hydrogenated fats, artificial colours, flavours, preservatives and sweeteners. Snack boxes include healthy snacks from artisan suppliers throughout the UK, whose values are consistent with those of Healthy Nibbles. Sara commented: “We make healthier, on-the-go snacking options easy, increasing opportunities for positive behaviour change to combat rising levels of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We aim to help companies and organisations improve their culture and pioneer new workplace wellness ideas, thereby increasing health, happiness and productivity. “We are currently in the process of becoming B-Corp accredited – for businesses who are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. We plan to make changes for the future with the least negative impact on the planet, its people or animals, through our supply chain, processes or systems”.

SHARING THE

WORD

Congratulations to Dr Elizabeth Corsar (Class of 2008) on completing her PhD in New Testament, Language, Literature and Theology. Elizabeth is currently an Associate Tutor in Biblical Studies at the Scottish Episcopal Institute in Edinburgh and is looking forward to presenting at the European Association of Biblical Studies conference in Jerusalem in March.

Keeping in touch across the water Elizabeth (Beth) Williams née Dunstall (Class of 1949) appeared in the October 2019 edition of The Dragon and was delighted to be contacted by some old friends after this. She would love to hear from anyone else and can be contacted at bethwilliamsorchid2@gmail.com.

Find out more at www.healthynibbles.co.uk

If you would like to keep in touch with others, please let us know and we can share a message here. Email us on foundation@stge.org.uk

Spring 2020 | 7

FROM THE

HEAD

t was a great pleasure to meet alumna Catriona Spaven-Donn at the start of this term, and to learn about the inspiring work that she is doing in Guatemala. I was especially pleased to hear of the impact that her experience of exchanges while at St George’s, first to Toronto and then to Chile, had had on determining the route that she took after leaving school. There can be no doubt that she is making a difference to the lives of the indigenous people whom her organisation supports in Guatemala; I am sure you will enjoy reading the feature with her in this edition of The Dragon. You will all know that the sense of community is strong at St George’s. As important to me as that sense of the bonds that unite us within the school, is the knowledge that St George’s plays its part in the life of the wider community around us. I am delighted that the Lower 5s are going to be holding a Sleep Out later this term, to support the social enterprise Social Bite, an organisation that started in Edinburgh and is doing so much to alleviate the suffering caused by homelessness in our city. Some of you will remember working on YPI, the Youth Philanthropy Initiative, while you were here and you will be pleased to hear that our support of this excellent project, which encourages young people to connect with small, local charities, continues every year.

8 | Spring 2020

Message from Alex Hems Environmental concerns are close to the hearts of current students, who have formed an Eco Committee and are working closely with our Facilities and Catering teams to bring about some changes in the St George’s Centre especially, to reduce the school’s environmental impact by cutting back on single use plastics. Two Lower 6th students have qualified for the Big Bang Fair in Birmingham in March, as a result of their work to develop a concept for a water-powered flood barrier, for which they have produced a working model, a computer simulation and an explanatory video which you can view here: https://bit.ly/38M5R43 We are proud to see St George’s girls leading the way in innovative thinking that addresses such a significant global challenge, with a creative and sustainable approach.

Sophie and Iman with their waterpowered flood barrier concept

PEOPLE

POWER

Interview with Georgia Stewart, Co-Founder of Tumelo The world is getting smaller, but the challenges we face are getting bigger. Technology advances have allowed us to travel and communicate more easily than ever before, which has changed the way we think, behave, live and do business. Many would say it is evolution, but that is where many of the major challenges lie – we can’t continue to evolve in the way we are without a significant, if not catastrophic, impact on our global community. The time to listen to a range of voices, young and old, from those fresh into employment right through to those approaching a career sunset – all have a valuable input and deserve to be heard. We have the mechanisms and technology to allow for interaction and now, more than ever, a responsibility to our planet and community to ensure we have the information and ability to make positive choices about where we invest, spend, or consume. We were delighted to have the opportunity to interview Georgia Stewart (Class of 2013) who co-founded Tumelo in 2018, aged 24. Tumelo helps asset managers, pension schemes and investment platforms to engage clients and increase assets under management (AUM) by giving retail and pension investors visibility over their holdings and a shareholder voice. We are very pleased to be able to hear Georgia’s voice come through very clearly in this interview as she talks about her passion for the mission of Tumelo, where her entrepreneurial spark was born, and the importance of friendship started (not so) many years ago at St George’s.

SCHOOL TIME When were you at St George’s? I was at St George’s from 2002 (P3) until 2013.

What subjects did you study? I studied Maths, English, Biology, Chemistry and Spanish at Higher, and Maths, Statistics, Biology and Chemistry at Advanced Higher. Chemistry was a drag... but I loved Biology and there were only four of us in Stats so that was often a riot! Was there a teacher, mentor or fellow pupil within the school who particularly helped or inspired you to recognise and/or follow your dreams and set out on your current career path?

loved Spanish which she taught us, and she was always there for us, including when I went on a challenging exchange to Chile! As well as everyone who taught me Biology, which I studied at university. What stood out for you most about the education experience at St George’s? I guess I didn’t recognise it at the time but, having now met people from a wide variety of schools, it’s clear what amazing opportunities I had at St George’s, even relative to other private schools. I had been on three exchanges (Spain, Canada and Chile) by the time I was 15; did Duke of Edinburgh

Of course, all my girls were, and always will be, an incredibly important part of my life. We certainly each had a role to play in distracting and pushing each other through the [St G’s] played a big role in ups and downs of both school and university. shaping me into the person Best friends for life, I am today (for better or I believe! In terms of teachers, I reckon worse!) – especially in terms Miss Kelly had quite a big impact on me. I of self-belief and confidence

Spring 2020 | 9

feature inter view Gold; played all sorts of sports; had access to amazing art facilities (which I definitely under-utilised), talented teachers and a brilliant group of down-to-earth friends. I guess for me, it didn’t feel like a slog at all – I have really fond memories, it just worked out well. What activities or clubs were you involved in at school? I was there a long time, so I did all sorts. I’m pretty sure I did chess and tapestry, along with the usual junior school suspects of Judo and highland dancing! In Lower School I learnt to play bridge, was in the choir (although I really can’t sing) and played hockey and netball. In Upper School I continued hockey and also played a bit of lacrosse (very badly). I also got involved in Independent Women – I think I was the Science Editor – and I’m sure there were others! What sort of influence did St George’s have on you as you look back now? I genuinely have brilliant memories of school. It wasn’t all bliss, of course, but it played a big role in shaping me into the person I am today (for better or worse!) – especially in terms of self-belief and confidence - and I feel really lucky to have gone there, and grateful to my parents for making that possible. ABOUT YOU AND YOUR CAREER What did you study at University? Did this directly impact on your career path? I studied Natural Sciences (Biological) at Cambridge, mostly because I loved animals. So that included Maths, Geology, Physiology and lots of Climate

