1. Alum Catia Davim’s remarkable journey with MQBS
2. Alum Catia Davim: Why study and MBA at Macquarie?

When Professor Elizabeth Sheedy from the Master of Applied Finance program first joined MQ in 1993 as a lecturer and PhD student, fresh from the youthful cohort at Macquarie Bank, little could she have known she would still be here 30 years later. Nor could she have foreseen that her father, husband and daughter would also study here. But, talking to her, it all makes perfect sense. You could say, it all adds up.

‘It seems like a long time, 30 years!’ laughs Professor Elizabeth Sheedy, immediately putting me at ease. (Finance isn’t my strong suit but, as I’m about to discover, there’s more to it than meets the eye and, even more pertinently, we can all improve our financial literacy and wellbeing.)

‘It’s funny having been in the one workplace for so long,’ she continues. ‘There have been different deans, different ways of doing things. In fact, I don’t think there are many people in the business school who’ve been here longer than me – I’ve outlasted them all!’ she jokes.

Then, more thoughtfully: ‘Teaching in the Master of Applied Finance for 30 years has been a privilege; it’s been great,’ she says warmly, and you quickly get the sense she’s grounded in the real world, much like her teaching and research. So, is that what’s kept her at MQ for so long?

‘Absolutely, it’s the applied focus at Macquarie,’ says Professor Sheedy straight off the bat. ‘The way finance is taught at a lot of other unis and the style of research undertaken, it’s just really theoretical, which is strange because we’re not teaching philosophy! Finance is a very practical discipline, yet it’s often completely disconnected from the industry.’

Maintaining industry connections is something Professor Sheedy has worked hard at and given a high priority over the years. As she explains, ‘We only teach professionals in the Master of Applied Finance, so the program has always had to reflect the rapidly changing industry – it’s given me a unique, industry-focused approach to research.’

For example, from 2012–2022, her research centred on the culture and remuneration practices of financial institutions as she and her co-authors worked to understand and find solutions to some of the terrible experiences of customers that came to light during the Royal Commission into Misconduct in Financial Services. ‘This research has given me many opportunities to present findings to industry audiences and appear in the media, helping to change industry practices,’ she says.

She goes on to note, ‘Macquarie has been an environment where my approach has generally been supported. Many other universities, with a more theoretical focus, wouldn’t have given me that support. I hope Macquarie Business School can continue to have this applied focus, despite the pressure for A* journal papers.’

It was also this industry focus that drew her to Macquarie University in the first place. She remembers, ‘The 1980s and 90s were a time of tremendous growth and change in the financial services industry with the deregulation of markets. Hundreds of people with accounting and economics degrees wanted to learn about finance and join this exciting industry.

‘Macquarie started the Master of Applied Finance in the 80s to meet this demand. It rapidly became the post-grad degree of choice because it was taught by people with industry experience rather than career academics.’

With more than ten years of relevant experience and one of the first to have formally studied finance as part of her undergrad degree, Professor Sheedy was invited to join the MQ teaching team in 1993. She left behind a rewarding role at Macquarie Bank to pursue her passion for teaching and research, explaining, ‘I wanted the intellectual stimulation and freedom to do things that are interesting or important, rather than making a bank a lot of money.’

It was a busy time for her, as she was also studying part-time for her PhD at Macquarie while lecturing full-time. ‘People thought I was taking a break from the intensity of a bank to work in a university, but the opposite was true; it was a very busy time!’

In fact, the Masters of Applied Finance program became so successful it was offered in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Beijing and Shanghai (as well as Sydney) at various times. ‘With over 5,000 alumni, my colleagues and I have educated a whole generation of finance professionals who have gone on to become leaders of the industry,’ she notes. ‘It has been tremendously exciting to be part of this experience and, to this day, we remain the #1 ranked program of this type in the Asia-Pacific region.’

Still, you get the sense it’s not the accolades she’s after. ‘I just love teaching and research; the academic life is for me,’ she says. ‘I can’t think of any other job I’d prefer. The great thing about university life is my research topics keep changing, which allows me to grow and learn about something completely new.’

Currently co-leading a significant project sponsored by a major Australian bank to investigate the financial decision-making of young adults, Professor Sheedy explains, ‘The overall theme is financial wellbeing. It’s just so interesting looking at the challenges this generation is facing, such as home ownership and the cost of living.

‘MQ puts a strong emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach, so we have psychologists and anthropologists, for example, bringing in different perspectives. We’re still in the early stage of the project, but it’s really worthwhile and very important to society as a whole.’

