Old Girls inspire at Professional Women’s Network The August and October Professional Women’s Network breakfasts featured St Margaret’s Old Girls as guest speakers, each sharing their inspirational professional journeys since leaving school.
At the October event, lawyer, grazier, volunteer and director Caitlin McConnel (’07) shared how she successfully juggles her career in agriculture alongside her work as a lawyer. Annabelle Chaplain AM (’74), whose global career spans 25 years in investment banking and a wealth of experience in non-executive director roles across a range of industries, including the fintech, education, resources and arts sectors, addressed the August event audience, speaking of the impact of COVID-19, particularly on industry-based career opportunities. Wisely, Annabelle suggested COVID offered a time for calibration and lateral thinking about one’s own value proposition when it comes to career pathways and encouraged the audience to “cultivate transferrable skills that could be put to use in different contexts”. “Invest in yourself. Look for the thing that will allow you to carve out a competitive advantage and add complementary skills that will build a margin of safety,” Annabelle said.
Acknowledging she “wears many hats” Caitlin said: “It has been the extended St Margaret’s community that has been so intertwined with my achievements and experiences to date.” Caitlin spoke about her work as an advocate for mental health and wellness in the bush and touched upon the developments and opportunities happening in the agriculture sector. Both women have this year been recognised for their individual string of achievements, named as Notable St Margaret’s Old Girls as part of the school’s 125th anniversary celebrations. Though the last two Professional Women’s Network breakfasts for the year looked slightly different to the usual format, it was pleasing that an intimate group of 50 guests could attend each event and be inspired by the uplifting journeys of these St Margaret’s women. Thank you to the 2020 Professional Women’s Network corporate sponsors Pitcher Partners, Programmed Property Services and supporting partners Downer, NAB and Clear Insurance for their support throughout the year including at these reimagined events.
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