10 | Spring 2020

Change and Conservation stuff. I now work in sustainable finance, which is very tightly coupled to climate, land use, new energy etc., so it certainly had an effect. Did you always have an entrepreneurial desire, or would you say founding your own business evolved from a need to find a solution to a problem? A bit of both. My Dad runs a tent and lighting business called Field and Lawn: he always preached about the benefits of starting your own thing; doing something scalable (which marquees certainly aren’t); and running a team. I loved chatting about his ‘people problems’ on long car journeys. That said, I always thought I’d be a vet, or do conservation, so running a company was never the plan.

are connected to companies they own and can drive positive change through that ownership. We help retail investors and pension members to see what companies they own through their investment portfolios, funds, and pension pots; to understand the impact those companies have; and to easily use their shareholder vote to drive change on issues like climate change, plastic, gender equality and innovation. Our solution integrates into existing investment platforms and pension portals, enhancing the investor experience and building stronger engagement between investment providers and their clients through transparency and shareholder voting.

How did you identify the need At university I was on the for this service offering? Do you Positive Investment Committee, class Tumelo as a finance or campaigning to change the tech company? way Cambridge invested its £6 Together, UK pension members billion endowment. We wanted have £2.6 trillion invested. You students and professors to better don’t need me to tell you that that’s understand what shares the a lot of money that could be put university owned, what impact to really good use if we pension those multi-national companies were having on our I recognised the massive future, and we wanted to influence how those big opportunity there was for companies behaved with our shareholder vote. That creating positive change work seeded and drives through harnessing the what I do today because I recognised the massive power of our national and opportunity there was for creating positive change global investment system. through harnessing the power of our national and global members had a say. Instead of investment system. being invested in building new Can you share with us the airports in Canada it could be purpose and goal of Tumelo? invested in local, sustainable infrastructure and transport, The purpose of Tumelo is to create such as Scottish wind and hydro an investment system that serves projects. You get the idea! people and planet, where investors

feature inter view We’re ‘FinTech for Good’ – financial technology applied to sustainability. I would say we are tech first and finance second, given there isn’t a single person in our team from a truly ‘financial’ background. But that was purposeful hiring – we’re trying to relate to the public, make sustainable investing more accessible… I imagine it’s hard to do that with a team of hedge fund geeks! What are the biggest successes you have achieved with Tumelo since you launched? Well, I love the ‘people side’ of the business, so I’d say it’s building a team. We are 12 people, based in Bristol. And everyone is dropdead amazing – in their role and in our culture / as a person. We’ve also raised a fair amount of cash over the last two years, small money compared to some FinTech businesses but £1.2 million feels like a lot to me! And in November we ran our first pilot with one of the UK’s largest pension providers with amazing feedback which was, of course, a great moment for all of us! Plenty more team growth, money raising and sales to be done in 2020, I hope! Is it more important that shareholders today have a voice than it has been in the past? Yes! Globalisation means that we have massive companies that are effectively running the world – some more powerful and richer than whole countries and governments. Even in places like America, the lobbying power of large corporates feels insurmountable. Almost half of the internet relies on Amazon’s cloud service, AWS; Facebook has one

billion active users; oil majors are making hundreds of billions in revenue every year; health companies dictate which diseases we cure and which we don’t; food companies dictate how healthy we are, and how much rainforest we have… I could go on. Most of these large companies are ‘publicly owned’ – they are owned by all of us, accountable to all of us, as shareholders. Most people care about something, whether it’s gender equality, climate change, land use change, plastic or human rights. If you care, then you should be taking a seat at the table of these giants, telling them how it should be, and shaping the future, democratically, for everyone. What impact has the development of technology had on the ability to drive this agenda with your target audience? Tech has allowed transparency, and digital access to both information and a voice. It’s pivotal for us. If we want people to press for change, we need to make it easy for them. All around the world the impact of climate change is being felt. Do you think it is being taken seriously enough by business and government? I do think both parties are taking it seriously (in most cases); there is no doubt about that. I think the problem they face is a short-term versus long-term trade-off, that not everyone is sure how to deal with. For example, the investment system is set up to maximise shortterm returns, e.g., over five years. Within that structure and with those profit expectations, sometimes investing in new technology, renewables, sustainable

infrastructure, healthier products, cheaper medicine etc. just doesn’t make financial sense. Sustainability is a long-term issue, but humans are pretty bad at thinking in that way. That’s why as shareholders we need to speak up and tell, no demand, that companies think and act in this way – for our futures. Which people or what brands do you admire most for what they are doing to address climate change? It’s not just climate change, it’s about empowering people to live and buy in alignment with their values, whatever they are. For example, I think the challenger bank Monzo is great because it gives normal people a new level of transparency. It helps the public to see what is possible, and to question why everything isn’t that way, putting pressure on other sectors to change. Long-termism, environmental messaging from companies like Patagonia is also really helpful, curbing the ‘fast fashion’ madness. How can individuals make more of an impact on the climate change agenda? They definitely can, but we need to think about signalling. It’s not about switching off a light or having shorter showers. That’s neat, simple messaging – attractive for marketeers – but its impact is pretty small. Thinking about how and what you buy, the energy company you use, your diet, your finances and investments, the stories you create and share… these are all signals to the outside world - to shops and companies and governments - that the people whom it is their purpose to serve are choosing change.