Not convinced young adults have given up on the Australian dream just yet, Professor Sheedy says, ‘It may just happen further in the future for this generation – a home is a massive investment, but it also gives people a lot of safety and security.’

She also suggests the cost-of-living challenge reflects people’s ability to adapt. ‘It’s part of life that you’ll get a financial shock from time to time; we can’t eliminate that,’ she acknowledges. ‘But people with financial resilience are good at adapting to that shock – they’re good at cutting back on discretionary expenses, making changes to their lifestyle, for example. We want to understand why some people can adapt better than others.’

It’s a topic Professor Sheedy was invited to speak on at the recent MQ Young Alumni event, where she captivated the audience with her insights. ‘Financial literacy is closely linked to numeracy, educational attainment and familial experiences,’ she explains, and coming from a family where money and investments were openly talked about, it’s something she knows firsthand.

‘I enjoyed maths and economics at school, and we talked about money and investments at home. My dad and uncle made some interesting investments, which were not exactly mainstream; I thought it was really interesting.’

Still, it’s not just an interest in finance she and her family has in common. ‘My father was also an academic, and after he retired, he decided to do an arts degree at Macquarie. He did it slowly, one subject a semester, but managed to finish it before his 80^th birthday.’

Her husband also completed his MBA at MQ, graduating in 2016, and her daughter has recently finished her Bachelor of Psychology. ‘Between the four of us, we have lots of Macquarie experience!’ she laughs, noting her daughter also went to Banksia Cottage when she was small and often visited the campus as she was growing up.

So, what would be her financial advice to her daughter and, by extension, other young adults? ‘Start putting money away as soon as you can for longer-term goals; try not to live in the moment. There’s a lot of enjoyment in life that doesn’t require money, and the thing with living in Sydney is you can go to the beach, go bushwalking, there’s a lot that’s free –you’ll be healthier and have the advantage of saving money.’

And that’s advice we can all take something from.

Interested in Macquarie University’s Master of Applied Finance? Delivered by industry experts focusing on real-world finance, we’re #1 in Australia and in the top 50 globally (QS Business Masters Ranking, 2022). Further your career in the global financial environment with MQ and get in touch today.

Professor Elizabeth Sheedy is a risk-governance expert in the Department of Applied Finance of Macquarie Business School. She is also on the board of the Governance, Risk and Compliance Institute and an active member of the Risk Managers’ Association of Australia.

In 2021 she published her first sole-authored book Risk Governance: Biases, Blindspots and Bonuses with Routledge. She also publishes in top international journals and is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Banking and Finance, rated A* by the Australian Business Deans’ Council.

Professor Sheedy teaches students in the MBA, Global MBA and Master of Applied Finance programs and is the unit convenor for AFCP8103/MMBA8148 Risk Measurement and Management as well as GMBA8034 Manage the Risks. She also supervises PhD and M.Research students with an interest in risk management and governance.

Her multi-method, multidisciplinary approach has produced several groundbreaking findings in the field, including the development of the Macquarie University Risk Culture Scale, and her work has been enhanced through industry collaboration. Professor Sheedy is a popular speaker at industry conferences and a regular media commentator.

Attaining an MBA won’t in and of itself make you a global citizen or launch your international career. Like most things in life, it’s up to you to make the most of it, and it’s as much about the experience as the end result, says Roger Woodend, who graduated from Macquarie Business School with an MBA (2009). Currently Senior Deal Lead for Strategic Customer Engagements at Amazon Web Services and based in New York, Roger has made the most of his MBA and followed opportunities wherever they have arisen in the world ...

Speaking with Roger Woodend via Zoom from his home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where he commutes to New York for business, it’s clear he’s a man with not just strong Northern Irish roots, but one who has enjoyed living and working all around the world. Scotland, Manchester, London, Sydney, Hong Kong and now the US, in fact.

Behind him, there’s a poster with the word Ulster, his homeland, proudly emblazoned on it, and there’s another with the words Dare to Dream, a memento from when he watched Northern Ireland play in the 2016 UEFA European Championship in France. ‘The manager commissioned it for each of the players,’ he explains, ‘and they made another ten or so; it’s a limited edition.’

Still, even without these hints as to his origins, his characteristic lilt and laidback air mean there is no question of where he’s from. But there’s also a painting of Hong Kong Harbour, where he lived and worked for two years before moving to New York, and we’re here to talk about his time at MQ in Sydney, completing his MBA.

