Did you always aspire to be in the job position you currently hold?

I have always had the entrepreneurial itch and a passion for wanting to help people & organisations do better with what they had, understand themselves/their environment and find ways to do better with all of the risks & opportunities ahead of them. Starting my own consulting business brings all of this together and the timing was opportunistic with the wonderful support of my wife, Alison (married 14 years this year). At the same time, I know that the things I have done to date have prepared me well enough to take on this challenge (though nothing can ever really prepare you for starting your own business).

What have you done since leaving CTHS? 

Straight after CTHS, I completed a double degree in Economics (with Honours) & Applied Finance at Macquarie University. Professionally, prior to starting O2S (in March 2002), I led equity research sector coverage for ASX-listed engineering contractors & mining services companies at J.P. Morgan, worked in corporate strategy & external affairs at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp Sydney Branch and done corporate strategy & finance work with ANZ Institutional Bank.

Describe your average workday... 

It normally starts with the gym at 6am so I can get back home and get the family ready & out the door (including my 2 daughters - 7 and 5). Once everyone is out the door, each day has a mixture of phone/video calls, face-to-face meetings and working through projects/etc while at the same time keeping things going at home, spending time with my family & friends and doing things outside of the office (like serving at my local church and engaging with networks in areas like start-ups).

Please share some words of wisdom for today's students…

The only thing you can control is what you do. So always work hard to do your best and let that be the benchmark of your success, not what others say about you/how they reward you (marks, money, etc).

Any shout outs to a special teacher or subject you think really helped? 

I am incredibly thankful for how Ms Connors (Economics) and Mr Caccamo (Business Studies) helped in Stage 6 to really engage with areas that fed my capabilities in economics & finance. But I am also thankful for my other Stage 6 teachers - My Henry (English), Mr Tong (Maths), Mr Topp (IPT) and Mr Evans (Physics) - who all pushed me, kept things enjoyable and kept me well rounded. All of them also encouraged me to remain curious and see the wider world.

What were the greatest lessons you learned at CTHS that you have carried with you into your career?

Always be curious because there is always something to learn and someway that you can be better.

What piece of advice do you have for students today given your experience in the working world? 

Always keep learning, always ask questions and always listen.