The role of Director of Experiential Learning at Knox Grammar School involves the safe and effective facilitation of high quality outdoor education and experiential learning at locations around NSW, Australia and overseas. Partnering with quality providers, programs operate from Kindergarten to Year 12 and span adventure-based learning, rites of passage, environmental education, First Nation Australian cultural studies, domestic and international student exchanges and adventure and service tours and immersions.

Pymble Ladies' College's outdoor and experiential learning campus, Vision Valley, has diverse adventure infrastructure, accommodation in lodges for 180 people and indoor and outdoor conference and performance spaces. Since the acquisition of Vision Valley in 2020 I have been accountable for the establishment of campus operations including the recruitment of personnel, the development of budgets and forecasts, campus and program procurement, risk management and compliance systems and processes, facilities upgrades and improvements, campus master planning and program development. The work my team and I have done has seen the successful scale up of the campus as a provider of quality educational programs, events and retreats for students, staff and community members of our College and further as a commercial business offering programs and services to visiting schools and student-centred organisations. The programs Vision Valley offer are focused around exceptional experiential learning and outdoor education outcomes and range in duration and complexity, with the flagship of our offering being our one-month ‘Residential Program’ which is attended by Year 9 students from Pymble Ladies’ College and Saint Ignatius' College Riverview. The partnership between the schools for this project has been a fulfilling and engaging process which looks set to continue for some time given the success of the initial pilot programs. The Residential Program involves all elements of a holistic education including a bespoke academic program, outdoor education and adventure-based learning, life skills courses, service, personal reflection, a 24-hour ‘wilderness solo’ and of course rest, relaxation and recreation with peers and new friends in a digital detox environment. The intent of the program is to be a rite of passage, a character development experience and an opportunity for students of single-sex schools to develop a healthy relationship with the opposite sex.

The role of Director of Experiential Learning involved the delivery of high quality outdoor education and experiential learning on the Pymble campus and at locations around NSW, Australia and overseas. Partnering with quality providers, programs operate from Kindergarten to Year 12 and span adventure-based learning, rites of passage, environmental education, First Nation Australian cultural studies and expeditionary learning.

As the Director of K-12 Co-Curricular Sport and Activities I have responsibility for the management, mentoring and oversight of a large staff and more than fifty programs for students from Kindergarten to Year 12. As Director my duties include staff and student safety, risk and compliance, budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis, staff and contractor recruitment, on-boarding and development, staff performance management as required, program analysis and strategic planning, venue management, responding to student and parent enquiries and complaints and the monitoring of continuous improvement goals for individuals and programs.

As Deputy Director of K-12 Co-Curricular Sport and Activities my duties included staff and student safety, risk and compliance, staff and contractor recruitment, on-boarding and development, staff performance management as required, program discovery and quality assurance, venue management, responding to student and parent enquiries and complaints and the monitoring of continuous improvement goals for individuals and programs. I also had oversight for the Aquatic and Fitness Centre including budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis, staff recruitment and training and general program management. I continued my role as the Officer Commanding of the College Army Cadet Unit during this role as well.

As K-12 Head of Co-Curricular Activities I had the oversight of a diverse portfolio of programs and staff including major curriculum areas such as Dance, Drama and Language Arts through to smaller, niche programs. I was also responsible for the development and implementation of several of the current Co-Curricular programs, including the development of the first all-female Army Cadets program in Australia, skills programs such as Touch Typing and Study Skills and a series of work-ready courses such as our Barista course, First Aid course, Responsible Service of Alcohol and Responsible Conduct of Gabling course. I remain involved directly with the Army Cadets program to date as Officer Commanding and Safety Officer of the Unit.

In January 2006, I started All Aid First Aid – a company that supplied quality first aid and emergency response training programs nationally to clients from the Australian Government, Department of Defence, Indigenous communities, heavy industry, corporate sector, the outdoor education market, schools, and to the general public. Specialist Wilderness and Remote Area First Aid courses were delivered under the banner of Wild Aid First Aid. All Aid First Aid also provided first responder services to events, and had a first aid and emergency response products business. I sold this business in 2015. The business continues to operate successfully today under the new owner with a specific focus on school first aid programs.