‘I was always interested in international business and had a strong desire to travel,’ he admits, saying he was keen to combine both, so when the time was right to undertake his MBA, having studied in Scotland and worked in the UK, he knew what he wanted to do.

‘I wanted to study full-time in the Asia-Pacific region with a university that had strong credentials and international candidates. At the time (2008), Macquarie featured highly on The Economist Global MBA Rankings, and it was also one of the few universities where you could complete the MBA within 12 months.’

Not long after, on a holiday to Sydney, Roger visited the campus at North Ryde and was impressed with the setup, so applied shortly afterwards. ‘The first day of the MBA will always hold a special place in my memories,’ he says. ‘Meeting people from all over the world, from different backgrounds, who had put their careers on hold to sign up for the full-time MBA, was a very memorable experience.’

As was the European study tour where, as part of the course, along with 12 other candidates, Roger spent two weeks in Germany, Austria and Switzerland studying and meeting executives from well-known international companies that were recognised for their sustainable leadership practices. ‘It was a stand-out,’ he says.

Of course, there was hard work involved, too. ‘One of the big things about the MBA is being outside your comfort zone and pushing yourself to learn about things you’ve perhaps avoided for years. Everyone has subjects in which they’re less comfortable than others. Accounting, finance and statistics were the challenging ones for me, but I felt it was necessary to go through the pain in order to learn new skills.’

Skills Roger says he now uses every day. ‘Whether it’s in my work or personal life, the comprehensive nature of the program is invaluable in how you think and act. Before the MBA, my career was almost exclusively in enterprise sales and sales leadership roles.

‘Completing the MBA gave me the confidence, credibility and skills to move into general management roles, the first of which was running a software start-up in Surry Hills, Sydney. We built mobile apps and mobile marketing campaigns for the likes of the ABC, the Australian Stock Exchange and Vodafone.’

Roger was in that role for three years, but the desire for international experiences was still not quite sated, so he started looking at positions in Asia. ‘As you go through your career, jobs come to you through your networks and connections. My old boss was with British Telecom (BT) in Singapore, and they were looking for people in Hong Kong, so I moved there.

‘I eventually became Vice President and ran an international division for BT Global. That particular role gave me many opportunities to use my MBA as I was responsible for a full international P&L encompassing sales, finance, marketing, HR, service and contract management.’

Seven years ago, a promotion came up in the BT New York office, and Roger jumped at it. ‘It’s very difficult to get a work permit in the US, so being able to get a company transfer and an executive visa was ideal. Moreover, in my profession, in enterprise sales, there’s no greater territory than the US. The headquarters of some of the largest companies in the world are in Manhattan – there’s no bigger patch in the world.’

Now working at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Roger says, ‘I’ve been at AWS for almost two years. AWS is Amazon’s cloud computing division, which reported $62 billion in revenue for 2021. I work in our Strategic Customer Engagements Group, leading, structuring and negotiating large deals in terms of revenue and scale with some of our biggest prospective and existing customers.’

AWS is one of the fastest-growing technology companies and is still in high-growth mode. As Roger explains, ‘AWS is the market leader for cloud computing services and many of the services you use each day, such as amazon.com, Netflix, Zoom Video, Coca Cola and McDonald’s, run on AWS. I love working in the fast-paced technology market,’ he adds. ‘It’s always changing and has a tremendous impact on consumers and businesses alike.’

Still, Roger cautions that an MBA is not a dream ticket to your next promotion, nor will it guarantee you a better job. ‘It’s a personal learning experience,’ he says, ‘and you have to realise it’s up to you to put your MBA to work by using what you learn in your role.

‘An MBA can at times be overlooked and underestimated, but again, it’s up to you to give examples of how you’ve used your MBA in your career and how it has impacted your decision-making and performance, especially when being interviewed, for example.’

Since finishing his MBA, Roger has kept in touch with other alumni and says he has met up with them all around the world, including in the US, Canada, Chile, the UK, France, Thailand, Vietnam and India. An MQ US Alumni network leader, he is also involved in organising social events in New York.

‘I’m a strong advocate of the power of human networks. The MQ US Alumni brings people from many countries and industries together, which can lead to job, network and friendship opportunities. It’s amazing how many alumni we have in the New York area and how diverse the alumni is.’