Spring 2020 | 11

Has mentoring been something you have taken advantage of? Do you mentor graduates or other young people coming into business? I have mentors, yes. For example, I have an incredible ‘people’ coach, who is trying her best to propel me into a young leader - time will tell! In general, people across the UK have been very gracious with their

single opportunity. I certainly don’t know what success looks like yet but doing this has been the best decision of my life! You were awarded the Future Spark award at the SPARKies in 2018. As an industry nominated award for Under 25s, how does it feel to have achieved this recognition?

these are all signals to the outside world - to shops and companies and governments - that the people whom it is their purpose to serve are choosing change. time. I try to mentor where I can. It’s strange being 24 and running a company where some people are three times my age, but it turns out we can all learn from each other. What insights would you share with a young woman from St George’s thinking about starting her own company in the future? If you’re in the very fortunate position where you feel comfortable and can afford to jump at the opportunity of starting a business which you are passionate about, then just do it. It’s not easy by any means: when I started Tumelo, with Ben and Will, we worked on the business full time, waitressed in the evening and tutored on weekends. We were absolutely clueless and constantly exhausted. We were lucky because we knew if we failed that we could rely on friends and family to get us back on our feet, so we jumped in, and have learned so much. First tip: you need to bury your ego, network like a queen and ask for help at every

12 | Spring 2020

TechSpark is an awesome organisation, so I was very happy to be recognised by them. In reality though, awards don’t mean too much. When we are recognised by customers for the solution we provide, and by NGOs or the public for the impact we are making, then I will be proud, of our whole team!

What is your escape from the office? Definitely exercise. It’s not for everyone but it’s certainly my release. I trained for the Edinburgh Marathon while trying to fundraise a million pounds last year. Nothing helps you get over a big fat ‘no’ from a scary investor like a twohour run in the woods! Where is your happy place? Is it sad if I say running? Let’s go with friends! I find it really difficult to relax on evenings or weekends - there is always more work to be done, more clients to email, more people to interview. But my friends from school and university force me to check out of work and in with myself – they are fab!

The Junior School is committed to renewing its Eco-Schools Green Flag Award in March. As part of this it will focus on some key areas as its Sustainable Development Goal. Successes so far include: Litter & Waste Minimisation: using school water bottles, replacing plastic cups with reusable bamboo fruit cups for lunch, used clothes collections and litter picking. Food & the Environment: growing food, understanding where food comes from and its impact (e.g., palm oil production), food recycling, foodbank donations, more vegetarian and vegan options for lunch. A rice and cookbook sale raised money for a farmer in Malawi to send their child to school for a year. School Grounds Development: P1 outdoor learning space, planting, a trail camera, checking tree health, bug hunting, birdwatch and birdfeeders. And coming soon... beekeeping! Q&A WITH THE UPPER SCHOOL ECO COMMITTEE What is the role of the Eco Committee? “We aim to promote environmental care and awareness about many current issues and solutions. We regularly hold school assemblies featuring different topics we wish to target and promote change within our community.” Why is it important that St G’s has an Eco Committee? “As a school we can engage with a much wider community and spark an interest in the natural world in the younger generations. It is easier to acknowledge our impact on the environment as a school and take action to reduce this.” What is the environmental / sustainability initiative that you’re most proud of at St G’s? “We are very proud of our achievement at getting rid of practically all the school plastic cups. Far too many were being used every day and we now encourage people to bring a water bottle instead.”

COMMITTED

TO THE ENVIRONMENT In this edition, we are focusing on people who are making a difference to the communities in which they live. We have chosen to highlight the work of St George’s Eco Committee, a committed group of current pupils who are taking action to preserve – or save – the planet.

WASTE LESS, PRESERVE MORE The Eco Committee has been looking at several areas where the school community can make a difference: • Reduce food waste in school: currently 13.5 tons per annum to 12.5 tons in 2020. • More vegetarian and vegan options for lunch • Focus on ‘fast fashion’ to educate about the impact it has on the environment and communities in other countries.

PLASTIC, NOT FANTASTIC Prioritising arguably the biggest issue - single-use plastic – the Upper School Committee has committed to making changes.

• Until 2018 St George’s was using an average of 2,000 plastic cups per school day • Now reduced to 61 per day - target of close to Zero Single-Use Plastic by 2023 (and reviewing suppliers who use plastics) • Washable beakers introduced and sachets stopped in St George’s Centre • Bio-degradable cardboard cups replacing polystyrene cups in café

The Lower School is also taking action with an Eco Day which took place on Tuesday 3 March. P6 jointly hosted this event with Blackhall Primary School. The group focused on the following areas: Get into the Green Scene

Reuse a plastic bottle to make a mini greenhouse

Eco-friendly art in flowers

Eat Green – join the war on waste

Nature lovers will enjoy a session in our outdoor classroom.

The Eco Committee will join the Citizen’s Assembly meeting in the UK in 2020.

Will you join in to make a difference?

Spring 2020 | 13

PRESIDENT’S REFLECTIONS Welcome to the new edition of The Dragon, which has future sustainability as its theme, with a particular focus on international development and making a difference. These are issues close to the hearts of the pupils and former pupils whom the OGA supports with grants each year. Many of these girls go on to make a real difference in the world by assisting with international development projects through organisations like Project Trust, bringing to mind the anthropologist Margaret Mead’s quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has”. St George’s has a long track record of producing ‘thoughtful, committed citizens’ with an understanding of the world in which they live. The seeds are sown from an early age, from the School’s commitment to Outdoor Learning to the multiple international exchange programmes offered to girls in the Upper School, many of whom spend time at partner schools in Australia, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada and the USA. Closer to home, we were delighted to welcome Lizzie Bruce née Lyell (Class of 1996) to our Committee back in September. Lizzie’s daughter is a current pupil at the School and is the fourth generation of her family to attend St George’s. Lizzie is following in the footsteps of her grandmother, a previous President of the OGA, and she has a background in communications and marketing. We look forward to working closely with Lizzie and

the valuable contribution she will make to our Committee. One thing the Committee has been debating in recent months is the type of events that might be of interest to you, as OGA members. We have come up with a variety of ideas, from gin tasting, quiz nights and cocktail making to a hockey or netball match against the School, but we are keen to know which events would be most appealing to you. Whether it would be wreath-making at Christmas time or watching the end of Festival fireworks from the top floor of the School, we would love to hear from you – do let us know your preferences or any other ideas you might have by emailing foundation@stge.org.uk Looking ahead, we have our AGM and Summer Lunch at the School on Saturday 6 June and it looks as though it will be a great turnout this year with the Classes of 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 all expected to come out in force. We are also fortunate to have our very own Vice-President, Emma Currie, as our Speaker this year, whose talk will no doubt be as entertaining and inspiring as she is. I look forward to catching up with as many of you as possible on the day. Best wishes Mary Comer née MacKenzie (Class of 1997) President Lizzie Bruce née Lyell (Class of 1996)

14 | Spring 2020

SISTER OF DRAGON(S) Congratulations to Maighdlin (Lower 4, pictured right) who was the winner of the Dragon mascot naming competition. The little Dragon will now be known as ‘Doddie’, which is a Scottish diminutive of George, and seems very appropriate for our new friend, particularly when we consider the inspirational namesake, Doddie Weir. A special mention to Grace (Lower 4) for her beautiful Dragon drawing (pictured right); and a big thank you to everybody who submitted suggestions. Doddie the Dragon will be presented to all OGA members when they leave school to bring them luck on their travels. We want to hear all about Doddie’s future adventures, so pictures are very welcome for upcoming editions of The Dragon.

