Curtin Alumni & Friends

Leaving FIFO to become the co-owner of Daisies Café Cottesloe

2026-07-30T02:12:53Z

Growing up in Perth’s iconic coastal suburb of Cottesloe, Sam Kaye spent many mornings and afternoons enjoying the delicious food from his local hangout – Daisies Cottesloe.

Nestled amongst Cottesloe’s iconic pine trees, Daisies has long been a place where Perth locals and tourists alike gather and make memories over delicious sausage rolls, sandwiches and hot coffee.

But for Sam, Daisies has meant so much more.

At just 10 years old, he landed his first job stocking fridges at Daisies.

Little did he know that years later, he would become co-owner.

From stocking fridges to becoming the co-owner of Daisies Cottesloe, Sam’s career has come full-circle.

Although hospitality was always the dream growing up, the start of Sam’s career took a different turn.

“I always knew that I would somehow end up in hospitality, but like many young kids, I didn’t really know what I was doing,” he said.

“I’ve always been a people person, so I decided to study human resources at Curtin, which I really enjoyed.”

Graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resource Management and Management (2009), Sam started his professional career in recruitment at a mining company.

Sam said that while he was hitting career milestones with a top-tier salary, the reality of FIFO life quickly took its toll.

During a time when the industry was buckling under greater uncertainty, Sam found himself entrusted with greater responsibilities.

“My boss was laid off, so I became responsible for making redundancies,” he said.

“You could sense the environment was changing.”

Then, one night, during dinner in the dining hall, everything changed.

Sam had a massive panic attack.

“At the time, I didn’t know what it was, and I convinced myself that I was having a heart attack,” he said.

“That was the eye-opener, and it made me really start to question whether I wanted to be doing this long-term.”

Despite the uncertainty of what he’d do next, Sam decided to hang up his boots.

“I made the decision to get out. I had no plan of what to do afterwards; I just quit and booked a holiday to Bali for a month,’’ he said.

Returning home from Bali, Sam found the clarity to pursue a lifelong dream – and he took the leap into hospitality.

Sam decided to take a leap of faith and invest in his beloved childhood cafe.

He started a casual job in hospitality, and when the opportunity came up to invest in his beloved childhood café he took the plunge.

“I could’ve gone back to working in the city, but when we found Daisies for sale, that was the push to get into business,’’ he said.

Now operating for more than a decade, Sam and co-owner Pia Prior have hustled to elevate Daisies into so much more than a café – it’s now an Australian experience, complete with merchandise, coffee on wheels and catering services.

Daisies Cottesloe is more than a cafe; it has become a part of the Australian experience.

But this success hasn’t come without sleepless nights.

“Comparing Daisies in 2015 to where we are now – it’s very different,” he said.

“Initially, we were working 70-hour weeks and doing everything possible to stay afloat.

“It’s only now that we have been able to hire more people.”

Now, the renowned restaurateurs are the owners of The Pantry Group, which consists of seasonal beachside kiosk Ol’ Buoy, The Other Side, Side Piece Deli and, of course, Daisies.

Sam is the co-owner of The Pantry Group, which consists of a variety of Perth beachside cafes.

For Sam, succeeding in an industry where most businesses fail isn’t something you can learn in the classroom.

“I’ve always been a hustler, and it’s not a skill you can teach,” she said.

“You must be willing to get your hands dirty, because if you don’t, then how do you expect your staff to do the same?”

For Sam, receiving Western Australia’s 40under40 Awards’ prestigious People’s Choice Award this year was more than just recognition but a testament to his dedicated team who work tirelessly to keep the venues operating for the wider community.

Sam was the recipient of the 2026 Business News 40Under40 People’s Choice Award.

Amongst the craziness of running four cafes, having a life outside of work is something Sam takes very seriously.

“Having a life outside of the business has been so important in its success,” Sam said.

“When I go on break, I always come back with a clearer mind and more motivated.”

Beyond coffee and delicious food, it’s the lasting impression these spaces have on people and the community that keeps Sam moving forward when times get tough.

For Sam, creating a welcoming space in the community has been the most rewarding aspect of running a cafe.

Providing a welcoming space for the community while helping young people take the first strides in their careers has been one of the most rewarding aspects of running a café.

“When I finished my degree, I envisioned a career in the corporate world, but I’m glad my path took a different direction,” he said.

“Throughout my life, I’ve always been adaptable – I’ve learnt that if it doesn’t work out, change it, and if you don’t like it, get out, because life is too short.”

Sam Kaye, Managing Director and Co-Owner at The Pantry Group Ltd (Daisies Cottesloe, The Other Side, Side Piece Deli & The Ol’ Buoy)

Graduating from Curtin with a Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resource Management and Management (2009), Sam started his hospitality career working at Daisies Cottesloe before later becoming the owner of the very store that helped kick-start his professional career. Following a successful stint working in human resources and recruitment for various WA mining companies, Sam decided to take the plunge into hospitality. Now, he is the Co-owner & Managing Director at The Pantry Group Ltd and a recipient of the 2026 WA Business News 40Under40 People’s Choice Award.

From shy student to WA’s most listened-to radio host

2026-07-30T02:07:45Z

Every morning, more than 500,000 West Australians wake up to the voice of Curtin Marketing and Advertising graduate Pete Curulli.

Spending 20 years building a career behind the microphone, Pete has become one of WA’s most-listened-to radio hosts as co-host of Perth’s Mix 94.5 Breakfast show.

But the confident radio host behind the microphone wasn’t always the outgoing personality listeners know today.

Growing up, Pete described himself as a shy kid.

A young Pete Curulli.

It wasn’t until a drama class in high school that he discovered his passion for performing.