So, is it enough for this global citizen to finally put down roots? It’s too early to tell. ‘We’ll be here for another three or four years, then either the UK, Europe or Asia. Or maybe we’ll stay, we’re not sure yet. My wife is from Thailand, and that’s an option; we’ll see.’

‘Nowhere is perfect. Every country has its opportunities and challenges, but culture is the biggest thing you need to learn and respect wherever you live and work. I like to think I’m a global citizen,’ he says, ‘always have been, and want to bring my son up in that environment, too.’

It would seem the world is still his oyster, but home, an entirely different concept, will always be where his heart is – Northern Ireland, as the posters in the background attest. As he says, even though he has lived and worked in some of the world’s great cities, visited almost 80 countries, and hasn’t lived in Northern Ireland for nearly 30 years, ‘the north coast of Northern Ireland will always be home.’

Wherever you are in the world, stay connected to Macquarie University. To get in touch with the Macquarie Alumni Network – United States, connect via LinkedIn.

Roger Woodend graduated from Macquarie University’s MBA program in 2009 and has been the MQ US Alumni network leader since 2017.

Currently the Senior Deal Lead at Amazon Web Services (AWS), Roger is an experienced enterprise sales leader and general manager with an aptitude for leading diverse teams and achieving outstanding results. He is responsible for large, complex global deals with AWS Enterprise Customers across multiple sectors.

Before joining AWS, Roger served as Executive Vice President of BT’s global business, leading BT’s global sales vertical focused on Media and Technology customers. His international experience spans living and working in the UK, Australia and Hong Kong. He moved to the US in 2016.

Roger earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. A keen global traveller, he has visited almost 80 countries yet still finds time to support various community and charitable initiatives in his home country of Northern Ireland.

As a young girl growing up on a farm outside Canberra, with family trips to the South Coast her only connection to the sea, Dr Vanessa Pirotta dreamed of one day working with whales. A Masters and PhD in Biological Science from Macquarie University later, marine biologist Dr Pirotta has well and truly exceeded her childhood ambitions. Still, at the heart of her research, her pursuit of innovative technologies and her passion for communicating science – not to forget her many accomplishments and blossoming career – is a deep commitment to wildlife conservation. And a love of whales, of course. The only question remains, where to next for Dr Pirotta?

Whether sharing her research on using drones to collect whale snot at TedX, teaching computers to look for illegally smuggled wildlife or harnessing the power of citizen science, inspiring schoolgirls in STEM or launching her new book, Dr Pirotta’s enthusiasm for science and wildlife conservation, both marine and terrestrial, shines through in everything she does.

You can hear it in her voice and see it on her face as she discusses the multiple projects she has on the go and the energy that accompanies everything she does. ‘Caring about the things I’m working on allows me to not only achieve great outcomes for the project but, most importantly, for wildlife,’ she says with a gentle – and lifelong – conviction.

You can easily imagine a young Dr Pirotta in front of the television, watching the videotape her mother had given her of Free Willy over and over. ‘It was the closest I got to the sea,’ she remembers, ‘and my first introduction to whales and dolphins. I wanted to be a dolphin trainer.’

And so, while completing an undergraduate science degree at the Australian National University in zoology, evolution and ecology, specialising in marine science and ‘hassling the marine scientists’ for more knowledge, Dr Pirotta worked at the zoo in Canberra. But it was still a long way from the sea and, as she recalls, ‘I was desperate to find my place in marine science; it was where I was meant to be.’

After a volunteer placement at a facility in Coffs Harbour working with dolphins and sea lions, incredibly, Dr Pirotta was offered a position to become a dolphin trainer and jumped at the chance to move north. But, she was only there for a year when her mother passed away suddenly. ‘My life completely turned upside down,’ she says of this time and her decision to return to Canberra to be close to family.

Dr Pirotta soon found work as an environmental assessment officer in the federal government but remained committed to her ultimate dream. ‘I was still hassling academics,’ she explains with a laugh, ‘including my future PhD supervisor at Macquarie, Professor Rob Harcourt, to see if there were opportunities to further my education in the marine space.’

And so began her connection with Macquarie University. ‘Fortunately, I was able to lead a research project looking at trying to prevent whale entanglement in fishing as part of a collaboration between MQ, the Department of Primary Industry and Energy, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Taronga Zoo, which I’m still affiliated with 10 years on through the Marine Predator Research Group at Macquarie.’

She also developed this work into a Masters of Research project, which involved travel to the Kingdom of Tonga and has since informed whale swimming guidelines. ‘This work then went into my PhD on whale conservation and the application of new technologies to assess whale health, harnessing citizen science to mitigate some of the big epigenetic impacts on whales like shipping.