YOU’RE INVITED.

St George’s Annual OGA Summer Lunch

Please come and join us to meet and share memories with fellow alumnae at our annual Summer Lunch.

“One day we’ll be old enough to go to the OGA Summer Lunch!” SATURDAY 6 JUNE 2020 Saturday 6th June, 2020 NOON - 3.30 PM 1212noon - 3.30pm

To register or for more information, contact the foundation office foundation@stge.org.uk call 0131 the 311 8000 register or for more information,orcontact Foundation Office.

E: foundation@stge.org.uk T: 0131 311 8000

Spring 2020 | 15

EMBRACING THE ELEMENTS Interview with Heather Gray, Environmental Project Manager for Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Heather Gray née Eadie (Class of 1999) always loved studying Geography at school, so it seemed a natural step for her to continue this into University. She has taken that passion into her career as an Environmental Consultant and project manager, working across the world from the warmth of Western Australia to the slightly cooler climates of Northern Scotland. Heather is an Environmental Project Manager with Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission which installs and maintains power infrastructure across Scotland. She is responsible for managing all environmental aspects of this work to ensure the minimum impact on the environment.

early days at St George’s and we very much enjoyed hearing about the important work that she is doing in Scotland today. YOUR TIME AT ST G’S

When were you at St George’s?

I joined St George’s in Primary 1 in 1986 and finished Upper 6 in 1999. What subjects did you study?

I studied English, Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Geography at Higher in Lower 6, followed by A-Level Maths and Geography in Upper 6. Do you think the subjects you studied have impacted your career choices?

Yes definitely. Geography was always one of my favourite subjects

She asked us all to go outside and hug a tree... it was certainly a break from the more traditional lesson style! Heather gained a Masters in Environmental Sustainability after her degree in Geography from Bristol University, and now works for SHE Transmission. She is instrumental in ensuring that every new infrastructure project developed in Scotland has a commitment to maintaining and enhancing the biodiversity in the development area. We were really pleased that Heather was happy to be interviewed and appear in this edition. Her responsibility towards sustainability was born out of her

16 | Spring 2020

at school, so it seemed like the natural choice to go on to study it at university and then pursue a career working in the environmental sector. What activities or clubs were you involved in at school? I enjoyed music at school, and played the clarinet in the school orchestra, chamber orchestra and concert band. I wasn’t a particularly sporty child, but I did enjoy athletics in the summer months. Was there a teacher, mentor or fellow pupil within the school

who particularly helped or inspired you to recognise and/or follow your dreams and set out on your current career path?

One of my favourite teachers at school was Miss Savage who, unsurprisingly, was a Geography teacher. She was really enthusiastic about the subject and I always looked forward to her lessons each week. One particular lesson, she asked us all to go outside and hug a tree. I can’t remember why exactly, but it was certainly a break from the more traditional lesson style! What stood out for you most about the education experience at St George’s? I think one of the greatest things about St George’s was the opportunity to study such a wide variety of academic subjects, as well as get involved in a huge range of extracurricular activities. The school offered opportunities for everyone, regardless of their strengths or interests. What are your strongest memories from school?

One of my strongest memories from my time at school is my Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award expedition. My expedition group decided that we would do a cycling expedition rather than the more usual walking. We had an amazing three days of cycling around Perthshire, which included tackling a huge hill climb from Loch Tay over Ben Lawers to reach Glen Lyon. Needless to say, I was not very popular with the rest of the group for having suggested

inter view the route in the first place, but it was all worth it once we got to free wheel down the other side of the mountain! What sort of influence did St George’s have on you as you look back now?

Looking back on my time at St George’s, I think it was a very supportive and nurturing environment and gave me the skills and self-confidence required to achieve my goals. I also made some amazing friendships during my time at school and they continue to be some of my closest friends over 20 years later. ABOUT YOU AND YOUR CAREER What did you study at University? Did this directly impact on your career path?

I studied Geography at Bristol University, with a particular focus on physical geography. Following on from this I gained a Masters in Environmental Sustainability at Edinburgh University, which directly led to my career path in the environmental sector.

whole lifecycle, from site selection through to commissioning. The types of environmental issues we can encounter on our projects include ecology, archaeology, hydrology and flood risk, landscape and visual impacts and noise impacts. Throughout the project lifecycle we work to ensure that any potential environmental impacts are minimised and appropriately mitigated. Is there a particular initiative or project that you have been most proud of whilst working in your current job? As part of our 2018 sustainability strategy, SHE Transmission set an ambitious target to achieve ‘No Net Loss’ of biodiversity on new infrastructure projects gaining consent from 2020 onwards and achieving ‘Net Gain’ on projects gaining

project that we develop in Scotland (be it a substation, overhead line or underground cable route), SHE Transmission will work to ensure that we both maintain and enhance the biodiversity in the development area. We have trialled this approach at our Thurso substation in Caithness. During project construction it was recognised that changes to the consented landscape plan would present an opportunity to enhance local biodiversity. After consulting local wildlife experts, changes were made to benefit the Great Yellow Bumblebee, a rare endemic species found only in northern Scotland.

Can you tell us a bit about your job and the responsibility you have with SHE Transmission?

I currently work as an Environmental Project Manager for Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission (SHE Transmission), part of the SSE Group. SHE Transmission owns and maintains the high voltage electricity transmission network in the north of Scotland. Our network consists of underground cables, overhead lines and electricity substations, through which electricity is transported from generators (e.g. wind farms and hydro-electric power stations) to areas of demand across the country. I am an Environmental Project Manager, and responsible for the environmental aspects of our infrastructure projects through the

consent from 2025 onwards. The principle of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is to avoid and then minimise impacts on biodiversity and restore nature, and ensure negative impacts from development are compensated either by equivalent, or preferably additional, gains for biodiversity. This means that for every new infrastructure

Have you always worked in the utilities sector? Previously I worked as an environmental consultant specialising in hydrology and flood risk and environmental

Spring 2020 | 17

impact assessment. I also spent three years working in Melbourne, Australia, where I managed preconstruction ecology, cultural heritage and social surveys for a gas pipeline project in Papua New Guinea and worked on a number of mining projects in Western Australia. Do you have the opportunity to travel with your job?

