Old Girl Guest Speaker Series 2026 – It’s a Wrap!
Featuring a diverse range of MLC School Old Girls and industry professionals this year’s Guest Speaker Series, held throughout Term 2 in Luminary time, provided Year 11 and Year 12 students with valuable and practical insights into life beyond school.
The series commenced in Week 2 with Cassandra Diamantis (2021), founder of Dream Big Marketing, who spoke about entrepreneurship, resilience and the mindset required to pursue ambitious goals. In the same session, Angelina Le (2025) and Ava Dean (2024) recipients of the UTS Bachelor of Accounting Co-op Scholarship provided an informative session outlining application strategies as well as the benefits of industry placements, networking opportunities and international experiences.
In Week 4, Jessica MacMaster (2020) shared valuable insight into her journey through internships in private equity, investment banking and advertising, and her pathway towards full-time work while completing her Business Law and Finance degree at University of Sydney. In the same session, Sarah Monaha (2019) spoke about her career in social media and marketing and sharing behind the scenes of shoots within the fashion industry after completing a Business degree at UTS.
Across Week 5, Week 7 and Week 9, students heard from a range of speakers who highlighted the breadth of possible pathways. Tiarna Cominos (2020) shared her journey from studying Midwifery at UTS to transitioning into a degree in Construction and Project Management, outlining the decision-making process behind this shift. Montana Cominos (2021) spoke about her pathway from completion of a Psychology degree at the University of Sydney into postgraduate Doctor of Medicine student at University of Notre Dame, emphasising that there are many pathways into highly competitive fields.
Charlie Kairaitis (2020) reflected on exploring multiple degrees before finding the right fit in Engineering, offering an honest perspective on navigating uncertainty and the experience of women working in the tech industry. In the same session, Erini Stavroulakis (2022) shared her pathway into fourth year Law and Commerce at UNSW highlighting her passion for legal advocacy and the skills developed through her studies.
Shreeya Haridas (2017) shared insights into climate change and marine biotechnology, alongside a strong interest in sustainability, showcasing the diversity of STEM career pathways. Anna and Julia Gough (2021) concluded the series, sharing their respective journeys into media, law, design and communications. Anna reflected on how internships helped shape her direction after school, while Julia spoke about how her early interest in Design Technology and Visual Arts developed into a passion for design and architecture.
Across all sessions, speakers shared honest reflections on their university experiences and early career journeys, offering students a realistic and relatable understanding of navigating change, building confidence, and making decisions beyond school.
Importantly, the series gave current students first-hand insight into the transition from school to university, while highlighting both the challenges and opportunities that come with increased independence. Discussions around course selection, university life, internships and work experience helped students better understand what lies ahead and how to prepare for it.
A consistent message throughout the series was that career pathways are rarely linear. Students were encouraged to remain open-minded, take initiative and embrace change as part of their journey.
The series was also supported by Year 12 student helpers, who played an important role in welcoming speakers, escorting them across the school, introducing them to audiences, and preparing thoughtful questions. Thank you to Serena Farley; Amelia Tchan, Hailey Leung; Dina Saeed; Anna Obaid; Olivia Ebel; Layla Alameddine; Erin Barrett; Kimberly Chou, Allegra Chiang
We extend our sincere thanks to all guest speakers for their generosity, honesty and willingness to give back to the MLC School community, and to our student helpers for their support. Together, they have made a significant contribution to helping students make informed and confident decisions about their future pathways.
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