‘It was a very broad PhD with great practical applications,’ she says, noting she has been able to take the skills she learned during her PhD and apply them to a diverse range of projects and work in both marine and terrestrial wildlife conservation.

‘Skills in project management, being able to work with a variety of collaborators and different stakeholders, managing environmental issues, and learning to speak to the media and present ideas, are skills I use every day, and it all started at MQ. It has also led to so many new opportunities – it’s exciting being able to make a difference in new areas that I’m passionate about.’

Currently leading the MQ-affiliated citizen science project Wild Sydney Harbour, where the general public can gather information about wildlife and connect with scientists, Dr Pirotta is also running multiple other projects while continuing her whale research, which focuses on Migaloo the white whale.

‘In everything I do,’ she explains, tying her work together, ‘there’s the theme of using and adapting innovative technologies to ask questions about animals to aid conservation. So, for example, how do we interact with whales in ways that aren’t going to hurt them, or how do we get ahead of wildlife traffickers by using 3D technologies?’

It’s a career she couldn’t have envisioned for herself, sitting in front of the television before the advent of social media. Now an official Superstar of STEM and one of the Australian Financial Review’s top 100 Women of Influence to boot, she thrives on communicating science to the general public and championing STEM for young women and girls, as well as STEAM. ‘I give a nod to the arts,’ she says, as a lot of her work is visual and very artistic.

Being visible in her field is particularly important to Dr Pirotta. ‘Growing up, I don’t recall seeing anyone do what I’m doing, especially not a woman,’ she explains. ‘The only person I remember was David Attenborough – I’ve written to him three times and he’s written back to me; he’s great,’ she adds with characteristic enthusiasm.

But, during her studies, Dr Pirotta suddenly found people wanted their daughter to see her doing different things, like driving a boat, for example. ‘That really struck me,’ she says. ‘I thought it was just what I did, but it’s become an opportunity to connect with young people, showing them what scientists look like but also that scientists can be adaptable, work in challenging environments, and do great things.

‘It has become really important to me to be a role model for the next generation, highlighting that the jobs of tomorrow don’t even exist yet, and by having those transferable skills, which I gained at Macquarie, you don’t have to be locked into one role – you can surprise yourself and have a dynamic working life.’

One that now also includes being an author, with the recent release of her first children’s book, The voyage of whale and calf. Australian libraries have been quick to pick up the beautifully illustrated story that is the first to document humpback whales migrating, breeding and feeding from Hervey Bay, down through Sydney and on to Antarctica.

‘Based on my work in the field, it documents a year in the life of a humpback calf, and the realities and challenges the mum faces, subtly touching on pollution, the different environments and changes in climate,’ she says of the topics close to her heart, especially as an Antarctic Science Foundation Ambassador.

With so many incredible projects on the go already, it would seem the world truly is her oyster. So, what’s next for Dr Pirotta? ‘I like to let the passion lead what I do,’ she says with a bright smile. ‘I’m not sure what the future holds, but as long as it has the key theme of wildlife conservation with a marine focus, whales especially, watch this space because saying yes to new opportunities is something I’m always excited for.’

Dr Vanessa Pirotta graduated from Macquarie University with a Masters of Research (2015) and PhD (2019) in Biological Science, and is an honorary postdoctoral researcher at MQ. She is a wildlife scientist, science communicator and woman in STEM. Her research uses innovative technologies for wildlife conservation, and her most well-known research involves using drones to collect lung bacteria from humpback whales to assess whale health.

In addition to whale research, Dr Pirotta is the chief investigator on a major illegal wildlife trafficking detection program using artificial intelligence and X-ray technology, a collaborative research program with the Australian Federal Government, Rapiscan Systems and the Taronga Conservation Society Australia.

A passionate science communicator who loves making science accessible to everyone, Dr Pirotta’s work as an early career researcher has been recognised by the Australian Financial Review as one of the top 100 Women of Influence and is one of Science & Technology Australia’s Superstars of STEM. 

She is an Antarctic Science Foundation Ambassador and leads Sydney’s newest citizen science marine program, Wild Sydney Harbour, which aims to connect the community with the marine life in their blue backyard. An emerging author, her first children’s book, The Voyage of Whale and Calf, is available through CSIRO Publishing.