Currently I am focused in the north and east of Scotland, but in previous environmental consulting roles, I have travelled all around the UK, from Orkney to Guernsey. A lot of environmental consultancies are global companies, which means there can be great opportunities to work on international projects and even relocate to different countries. Scotland has a huge commitment to renewable energy and reducing negative impacts on the environment. What role are we playing in driving the renewable power agenda on a global level?

As a country Scotland is blessed with abundant natural resources for renewable energy generation, with less than 1% of Europe’s population, but 25% of Europe’s offshore wind power and tidal energy resources and 10% of wave potential. This gives us a great opportunity to lead in the development of new technologies in the renewable sector, and we currently have the largest tidal array power project in the world and have installed the world’s first floating offshore wind farm. I think with the Scottish Government’s ambitious commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045, Scotland will continue to lead with development of new technologies in this sector. Environmental protection and the need to minimise climate change are higher on the global agenda than ever before. Do you think that there is enough focus in the business world to address this? Environmental protection and

18 | Spring 2020

climate change are moving swiftly up the business agenda, not only because environmental initiatives can save on costs, reuse resources and meet compliance requirements, but also because of growing public understanding and concern about these issues. However, in order to truly address climate change, we need to see all industries undertaking more radical transformations to achieve net zero carbon emissions, rather than just making minor adjustments in the way they do business. Are there any other companies that you especially admire for their approach to environmental protection as part of their strategic business goals?

In the energy sector, Scottish Power made a great commitment by being the first major UK energy company to switch to completely renewable

offer paid summer internships for students) is also useful. There is a huge variety of career possibilities so research is useful to find out what interests you. Environmental consultancy gave me an opportunity to be exposed to a wide range of technical disciplines and industries when I first started out, which led to me developing a specialism in hydrology and flood risk, followed by a move to more general environmental project management. Is there more interest in your area of work from graduates with the higher focus on the importance of renewable energy?

I think there is a greater interest among young people in careers which offer the opportunity to promote sustainable development. Scotland has a thriving clean

To truly address climate change, we need to see all industries undertaking more radical transformations to achieve net zero carbon emissions. energy, replacing coal and gas with wind power. Beyond the energy sector, I think IKEA is making really meaningful changes with its target to become climate positive by 2030, as well as its commitment to phasing out single-use plastics from the home furnishing range by 2020. What advice or considerations would you suggest to a young woman from St George’s thinking about a career in environmental management?

Most careers in the environmental sector require a relevant degree such as geography, ecology or environmental science, and sometimes also a masters degree. Relevant work experience, which could either be voluntary (e.g. conservation volunteering) or paid (e.g. some companies will

energy sector which is set to continue to grow, and I think there will be increasing work opportunities in the future. In your free time what are you happiest doing?

I love spending time in the great outdoors. In the past this involved activities like mountain biking and hill walking, but now it mostly involves spending time at the local country park or beach with my twoyear-old daughter. Where is your favourite place on the planet?

I have been lucky enough to see a lot of amazing places all over the world, however one of my favourite spots would have to be Loch an Eilein near Aviemore. I spent a lot of time in this area as a child and think it is one of the most beautiful places in the world.

BACK TO THE FUTURE Interview with Alison Girdwood (Class of 1979) The agenda of internationalisation and community development has a meaning more powerful and urgent today than ever before. The future health, sustainability and prosperity of our planet depends on an outward, collaborative perspective. It relies on education of people, young and old, in formal and informal settings to better understand how we can reverse damage we have done, stem further change and consider how we improve our approaches in the future. These characteristics resonate from St George’s pupils, through the first foundations of the school to the modern day. We can all make a difference and be bold in our approach. Our alumnae and pupils show us this time and time again. In this feature, we have interviewed alumna Alison Girdwood to hear about what school was like for her, the experiences, challenges and opportunities she faced, and what she remembers most. We have also taken the opportunity to delve into her career choices arising from school opportunities and experiences. We hope this chance to delve into the past and come back clearly to the future will offer interesting perspectives and experiences for our pupils, newer alumnae and their parents and hopefully bring back a few memories for some too. When were you a pupil at St George’s? From September 1971 (U3) until June 1978 (L6) after sitting Highers. I boarded as my parents were abroad (Barbados, South Africa and St Lucia amongst others). What are your strongest memories of St George’s? My stronger memories are of the boarding house. Mrs Gibson and Mrs Graham were the boarding housemistresses, looking after 36 of us in Melville to begin with. It felt quite institutional and spartan - icicles on the inside of windows, narrow bedframes, horsehair mattresses - which leaves some less fond memories! I strongly remember the first nights back in the dorm of nine, which was the biggest as most had four or five per room. I was always homesick at first, but we had fun

once term got going. Mrs Gibson gave us a ‘midnight feast’ at the end of term, where everyone ate until they felt sick. Dorms were inspected and marked weekly and the Dorm Cup was awarded annually for the tidiest dorm, presented by the Head, Mrs Lindsay. It was filled with Smarties, but it had a J-Cloth at the bottom of it, so there were fewer to share than you thought! In Upper Four we moved to Houldsworth, where Miss Allan was the housemistress. It was more relaxed and had central heating. Mrs Lindsay visited often. She used to do quizzes, including the church calendar, which I will never forget! She would have dinner with us, and we’d rotate round the table so that she got to know

L-R - Alison Girdwood with colleagues in Rwanda whilst working with DFID.

everyone. She was a very good headmistress, very pastoral. I did a school exchange to Germantown Friends School in Pennsylvania. It was only for six weeks but it had a profound effect on me. It was a very different culture there, pupils were allowed to sit on windowsills during classes, argue with teachers and wear their own clothes. It was hard

Spring 2020 | 19

inter view to come back to a much more regimented approach, where I received a detention for talking in the corridor for a second time. Quite a difference.

University. I was really glad I chose Edinburgh as I learned to love the city in its own right, not just as the place where I came back to go to school.

If there was something you could have changed about the school what would it have been?

Which teachers do you remember most?

