I certainly enjoyed maths at school and was fortunately able to cope with it quite well – it came second nature to me. However, at the end of Year 12 the two things I really wanted to be was either a Commercial Pilot or a Wildlife Park Ranger – these both captured my childhood passions. For a variety of reasons neither of these came to fruition, so yes, I decided to do Accounting because I was quite good at it.

I’ve always been heavily involved in sport, and I love adventure, the outdoors and being able to make a positive contribution to the community. West Beach Parks has all of this and more.

Corporate Services is the engine room that keeps the whole business running smoothly. I work with a team of 13, including five managers, and together we cover a bit of everything—governance, finance, contracts and leases, HR and IT. It’s a pretty broad mix, which keeps things interesting. There’s always something going on, and we all pitch in to keep things running smoothly across the business. It’s busy, but that variety and teamwork are what make the job enjoyable.

No day is the same but every day involves talking, collaborating and working with people inside and outside of West Beach Parks and guiding and supporting my team, the executive and the business Depending on the day, I might be preparing reports for the Board and/or the Finance, Audit and Risk Committees, contributing to the Annual Report, preparing the Annual Financial Statements or assisting the Auditors with their Interim and End of Year audits. But this is just the tip of the iceberg!

The thing I love the most about my role is the working relationships (internal and external) and helping people grow, develop and achieve their goals and objectives. I’m a people person and have always enjoyed and been determined to be much more than just an accountant.

Definitely The Square at West Beach Parks, which opened in December. It’s a central point between Glenelg and Henley Beach where families can stop, relax, play and have a coffee. It’s a fantastic and inviting community asset!

Rising utility bills and overall cost-of-living pressures are affecting both local businesses and the broader community – this would be the biggest risk right now. Opportunities? I think expanding and improving what we offer at West Beach Parks is a great opportunity for us and that means rolling out more exciting projects and experiences across the Retreat and the Holiday Park.

The new opportunities and partnerships that will deliver great outcomes for our guests and the broader community.

The Pat GC – it’s a big, open and wide expanse where you feel free!

Inviting, welcoming and respectful.

I would set aside a part of the Precinct for a Native Fauna Conservation Reserve, where endangered native marsupials can live and thrive free from feral pests, like foxes and cats. The
community, visitors and guests would be able to visit the reserve and see and learn about the animals, increasing awareness of the importance of conservation efforts. This would make a very important contribution to helping bring these marsupials back from the brink of extinction for future generations – something to be extremely proud of!

Don’t be concerned or waste time and energy over the things you can’t control or influence.

Being with my family, going to sporting games and events (especially Aussie Rules and Cricket), attending comedy shows, keeping fit (walking, jogging, cycling), anything outdoors in nature, including gardening and seeing wildlife (e.g. Monarto Safari Park).