Who is Andrew Nip? It’s a good question, and one he’s spent a long time trying to understand. Having spent his formative years between Hong Kong and Australia, Andrew says he identifies as both Chinese and Australian. After completing a combined Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and Bachelor of Human Resource Management at MQ, he moved to Shanghai, where he is thriving in what he calls the middle ground. No less, he brings this deep understanding of living between cultures to his work, encouraging equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace from a place of lived experience. A skill that has prepared him well in the diverse Asia market.

‘If you ask me where I’m from,’ offers Andrew, ‘I’m not sure how to answer. I don’t really see myself as being from one place,’ he says, starting to unravel the important issue of identity, which he has leaned into.

‘I speak Chinese, my parents are from China, and I speak Chinese with them,’ he continues from a quarantine hotel outside his home city of Shanghai, having returned from business in Singapore and Hong Kong. ‘And I’ve now lived in Asia for half my life.

‘While it’s obvious I’m Chinese, my citizenship is Australian, and I spent my formative years in Australia. I speak fluent English, and many of my friends will say I’m very westernised in my thinking. I’m what you’d call a third-culture kid,’ he says proudly.

‘It’s a relatively new term – there are a lot of third-culture kids in Australia, being so multicultural – but the idea is, you don’t really fit into a single national identity or culture. Where your parents come from, where you live, and your citizenship are all different. It’s a great thing,’ he says.

But living between cultures hasn’t always been easy. ‘It has taken a long time to feel comfortable in the middle, and it hasn’t always been pleasant,’ he admits. ‘When I first came to China, I looked Chinese and spoke Chinese, but I wasn’t fluent.

‘People would call me a banana – Asian on the outside but western on the inside – and some people didn’t think I understood China. Even now, when I write in Chinese on social media, people are like, oh wow, you know how to write Chinese!

‘It was a journey of accepting that I’m not defined by one culture, I am a product of both, and embracing that as opposed to either forgetting one identity or hiding the other. Coming to China has allowed me to embrace that.’

It was 12 years ago that Andrew, an early-career HR professional with Hays, was sent to Shanghai to help establish the business and develop local leaders. ‘When I joined, the Hays leadership team in Asia was predominantly expatriates,’ he explains.

‘It’s called the bamboo ceiling, and hasn’t been talked about much. I was interested in understanding the barriers that stop people who are not western, or westernised, from progressing to the top level in a multinational organisation.’

‘It’s complex, but this is where cultural nuances come into play – leadership is defined very differently in China to the west, for example, and good leadership qualities manifest very differently in different countries, particularly in Asia. So that’s what I was focusing on at Hays.’

One of the first people Hays sent from Australia, Andrew says, ‘It was meant to be for two years, but I loved working in China and really liked my job. Business was growing, and I’d established a life here, so I decided to stay.’

Still, even though he had progressed up the career ladder to Head of People and Culture for Greater China and Head of Talent for Asia at Hays and his future was secure, after almost 13 years with the one company, it was time for a change. And this is where the third-culture kid really came into his own.

As he explains, ‘China is booming, and many multinationals want to grow and invest here, so they need people who don’t just understand headquarters and how the west operates, they also need people who understand China and have the networks here.

‘I’m a good mix of east and west, and someone like me, with not just my experience but my background, could act as a bridge,’ he says. Unsurprisingly, LVMH reached out to him, and he has been Director of Talent and Development for the APAC and Greater China regions since April 2022.

‘One of my objectives – and my passion – is to drive diversity and inclusion in the organisation. Being a third-culture individual has really helped me understand why inclusion is so important, and how fostering a culture of inclusion is now an imperative, not a nice-to-have.’

‘It has also allowed me to establish strong relationships with people outside Asia, which is always valuable in a multinational context or company – there’s so much collaboration possible, and so many things we can learn from others, and vice-versa. But perhaps most importantly, I know what it’s like to not exactly fit in.’

These skills are increasingly in demand, especially since companies are localising their talent strategy. ‘You can’t just rely on hiring foreigners in China,’ explains Andrew, ‘it’s not sustainable. So, how do you bridge the gap? How do you help HQ understand the challenges in China, for example?

‘Equally, how do you help local employees develop their career in a multinational setting when English is not their first or preferred language, for example, or maybe they’ve never lived overseas? Ultimately, business is about being human,’ he says insightfully, ‘how you relate to other people and build connections. Being in the middle has helped me a lot.’

As he speaks, it’s clear his studies in psychology and human resources at MQ have also informed his skillset. ‘It was a relatively new program, but that’s what I enjoyed about it; you could navigate your own path, and experiment and try different things.