The boarding house had the ‘Respect’ Tradition, whereby the most junior pupil was expected to get anything for the table that had run out. It was the same story with giving up seats for older girls in the TV room. The younger girls might just have been too shy to argue. It seemed a mixed message and caused some unhappiness. It has left me with a lifelong dislike of people who claim authority without earning it. Food was also a challenge. You had to eat everything on your plate, and if you made a fuss you got more. I came back to school at one point for some research on menus and it did give me a lot of respect for what they managed to do within their budget. It was quite varied and probably nutritionally sound – although in hindsight it might have been better to focus on quality rather than quantity! Which were your favourite subjects and why? I loved English, which I went on to study at Edinburgh University, and also Biology and Art. I didn’t enjoy Maths, Sport or Music. I especially loved English when we were given the freedom to do project work as it let you show your personality. I particularly remember one project which involved writing your own newspaper: Mrs Thatcher had just come into office and we made up characters and did satirical takes on the news. I felt ready to leave school after my Highers. At the time that meant you could only go to a Scottish

20 || Spring Spring 2020 2020 20

I have some very good memories of Art – I did O Grade, often working during lunch and I really enjoyed Mrs Whiteford’s classroom. It always felt so relaxed and happy. My English teachers were Mrs Grant Wood and Mrs Forrester. I remember writing an essay with a strongly derivative James Bond element – very far-fetched and a bit ‘racy’. I got an A but was mortified at having to read it out to the class. I’m sure Mrs Forrester did it on purpose! Miss Fraser was wonderful, one of the best teachers in the school. She taught U3, which was thematic teaching on Classical Civilisations. It was very cross-curricular and she totally brought it to life. She was so inspiring and kind; I still see

Not on the sports pitches! I’d be doing art with Mrs Whiteford. When I retire, I’d like to take up art again. What were you happy and less happy to see on the school lunch menu? I have fond memories of Friday nights. We often got ‘Potato Haystacks’ which was baked potato with baked beans, bacon and cheese. A happy combination of comfort food and the start of the weekend! I really disliked Queen of Puddings and sardines. What influence would you say St George’s had on the career path that you chose? I thought at the time very little. There was very limited career advice. It seemed to focus on the major Scottish professions or nursing. I appreciate the school has a much more diverse profile now, so it will be very different. My parents chose St George’s for us because it was such an Edinburgh institution and they

The ethos is very much about independence of spirit, or perhaps the confidence to think about what you want to do later, and to be who you ought to be.

her as a role model. Mrs Tennant taught Modern History and went on to work at Edinburgh University, so our paths crossed again later and I’ve still seen her occasionally. She gave quite a leftwing interpretation of history and got us to question things in a way others hadn’t. Outside of academic study were you more likely to be found on the sports pitches, music, art or drama rooms?

wanted us to do things like law or medicine. My father studied accounting and worked in international development. My sister did accountancy and I went into international development, so we both followed him really. However, it’s interesting that education, particularly its implementation and evaluation, has been my career and the St George’s values are a good benchmark for that. The ethos is very much about independence of spirit, or perhaps the confidence

inter view to think about what you want to do later, and to be who you ought to be. Your work at the British Council and the Department for International Development (DFID) is focused on supporting and building relations across the world. Can you tell us a bit more about your involvement with these organisations? My path into International Development at the British Council and DFID was largely through the education sector. I worked in central administration in the University of Edinburgh and then in an international research centre at the University of Bath. After that I joined the Commonwealth Secretariat. I joined DFID as I realised that you can advocate change or deal with individuals but, if you’re going to change policies and change people’s lives, you need to work at government level. DFID at that time had Clare Short as Secretary of State with a mandate to address international policy, so it was a very exciting time. My very first department was Overseas Territories and it was fascinating to work with these tiny islands, doing budgetary support for Pitcairn, Anguilla, St Helena, and Montserrat in the aftermath of the volcano. Furthermore, I finally finished my PhD while I was there! I then worked in Rwanda for a short period, 15 years after the genocide, as an education adviser, working with the government trying to rebuild the education system. After that I moved to DFID’s research department, where I was responsible for setting its agenda on education research. My last post there was in the Conflict, Humanitarian and Security department. I developed

the evaluation side, first on humanitarian interventions, which is challenging as it’s difficult to get people’s attention when they are working in these conditions. For example, one of our studies was on the effectiveness of our response to the Ebola crisis. We started to work on the security side, but when I was head-hunted for the British Council I accepted. I’ve been there for four years, where I am Director of Evaluation & Learning. The aim is to build and embed the evaluation function across the organisation, so I travel a lot. I am trying to get some key studies going, including generating good evidence of what we’re doing with the education portfolio, and why we’re doing it. What do you consider to be the biggest opportunities and challenges facing our future generations from an international perspective?

There are also issues around lowcost private schooling. Where the state is failing to deliver, there is a question of whether international development money would be better going to the private sector to ensure teachers actually are paid and go to school to teach. There are some really interesting initiatives. For instance, DFID established the Girls’ Education Challenge Fund, one of their biggest programmes (£500m over three years) for new initiatives. That’s where evaluation is really valuable – to see what actually has an impact. How important is education in helping to shape our approach to international cooperation? Education systems have the power to build equity across a country, but they also have the power to act as a screen to stop the poorest people from having the opportunities they might have had.

There’s a lot of emphasis on inclusion. Under the International Development Act, you have to focus particularly on girls and demonstrate what you’re doing in terms of gender equality. There is a focus on girls, but the core issues of curriculum and how to teach are fundamental to keeping girls in school. Challenges such as sexual exploitation in schools are significant obstacles and some of these larger cultural issues can be helped by infrastructure work such as building safe and separate toilets to encourage school attendance.

Alison and colleagues at Pitcairn Island whilst working with DFID.

The British Council looks to build trust and understanding between the UK and overseas and this is actually assuming a slightly higher profile in the current political context than previously.

Spring 2020 | 21

We try to deliver the best of the British education system in terms of the medium of instruction, but also making sure it’s appropriate to the educational context. The organisation structure currently has an education portfolio which includes teaching English and sitting UK based exams internationally. The British Council really has an advantage, as we have so much research on good ways of teaching English. This can be used as a tool for transforming education systems by introducing new ways of teaching or providing pathways, using education to strengthen resilience of individuals in their communities. Rwanda is an interesting example where, following the genocide, the government tried to insist education was mostly in English. Most evidence suggests that you learn better in early years in your native language but there was an edict that it had to be in English from the start – and most teachers don’t speak English. There was a massive programme to teach teachers English, although the British Council does push back on that and has recommended that KinyaRwanda be used for the first four years at least. It looked like that had been successful although in the last six months or so the government has gone back to wanting entirely English. This is a political issue and the challenge is how to deal with that. How do you consider technology to have impacted on international collaboration? Technology in education is really important. A lot is being done, for instance, with teaching English and reaching distant communities through digital technology. It’s also really useful for research, enabling us to reach people we wouldn’t otherwise be able to.

