Grammar Gazette- Issue 2, 2022

ALUMNAE STEPHANIE CARTER

When I returned to Australia, I made sense of what I had seen and experienced through storytelling and using my voice for a purpose I travelled throughout Queensland with World Vision, speaking at their 40-Hour Famine Global Leadership Conventions, connecting with other young people, and sharing the stories of the women, children, and families that I had met in Laos Following my graduation from BGGS, I carried forward my passion for service into a Bachelor’s degree at The University of Queensland, studying Journalism, International Relations and Development Studies I also remained heavily involved with World Vision and their national youth movement ‘Vision Generation’ as both Queensland State Director and then National Operations Manager When I wasn’t studying on campus, I was organising political forums, facilitating advocacy campaigns, engaging with the media, and trying to build and train a movement of like-minded youth advocates around the State At the completion of my studies, I accepted a role with Palladium—a global development consultancy firm. For the past decade, I have worked in the international development sector across the Asia Pacific and African regions, managing strategic communications and public diplomacy on Australian Government-funded aid programs, and across Palladium projects and people. I am a communicator by trade—a professional storyteller—and together with talented and dynamic teams, I help tell stories that raise awareness, move

people to action, bring communities together, and help lead to much needed policy change For me, the most rewarding part of my career so far has been the opportunity to work and create impact with truly diverse teams, and the most resilient of women It is also no coincidence that I have spent most of my career to date working on programs that improve quality and access to education, including for women and girls At Girls Grammar, I experienced first-hand what it means to take purposeful action for a more just world and learned that the journey to becoming a global citizen goes deeper than just textbooks and exams alone Rich experiences like the Service Program have lasting effects on not just the students involved, but the wider community, and the Girls Grammar ethos of giving back and serving others permeates every aspect of life at School Global issues like the climate crisis, food security, access to clean water and sanitation, and violence against women are defining challenges of our generation. Solving these problems will be a team effort—teams that transcend cultures, borders, religions and world views, with team members who demonstrate empathy, integrity, respect for others, and tolerance, and who aren’t afraid to act with the courage of their convictions in pursuit of a greater purpose These qualities are the essence of what it means to be a Grammar girl, and whether they know it now or not, the experiences students gain at the School will shape them well after they walk out the picket gates for the final time. ■

right Ms Jacinda Euler Welsh and Ms Stephanie Carter (2007) with 2021 Service Captains, Jillian Campbell and Sierra Reza

Gazette

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

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Issue 2, 2022