‘The courses were practical, and the lecturers were knowledgeable in the business sector because that’s where they came from, which made it very real,’ he says. Still, it’s clear Macquarie University had an even more significant impact than education alone.

‘MQ is a genuinely diverse place,’ he says, noting psychology wasn’t a common choice for those from an Asian background. ‘Being at MQ, in such an inclusive environment, was the beginning of understanding myself as a third-culture kid,’ he reflects.

‘Diversity is very much part of the Macquarie lifestyle and culture, but there’s an ease to it; it’s not forced or contrived. It allowed me to understand different cultures as well as my own multifaceted background, which gave me a real empathy for others, so I can help them find their voice too.’

It’s no surprise that Andrew is thriving in the melting pot of Shanghai. ‘I love how dynamic and diverse it is; it’s very international. Things move and change very quickly here, and you never feel like you’re in the one place ever; that’s the beauty of it.

‘Sometimes you feel like you’re in Paris, with the architecture and the trees it’s very French, then sometimes you feel like you’re in America, there’s a huge scene around American eateries and speakeasies, and sometimes you feel like you’re back in the golden days of Shanghai when art and culture thrived.

‘You never get bored in Shanghai. The only thing it doesn’t have is the outdoors; you don’t get the beaches, the hiking, like you do in Sydney,’ and you can hear the fondness for his other home in his voice, which he still retains through his connection with the Macquarie alumni in Shanghai.

Of course, for Andrew, it’s more than just attending events and connecting with potential students and graduates, educating them about the world of work. ‘I try and help others find their place between different worlds too,’ he says, and in a city with a population the same size as Australia’s, that’s some feat indeed.

Andrew Nip graduated from Macquarie University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and a Bachelor of Human Resource Management. He established his career at Hays, working across multiple HR disciplines in Australia, China and Japan for nearly 13 years.

Andrew is currently the director of Talent Development and Management, APAC Fashion Group, LVMH, and is based in Shanghai, China. He has served on multiple boards and committees, and is committed to helping organisations leverage the power of people through human-centric practices that foster inclusivity, authenticity, innovation and high performance.

An active MQ alumni member, Andrew has also been involved in several voluntary positions with the Australian Chamber of Commerce in China and the Shanghai-based organisation/charity Stepping Stones.

MQ Sports Ambassador and semi-professional tennis player Joya Nicolas dreams of competing in the French Open. The clay surface, the crowds, the competition; she’s preparing for it all. But she’s also preparing for life beyond the court with a Bachelor of Psychology, bringing in her love of art therapy, listening to people’s stories and building connections. Now at the end of her degree, one thing is for sure: wherever life takes her, she will remain a valued and active member of the MQ alumni.

Joya Nicolas laughs as she explains she’s a bit of a late bloomer. Well, in terms of professional tennis playing, anyway. Not for her the singular focus since early childhood, à la Serena Williams. Rather, she says, ‘I’m still on the path to becoming pro. I didn’t get into tennis until I was a bit older, but it’s not about where you start – it’s about where you finish.’

Joya knows the journey ahead is long, requiring ‘lots of patience and faith’. But, rather than comparing herself to others, she chooses to focus on her own journey, conquering herself and enjoying each moment she’s given; traits she learned from her father.

‘My dad used to hike in the mountains of Lebanon with friends and family,’ she explains, ‘and would walk down the Qadisha Valley for a picnic. The four-hour trek back up the mountain taught him a lot.

‘I remember him saying, “If you look far up to the peak of the mountain, eager to arrive at your destination, feeling stressed about how long you have left, you’ll break your neck. So too, if you look left or right, across to other mountains, you’ll lose balance and perspective.”

‘Instead, he advised, “Keep your head down and focus on one step at a time. The difficulty of your hike changes with your viewpoint – just focus on your own path,” he said, and that has always stayed with me.’

Joya’s time at Macquarie University has been a pivotal part of her journey, but it’s a different path from the one she had first planned. Originally enrolled in an exercise and sports science degree elsewhere, she says, ‘I just knew it wasn’t for me. I wanted to help people but in a more profound way.

‘Playing tennis full-time also meant I needed flexibility, which drew me to Macquarie. My brother-in-law told me it would be a great fit for my lifestyle, and I knew I would be supported as a student-athlete. It has been the perfect fit.’

