Let’s Meet Two Fabulous Chapter Members
Each eNews, we introduce you to one of our wonderful Chapter Members, through a question and answer type interview article.
This week we have 2 members to meet – Monique Clement and Marianne Ng
Monique Clement, Community Relations Director, Inaburra School
When and where did your career in education begin?
My first job in the education sector was at Inaburra School in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire. That was back in 2015, and after ten years I am still here! Prior to working in education, I was a Design and Marketing Manager for an event company. My background is in fashion and graphic design.
What interests you most in terms of your role?
My role is quite broad – on any given day, I might be planning a budget, managing the front-of-house for a Music Concert or designing a promotional asset for a school event. I enjoy the creative aspect of my role and collaborating with a variety of staff across lots of different faculties.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
I get to work with an amazing team every day! My Advancement team have all come from non-school backgrounds – banking, marketing, government etc. Each person has brought with them valuable skills and lots of great new ideas that raise the level of professionalism in nearly everything we do.
What are you currently doing that would interest other members in Educate Plus?
In 2023, we dissolved our P&F after a slow but steady decline, further exacerbated by COVID. We have since transitioned to a Parent Engagement Group (PEG), that is loosely based on a model developed by the Catholic Schools. The PEG is proving much more successful in terms of interest and attendance, particularly among dads!
For anyone embarking on a role in Advancement what advice would you give them?
Be prepared for a steep learning curve —schools are fast-paced, highly structured environments. However, the rewards are enormous. Guiding young people through their education and seeing them graduate into the world is an incredibly fulfilling experience.
Marianne Ng, Marketing & Enrolments, The Pared Foundation (Tangara School for Girls, Redfield College, Montgrove College, Wollemi College)
When and where did your career in education begin?
My career in education started in a rather unconventional way. Before entering the sector, I was a Chartered Accountant working in corporate finance and a Makeup Artist specialising in weddings on weekends. I fell in love with education when I took on a role at an RTO (Registered Training Organisation) in the tertiary sector.
During my time at the RTO, I transitioned my career into Marketing, Events, and Enrolments as I was drawn to the creative aspects of the role and the opportunity to engage with prospective students. I loved hearing about their dreams and aspirations as they embarked on the next phase of their education.
It was in this role that I truly saw the other side of a career in education. Although I had experienced it as a student, I had never fully appreciated the profound impact educational institutions can have on students—helping them thrive academically, personally, and even spiritually.
I’m incredibly grateful to now be in my dream role at the Pared Foundation, overseeing Marketing and Enrolments across our four schools in Sydney.
What interests you most about your role?
Since our team oversees marketing and enrolments across four schools, our projects and challenges are often magnified. Sometimes, we find scalable solutions that can be replicated across all four schools; other times, our obstacles feel incredibly complex—which, strangely, is what I love the most!
I love problem-solving, stripping everything back to understand the real issue, identifying the right solution, and building a strategy around it.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
It’s a privilege to work for an organisation whose mission I deeply align with and believe in. One of the most rewarding aspects is seeing the impact of our 1:1 student mentoring program, which has helped our students flourish over the years.
Hearing success stories about how mentors bridge the gap between home and school, support parents in finding tailored solutions, and even strengthen family relationships is incredibly fulfilling. It’s especially rewarding when prospective parents recognise the value of this support system, go through the enrolment process, and ultimately join our school community. Knowing that I could’ve played a small role in connecting a family with our schools where they’ll be supported is truly gratifying.
What aspects of your role do you love the most?
Without a doubt, it’s working alongside an insanely talented, collaborative, and agile team. We love learning together and tackling challenges head-on. There’s no better feeling than reaching the end of a project and being able to look back and say, “We did that!”
What are you currently doing that would interest other members of Educate Plus?
I attended my first Educate Plus International Conference last September in Perth, and my biggest takeaway was from the Pre-Conference Workshop with The Yellow Car Agency on Customer Experience Design.
Although I regrettably attended alone, I’ve enjoyed sharing what I learned with my team. We’re now actively exploring ways to improve our Customer Experience Strategy to enhance the journey for prospective, current, and alumni families.
For anyone embarking on a role in Advancement, what advice would you give them?
Albert Einstein famously said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
While it’s helpful to observe best practices in the industry, don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo at times. Working in Advancement means working in the “growth” department for your school or organisation. If you’re not pushing boundaries and trying new things, growth simply isn’t possible.
Learn how to inspire people, think like an entrepreneur, and embrace innovation. Wishing you all the best—you’ve got this!
