C.A.S. Hawker Scholars

The Hawker Scholarship gave me the exciting opportunity to study at the Australian National University in Canberra. I had four fun and fruitful years at Burgmann College, including as a college tutor. Many of the friends I made are still my dearest friends today. I took a year off mid-university to backpack from Cape Town to Istanbul and returned to Canberra to finish my studies in Law (Hons) and Arts.

I spent four formative years working as a corporate lawyer for Allens - half in Sydney and half in Singapore. Searching for a more meaningful career and speaking Bahasa Indonesia, I entered the field of international development with several fascinating years in Jakarta and across Indonesia working for several NGOs, the United Nations Development Program (on the first presidential elections) and the World Bank (on community governance).

I completed my Masters in Law at Melbourne University slowly, while working. In 1997 I joined (then) AusAID working on the Indonesia and Timor-Leste aid programs. After our first child, I followed my partner on his posting to Honiara, Solomon Islands. I worked for AusAID and the World Bank (Solomon Islands) on issues of community governance and family violence prevention.

Returning to DFAT in Canberra, I spent a few years on the Indonesia desk and following our second child, I was posted to Dili, Timor-Leste as Australia's Deputy Head of Mission.

Staying on the international development theme, my current role is Vice President at Abt Global, a major implementing partner of DFAT. I lead Abt’s technical team to provide quality advice and implementation across programs in women’s economic empowerment, governance and health across the Asia-Pacific.

I also volunteer as a Director on ChildFund Australia’s board, including serving on the Program Review Committee.

I don't think my career or indeed life would have unfolded as it has without the fabulous opportunity provided to me through the Hawker Scholarship. I am very grateful.