In her third year at MQ, Joya complemented her studies with a certificate course in art therapy, which confirmed psychology was the right degree for her. The fine arts had been calling her, but she finally realised she could help people and combine it with her love for art. ‘I could walk the journey with them, she explains. ‘Eventually, I’d like to become an art psychotherapist, using art in therapy and as therapy.’

But, for now, she is focused on her tennis career, which she fell into after interviewing her tennis coach at the end of Year 9 for an assignment on elite athletes. ‘My parents wanted me and my siblings to learn tennis, so we could play later in life and use the court at home, but I never really connected with it.’

‘That all changed when I asked my coach what elite athletes needed to succeed. I’ll never forget this; he said they need to have DDS – discipline, dedication and sacrifice. At the time, I was a perfectionist and very disciplined, so it resonated with me, but I was still surprised when he said: “You know, Joya, you would be a great athlete. You have good social support, the perfect set-up and all the right skills. Why don’t you come to our tennis camp?”’

She decided to give it a go, which soon ignited her passion for the game. ‘It was the coolest thing ever,’ remembers Joya. ‘I’d only ever played tennis in my backyard; it was a completely different environment, and I loved it.’

Finally convincing her dad it wasn’t just a phase, she was allowed to go to the Australian Open not long after to watch her coach’s fiancée play. ‘It was like I entered a whole new world. I couldn’t explain it in words, but a flame was ignited inside me – I knew tennis was what I wanted to do.’

The climb was challenging, however, as she struggled to get her body and mind right for the demands of the sport. But in her first year at MQ, about five years ago, Joya started playing full-time, slowly building a good foundation to compete. ‘And here I am,’ she says brightly.

Captain of the Nationals team at MQ, Joya has just returned from the UniSport Nationals in Perth, where she and her team received a bronze medal. She also recently received the MQ Blue Award for 2022, which recognises sporting and academic achievements as well as contributions to the university.

Reflecting on her role as a sports ambassador, Joya says, ‘I’ve discovered a new love for bringing people together and connecting with others, particularly athletes. Watching them compete in their sport is invaluable, and a great way to improve in my own sport.

‘I’ve also been able to connect with a diverse range of people, which has expanded my networks. I’ve come to understand that you can learn from anyone at any time, as long as you’re open to receiving the lesson the moment presents.’

She continues, ‘If there’s one commonality between all the people I’ve met in my experiences at MQ, it’s their openness – to life, to new experiences and to others. This has made being part of the alumni such an amazing experience.’

Right now, Joya is focusing on finishing her bachelor’s degree at the beginning of 2023, when she plans to focus solely on tennis and give it a ‘proper crack’ while continuing to nurture the artist in her. She says, ‘My dream would be to play in and win the French Open.

‘It’s a meaningful tournament for me on so many levels. Not only do I have a strong connection to French culture and heritage – my parents are French-educated from Lebanon, and I speak French and love French art history – but the French Open is played on clay, which is my favourite surface as it suits my game style. It also rewards players with a good work ethic.’

Being a kinaesthetic learner, Joya wanted to put a feeling to her vision of playing in the French Open, so in May 2022, she went to France to experience firsthand what the tournament felt like, allowing her to enhance her training and visualisation. She also connected with Sylvestre Mang, the France Alumni Leader for MQ, which she says was a life-changing experience.

‘I have participated in many alumni activities in Australia and overseas, but meeting Sylvestre was very special,’ she says. ‘There was the MQ connection, of course, and being in Paris, speaking French, but he’s also  into sport (basketball) and we share the same Christian faith.

‘The beauty about MQ is you meet so many people from all walks of life, but it’s affirming when you also meet someone who is so similar to you. A lot of my dreams and goals and vision for tennis depend on me holding on to faith in myself, and who God made me to be. Sylvestre understood that.

‘Many people would think playing in the French Open isn’t possible – there’s no evidence to say that someone who committed to tennis at 18 will make it professionally. My path makes no sense from a logical point of view, and there are hundreds of reasons why my dream can’t come true.

‘I know the journey ahead is a long one, but I truly believe that with faith and with trust, miracles can happen, and the impossible can become possible. Faith moves mountains, and it’s incredible what can happen when you believe. Don’t be afraid to dream.’

A semi-professional tennis player, Joya Nicolas is currently completing a Bachelor of Psychology at Macquarie University. She is an MQ Sports Ambassador and Captain of the Nationals Tennis team, and has a deep engagement with the MQ community through her participation in tennis and alumni events worldwide.

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