Julia

business Manager

1. What is your background?

I was born on the East Coast of England in a town called Great Yarmouth, the younger of two siblings. We moved to West Wales when I was four and some of my earliest memories were spent playing on the beach in Pembrokeshire where summers seemed warm and long! I did all of my schooling in Pembrokeshire and instead of heading to uni, I opted to step straight into the wonderful world of numbers and book-keeping. I studied and moved west to Cardiff and began my accounting career at Deloittes. After qualifying at Deloittes my finance career has taken me to London and then finally settling here in Australia in 2008. I’ve worked for start-ups, advertising networks, tv networks, farms, solar companies and now here at beautiful BCPS.

2. What do you remember best about primary school?

I have so many memories of my primary school. Surprisingly it was quite similar to BCPS, with just over 100 children and four classes with two grades in each class. We had what seemed like a massive netball court and playing field and my strongest memories are netball, sport carnivals, maths and the best teachers! We cried when our principal left to go to another school as he was the best teacher ever! Also, the school lunches… sponge pudding and custard for dessert! Got to love British school dinners.

3. Where else have you worked and how has it shaped your outlook?

Each job I’ve had has helped me gain a different perspective on something, whether it be how to tackle something tricky or how best to juggle tasks and time. I spent seven years working for an advertising network; we had 70 employees from over ten different countries in one office. Travelling to these countries definitely shapes you into being a lot more broadminded and taking different approaches to your day.

More recently I spent five years working locally at The Farm as the Finance Manager and no two days there were the same. Some days you had a plan but that would go out the window if there was help needed with animals, visitors or a beautiful school group needing ice-creams delivered!

I think being a mum (the biggest job EVER) shapes you into being able to tackle the big stuff and

not sweat the small things so much.

4. Why do you enjoy working at BCPS?

BCPS brings a smile to my face. You hear the laughter, play and fun that happens during lunch and recess and the children are just so happy. Similar to The Farm, you might plan for a normal finance day but then you’re manning the office downstairs and kids need band-aids or icepacks and some encouragement to get back out there and play.

Working in this environment is new to me but when you’re around children there’s something very grounding and calming that makes the days fly by. The staff are pretty awesome too!

5. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

From a personal point of view, our two sons that Justin and I are raising into awesome human beings. By far the hardest role ever but couldn’t have wished for more beautiful boys than them.

6. What aspirations still lie ahead of you?

Watching BCPS evolve and develop as we take steps into developing space in and around the school.

Also, making sure my boys go as far as they can in school. Our hope is that they come out of school happy, engaged, educated and ready to take on the world.

7. What occupies your time outside school hours?

Sport and the boys. Some of you may know me from Byron Nippers, Byron Bay FC or Lennox Head Rugby and that takes up a lot of after school time. Also we do love to travel and we try to get overseas at least once a year. I may also have a sneaky liking for all things trivia and you might find me at trivia nights trying to get my brain working.