What did you do straight after graduating?

After graduating I went to Chisholm Tafe and spent two years studying Multimedia Design (2D/3D Animation, Web Design, Graphic Design, Video Production).

How did you find the transition from Padua College?

Coming out of Padua I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I knew what I enjoyed doing and I really just focused on that, which provided a pathway for me to make the most of the opportunities that were presented.

What do you love about your career choice?

Despite studying design, it’s actually not where I ended up. Whilst interviewing for a Graphic Designer position, I was offered a role in the Print Industry doing internal sales, which I accepted. It worked out well, as I can communicate all the design skills that I had studied with the customer, while reassuring them that we can provide them with the best quality product to suit their needs.

I am now Sales Manager for one of the most exciting printing companies in Australia. We’re a little bit of a ‘best kept secret’, but in the industry we are well known for being cutting edge.

What are the challenges of your career choice?

Sales is one the largest rollercoasters of a career you could possibly undertake. When things are good, they’re amazing, but when the market is dry it’s also incredibly difficult. However, if you manage to keep good relationships with the customers, they’ll always come back when things pick up again.

Today, managing an entire Sales Team and overseeing the company’s portfolio of customers means I not only have to look after my own sales pipeline and customer satisfaction, but also those of the entire company.

What or who has had the most significant influence on your career choice?

The biggest influence on my career was my side hobby – being a basketball referee. Officiating helped me grow an incredibly thick skin and a high level of communication skill. There are a lot of similarities between needing to manage an irate coach or player on the floor and a customer who is stressing about urgent requirements.

If you were to sum up what your time at Padua taught you, what would it be?

Probably the biggest thing that I learned would be the Five P’s (Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance). You do not have to be the best at something, but putting in the work to understand the task at hand will often get you further or better results.

What advice would you give to a student that is in their finishing years at Padua?

The advice I would give would be to not stress out if you don’t know what you want to do after school. Opportunities will always present themselves, and there is no rush to take something if it isn’t a good fit. When it’s right, you’ll know it.

Do you still see or are friends with your mates from Padua?

I still see a small group of mates from Padua. The four of us try to catch up every couple of months for a round of golf and a parma, however, it can tend to stretch out at times with work or family commitments (especially with some of us living overseas or interstate at times).

However, social media has been a fantastic thing in that regard. Being able to have a group chat to collectively touch base with each other means we’re never more than a message or call away.

When you look back at your time at Padua, what are your overriding memories?

There are two things that really stand out from my time at Padua - the freedom I was given to find what I enjoyed and what I didn’t, and being able to spend so much time developing long-lasting friendships (some moments still come up every time we have that round of golf!)

What do you get up to in your spare time, what do you like to do for fun?

Outside of work, I still referee basketball and have been on the floor for over 21 years now. It’s been a fantastic journey to date, having attended five national championships, been active for 11 seasons on Big V and now approaching my third season on NBL1.

Additionally, I try to give back what my mentors have given to me by holding the Referee Advisor position at the Casey Basketball Association. We have approx. 170+ active referees, with 90% of them between the ages of 14-19.

In the rare moment I get downtime outside of this, I like to get back to basics with my art and draw/sketch or paint just to switch off for a while.

Along the way, what challenges have you hit personally or professionally?

Being made redundant after the company I was working for lost their biggest customer, was a difficult pill to swallow. However, it resulted in me finding the best employment opportunity that allowed me to grow professionally, so it was actually a blessing in disguise.

What is one of the highlights of your life so far?

In terms of personal achievements, basketball has provided many. Being appointed to Gold Medal Games at two National Championships, Big V Grand Final Series and more recently being awarded Referee Advisor of the Year in conjunction with receiving Referee Program of Year for 2022 are things I’m incredibly proud of, and are reflections of the hard work put in by my team. However, none of these can top getting married to my wife last July.