22 || Spring Spring 2020 2020 22

How do you think St George’s shaped your character or attitude to life?

Who do you still keep in touch with from your years at St George’s?

I feel coming back in my 50s has made me realise more about how it shapes your character than I was aware of at the time. I think it’s something that takes a while to understand and manifest itself. The fact that we’re all still friends and hold the same values suggests that it did get across.

Joanna Smith mostly.

My feeling that respect must be earned has not always been helpful in my career, but it has given me strong integrity!

It was very nice to meet all the group again at the reunion and we had dinner that night too. Since the reunion, I’ve seen the twins Katharine and Barbara Allardyce frequently. Also Rachel Sutherland, Deborah Cowe and Susan Helszajn.

I’ve really enjoyed coming back and seeing some of the exhibitions; you can see it is about making girls independent in thought but with shared values. I feel very positive when I see what St George’s is trying to do, while upholding the values on which it was founded.

Education systems have the power to build equity across a country, but they also have the power to act as a screen to stop the poorest people from having the opportunities they might have had.

THIS IS MY DAY A key part of our NETWORK St G’s programme is to encourage more professional networking amongst members of our alumnae, both together and with pupils. Our alumnae are bright, committed and thoughtful people, aware of the impact they can make on the world personally and professionally. With consideration and action, our alumnae and pupils have the opportunity to make a considerable difference in the world. In this edition, we have asked Catriona Morrison (Class of 1985) to share a snapshot of a day in her working life for Shell in Perth, Australia. Catriona is a Project Manager for Prelude – one of the first floating liquid natural gas facilities. An innovative and ambitious project for Shell, the Prelude facilities is considered a ‘true breakthrough for the LNG industry’, as the world looks for cleaner-burning fossil fuels. Where in the world do you work? Perth, Western Australia. If you were asked to describe your job (in fewer than 50 words) what would you say? Solving problems - on the face of it a project manager needs to execute a project to plan and within budget, but really our role is to overcome any challenges we have, be they technical, stakeholder management, risk mitigation or HR. Where is your office or working space? Shell House, 562 Wellington Street, Perth, Australia. How and when do you start your day? I generally get up at 5am and go to the gym where I either work out with my personal trainer Chris twice a week, follow the gym programmes he has designed for me, or I cycle 18km to work from North Fremantle. Is lunch at the desk or definitely not? Generally at my desk. Do you have a typical day or is every day different? Every day is different. I have a lot of planned meetings, but the issues are different every day - that’s what makes it interesting and when working on projects there is rarely a dull moment. What makes you smile at work? My staff – I am fortunate to have a fantastic project team of highly capable

engineers who also have very good senses of humour, which is invaluable on high intensity projects. What would you rather avoid doing? Attending ill-structured meetings. What was your favourite subject at school? Either biology or geography which is strange as physics is the closest to engineering. I always enjoyed physics but never thought I was any good at it! How did St George’s prepare you for the world of work? St George’s taught me that I can do anything. I have ended up in a very male-dominated industry which required maths and science subjects - which were never considered strange at St George’s, so I’ve never experienced the bias that other female engineering colleagues did at school. Where did you study after school? I studied at Heriot Watt University and graduated with a Bachelors of Engineering in Civil Engineering. How did you pick your career, or did it pick you? In 1984 it was the Year of Women in Science and Engineering and St George’s was targeted by the universities to encourage pupils to attend engineering open days. Dr Millar, my physics teacher, suggested I attend. I am so glad she did as that is how I got into engineering. After university I wasn’t sure who to work for – the consultant engineer I worked for in the university

holidays suggested the oil and gas industry. Once I saw the international opportunities in Shell, I was hooked and have been there for over 30 years working on mega projects in the UK, Australia, Ireland, Norway, Malaysia, Netherlands, Japan, US and Canada. Is there anything you would have done differently when setting out in the world of work? Maybe take more time before starting my further education and career. I started university at 16 and work at 20! There is plenty of time to work! What piece of advice would you share when encouraging others to think about a future job and career? Follow a career that motivates you and gives you satisfaction – I love solving problems and achieving results – if that’s first oil from a new facility, driving down the unit cost of our facilities, or building a high performing team, it’s so much easier to get up and face each day of challenges in the office if you get that satisfaction from your work. As we move forward what roles and jobs do you think will become particularly important for young people to consider? Follow a career you believe in. Whilst at face value the energy industry isn’t always looked at as part of the solution for climate change, I have always been able to stand by Shell’s values, in particular regarding the environment and the transition to cleaner fuels and sustainable energy.

Spring 2020 | 23

CONNECTING COMMUNITIES St George’s pupils, alumnae, staff and parents all form a community that is bound by a sense of pride, ambition and absolutely a certain sense of spirit and discovery. The spirit of discovery is so important as we consider the future and what it might bring for our community and those which we join throughout our lives. An awareness of other communities and how they live, work and educate is so powerful and essential for the sustainability of people and the planet as we move forward. If we can all understand how we learn, support, help and educate each other in our many connected communities across the world, then we have considerably more opportunity to sustain ourselves and those around us.

s part of this theme we have spoken to two former pupils who have been very positively impacted by international school exchanges, embedding themselves in new communities whilst at school and then utilising these experiences and relationships to inform their future choices. We are delighted that they have been willing and happy to share their memories with us.

