Give it 6-8 Weeks

Please tell us a little bit about yourself, where your home is in Australia, and where you now call home.

Let me share a bit about my journey. Originally, I called Australia my home, where I enjoyed a fulfilling life in Neutral Bay, renting a cozy flat and working as a Trainer at Optus. Surrounded by a wonderful group of friends, I had a great setup. However, deep down, I knew it was time for a change.

So, on the 18th of May, 1999, I took a bold step and boarded a plane to the UK.

What led you to move overseas, and what advice would you give for those following in your path?

Much like Colin in "Love Actually," I felt like I was simply in the wrong country. I had one friend in the UK who generously offered me a place to stay for a couple of weeks in London. After that, she was heading back home, and I'd be on my own.
I still remember the best advice she gave me: 6-8 weeks. That’s how long it would take to find a job, a flat, and get my life sorted. Despite my panic, knowing the little Aussie dollar didn't stretch far back then, she was right. To this day, I share that same advice with anyone moving here: give it 6-8 weeks!

What’s been one of the biggest challenges you’ve had to overcome in making your move?

At about week 7, I secured a job at Cable & Wireless as a Project Manager. Had I run projects before? No, but hey, how hard could it be? That was my next lesson learned: go for it and stretch yourself into new roles. What’s the worst that can happen? Well, the next job soon taught me that.

I interviewed for a role as Director of L&D at 3 Mobile, marking the first time I’d manage people. Once again, how hard could it be? I’d been a PE teacher in Melbourne, managing 26 children at a time, so adults should be easy, right? Err, no. But hey, you work it out (or get fired). I worked it out.

I spent a few years at 3 Mobile, where I truly began to experiment with technology in learning. This was 2003, before the iPhone and apps. I built a platform that delivered training through text links sent to phones. It was groundbreaking for its time. Then, I was made redundant from 3. Ouch! But good things come to those who wait, don't they? Well, I waited! 6-8 weeks? Not in 2008. It took me months to find my next role, but thankfully, it was at Apple. Ahh, lovely Apple. What a fabulous place to continue my love of tech and learning. We launched another app and started exploring Augmented Reality—exciting territory.

My next move was to Expedia, an even better match: technology and travel! This is where I transitioned from traditional e-learning to collaborating with filmmakers. Over the years, I’ve learned to view those you’re training as consumers to truly engage them. Look outside your industry, be creative.

Now, 23 years after I arrived, my resting place is at St James’s Place Wealth Management. Who knew my skills would translate to finance? Certainly not my year 10 maths teacher. Here, I have been able to shift into another gear, using Virtual Reality to train soft skills. This is quite industry-leading, very fast, and exciting. And I was able to launched another learning app.

What are some of the benefits that have come from becoming a Global Australian?

Becoming a Global Australian has brought me numerous benefits. Living in the UK has been a wonderful experience—I’m not on the shelf, I married a pom, and while we don’t have kids, we do enjoy a life filled with tech and travel.

One key piece of advice I’d offer is to just go for it. Embrace the opportunities and challenges that come your way. Playing with tech has been incredibly rewarding. Landing in a new place is undeniably scary, but it's also invigorating. Things do work out. Just give it 6-8 weeks!