Catriona Spaven-Donn (Class of 2010) has always had an international perspective, attending schools in South Africa, Oman and, of course, Scotland. However, it was the school exchanges she undertook to Canada and Chile whilst a pupil at St G’s that had a real impact on her: “I always knew the value of international education. St George’s deepened this conviction with the Upper Four exchange to Canada, and then even more so with the Lower Six exchange to Chile.” The exchange to Chile was ‘an experience that would change our lives’ as she embarked on a wonderful trip with a fellow Lower Six pupil. Not only the beautiful sights and chance to engage and

24 | Spring 2020

teach young Chilean children, but also the sense of independence and freedom to discover new opportunities really resonated for her. A spark was lit inside Catriona and, in 2010, she embarked upon another life-changing adventure as an international student at the University of Toronto, returning to the destination of her Upper 4 exchange. She studied Spanish, English Literature and French, but also chose to study Latin American history and culture, with a focus on indigenous cultures and languages across the Americas. After volunteering with young people from rural communities in Peru, Catriona completed an MPhil in Latin American Studies at the University of Cambridge in 2017, where she “researched the power and privilege involved in travel, as well as ways to support community-led initiatives which truly benefit the local population.” The emphasis on a rigorous, globally-focused education with a firm commitment to empowering girls is something to which Catriona is dedicated. Working in literacy

programming with young people at a refugee shelter in Toronto, or with adolescent mothers in Peru, has only served to reinforce Catriona’s appreciation of her education. “As St George’s alumnae, we are truly lucky to have been able to develop our imaginations, explore our creativity and find our voices from a very young age.” Currently an International Coordinator with Limitless Horizons Ixil, a small non-profit working to ensure educational access and provide

wraparound services to youth and families in the mountains of northwest Guatemala, Catriona aims to extend these same opportunities to young people. In the isolated community of Chajul where she works, only five per cent of school age children graduate from high school and most girls marry and start families before they reach adulthood. After 15 years of serving Chajul’s youth with scholarships and personal development workshops, including on women’s rights, reproductive health, and gender equality, Limitless Horizons Ixil is now in the process of opening the first girlcentred school in the region. It will have an almost entirely indigenous female staff and a majority female student population. At the end of last year, Catriona worked with young people to put on a play about gender violence and women’s rights in rural Guatemalan communities, which was performed to parents in the local indigenous language of Ixil. The opportunity to live and work amongst other communities is Catriona’s passion, and she credits the international experiences provided by St George’s for shaping her personal and professional path. She says “I believe that education should provide eye-opening and challenging experiences which break one’s social bubble and present alternative realities. By engaging girls in the world around them, as well as rooting them to their local community, I can safely say that the benefits of a globallyminded education will be felt for very many years to come.”

e also were very pleased to talk with Fiona Walker (Class of 2010) who made life-long connections with an international community following a school exchange to Durban, South Africa in Upper 5. During her time there, she attended Durban Girls’ College, meeting new people and making friends whilst discovering the beauty of the country and its attractions. It was such a different world compared to the usual Edinburgh routine, and there she met Josie Noyce, with whom she remains very close today.

other communities live and the importance of working together and helping to educate each other for the future is vital. Fiona said: “St George’s is exceptional in its attitude to supporting and encouraging the girls to visit and help others around the world. By continuing to find communities who would benefit from the help we can give across the globe, not only does this aid those in need, but it is also a lifelong lesson for the students to recognise how lucky we are whilst providing the opportunity to help others.”

Fiona said of her experience “I feel so lucky to have been offered the chance to go to the other side of the world to a country which is so different to Scotland. I would never have gone there and lived each day as a South African schoolgirl otherwise and it gave me a taste as to how other people lived on the other side of the world.” This exchange has encouraged a sense of adventure and travel and Fiona has visited many parts of Europe, South America, South Africa again and Namibia. For Fiona, the relationship she formed during that trip was so important: “My relationship with Josie, since meeting her more than 10 years ago, has grown from strength to strength and this would not have been possible without the encouragement and relationship St George’s had with Durban Girls’ College. Alongside meeting new people, learning about the history of the country and visiting places across South Africa, the real highlight was making a friend for life”. The impact of being able to undertake this exchange, understand how

Spring 2020 | 25

OUR PEOPLE When we hear news of former peers, colleagues, new and old friends, that is what keeps many of us connected and reminds us of our days at St George’s. The news on these pages combines the happy, celebratory moments such as weddings and births, with the reminder that life is precious and finite when we hear of people’s deaths. This news is very important to our whole community and we are very grateful to those who take the time to share it. We warmly encourage many others to share their news of pupils and staff and we will endeavour to include it all in further editions.

BIRTHS SANDFORD

A daughter, Elizabeth Ailsa, born to Joanna (née Loudon, Class of 2007) and Mark on 8 June 2019.

MACCARTHY

A daughter, Florence Alicia, born to Polly (née MacLehose, Class of 1997) and Joe on 25 December 2019. A sister for Harry and Rory.

KORNICKI

A daughter, Oonagh Allegra Grace, born to Eirian (née Mitchell, Class of 2003) and Martin on 1 October 2018. A sister for Cleodie (b. 2015).

26 | Spring 2020

our people

MARRIAGES MORRIS AND DANIELS

Camilla (Class of 2007) and Tim were marred at Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh on 21 September 2019.

NEWCOMER AND RAMSAY

Elise (voluntary archivist 2018/19) and Stuart were married in Elise’s hometown of Livonia, Michigan on 12 October 2019. Elise is now working as a Project Archivist at the University of Edinburgh.

BENSON AND MACDONALD Corinna (Class of 2008) and Kenny were married at Prestonfield House Hotel, Edinburgh on 28 September 2019. They were beautifully welcomed to Prestonfield by U6 pipers, April and Lexie.

DECEASED STAFF MEMBERS Greta Walker

Former staff member - teacher of Modern Languages and Support for Learning, Deputy Head of Lower School and Gold Badge holder. Died 28 October 2019, age 70.

CORRECTIONS

from The Dragon - Autumn 2019 Lysbeth Bevan (née Flint, Class of 1947) died 22 March 2019, age 89 Elizabeth (Betty) Dodd (née Gardner, Class of 1947) died 20 April 2019, age 90

Spring 2020 | 27

PLEASE SAVE THE DATES FOR THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL EVENTS: Please email foundation@stge.org.uk if you would like to attend.

23 April 2020

OGA Committee (Members Only)

FOUNDATION OFFICE KEEP IN TOUCH If any alumnae, current pupils, staff or parents have news or general updates, article ideas, tributes or pictures they would like to share then please do get in touch. We would love to hear from you!

Foundation Office Contact details: Tel: 0131 311 8000 email: foundation@stge.org.uk

foundation.stge.org.uk/homepage

St George’s Alumnae Group

6 June 2020

OGA AGM & Summer Lunch

18/19 June 2020

Annie Junior (Lower School Drama Production)

21 June 2020

Farewell & All That Jazz Concert

24 June 2020

Speech Day 2020

26 September 2020

Class of 2010 – 10 year reunion

@stgealumnae

St George’s School for Girls, Edinburgh, alumnae networking group For whole school news please visit www.stge.org.uk

For more information on these events or to sign up please visit https://foundation.stge.org.uk/events

ST GEORGE’S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

28 | Spring 2020

Garscube Terrace, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, EH12 6BG www.stge.org.uk Registered Charity No SC012632