“I credit my Year 10 drama class for building the foundation of my career,” he said.

“It gave me an understanding that there was a place for me and gave me the confidence to perform.”

Years later, this passion evolved into a successful radio career – proving that no dream is ever too big!

How did you get your foot in the door in Australia’s highly competitive media industry?

Growing up, I would spend every weekend helping at our family fish business at the Midland Military Markets.

Sadly, the markets burned down in 2007.

On Sunday afternoons, we would cut prices on our fish toward the end of the shift, and I remember getting on a crate and yelling through the speakers that we were cutting the prices – I used to get creative (laughs).

Weeks later, I was listening to a local community radio station, Groove 101.7, and heard an announcement that they were looking for radio hosts.

After sending more than 30 emails without a single reply, I decided to visit the station.

Eventually, they gave me a chance and put me on the air.

With more than 20 years’ experience in radio, Pete credits much of his success to his early career in community radio.

They offered me a Sunday night slot for a relationship show, which wasn’t exactly prime time, but it became one of the station’s highest-rated shows.

It was crazy because I was only 17 years old, had never had a girlfriend and knew nothing about relationships, but just enjoyed creating entertaining content and connecting with the audience.

What were the biggest challenges you faced in your early career?

When I was 24 years old, I moved to Canberra to be the music director on a radio drive slot.

I was living alone and poured my heart and soul into this job, but I didn’t want to be on a music shift for the rest of my life.

Eventually, I scored a role on the breakfast show – but failed horribly.

I was young and didn’t know how to tell stories, so naturally the station’s ratings immediately dissipated.

I remember waking up in the morning with dread in the pit of my stomach, thinking about how I was going to survive the next few hours and show up for my team that believed in me.

So, I pulled out and landed a role for a major metro radio station in Brisbane.

For two years, Pete worked at a major metro radio station in Brisbane, Hit Network B105 Brisbane.

I did this for two years, and it allowed me to rebuild my confidence, which eventually led me to kick-start my radio career in Perth.

After nearly a decade in radio, I only feel like my career is taking off!

What’s one of the best parts about being a Radio Show Host for Mix 94.5?

Bringing my life and vulnerability to the role!

As someone who’s been in this game for 23 years, I’ve done many breakfast shows where you feel like you’re just yelling into the void. Right now, we genuinely feel that when we say something, we know someone’s listening, so that’s very special.

Fast forward to today, Pete is now one of WA’s most recognisable radio voices as co-host for Mix 94.5 Breakfast show.

Also, putting in the hard work and seeing our numbers climb has been so rewarding.

On a personal note, I also love it when my Mum tells me that she listens to the show!

Based on your experience, what makes a good piece of content?

Today, the number one rule of a good piece of content is authenticity. If you can be your authentic self, you will find your audience.

Alongside radio, Pete is also a passionate MC for the Fremantle Dockers home games at Optus Stadium.

It might take some time to find your voice, but you’ve got to be consistent and work at it for a long time.

Burnout is also a real thing, so you need to have a balanced approach.

Finally, what advice do you have for those aspiring to break into Australia’s media industry?

Don’t wait for the opportunity to present itself – go out and find it!

We have so much technology available to us, so you don’t have to wait to get your foot in the door of the radio station to start growing an audience.

Look after yourself too, because if your entire identity is your job and it disappears, then what is your identity?

At the end of the day, focus on living a fulfilling life and leaving a good mark on this world, and that will get you far!

Pete Curulli, Radio Show Host for Mix 94.5 Pete & Kymba Breakfast Radio Show, Chief Content Officer for Podwave Studios and DineCASTER.

Graduating from Curtin with a Bachelor of Commerce, Marketing & Advertising (2010), Pete has spent more than 20 years building his career in broadcasting and presenting and is now one of WA’s most recognisable radio voices as co-host of Perth’s Mix 94.5 Breakfast show. Beyond breakfast radio, he is also a match day MC for the Fremantle Dockers at Optus Stadium and is a Chief Content Officer for Podwave Studios and DineCASTER.

Curtin graduate tackling the silent crisis facing many young Australians

2026-07-20T03:25:36Z

Despite living in a world of endless notifications and instant messaging, many young people are feeling more alone than ever.

Curtin Commerce graduate Leighton Bradfield knows this feeling all too well.

During his first year of university, he was confronted with a tragedy that no human should ever have to encounter in their lifetime.

Leighton and his close friend, Lockie O’Donoghue faced the devastating loss of two close friends to suicide within just two months.

Struggling with their own mental health battles, Leighton and Lockie decided to channel their grief, experiences and shared commitment into a transformative mission, founding 20Talk.

20Talk is an evidence-based charity that gives young adults the tools to tackle life’s challenges and a safe space to find true connection through the power of real, honest conversation.

Today, we live in a world where our phones have often become an easy escape from the realities and conversations we often need to confront.

Launching in 2024, 20Hours for 20Talk is a mental health challenge that seeks to change this.

For 20 hours, participants sit silently with what many of us spend our lifetimes avoiding: ourselves.

The 20 Hours for 20Talk mental health challenge aims to encourage people to look inward.

“The purpose of this event is to help people self-reflect, we are often so distracted by technology that we don’t really look inwards anymore,” Leighton said.

Leighton said deciding to tackle such a big and important issue in society wasn’t just an idea – it was necessary.

“We noticed what was currently out there wasn’t working and didn’t connect to young people – so, we needed to innovate,’’ he said.

Today, Australians are more likely to die by suicide than from skin cancer.

With suicide being the leading cause of death among Australians aged 25-44 (Black Dog Institute).

Disturbingly, only two per cent of mental health funding is directed towards prevention charities, while 98 per cent is allocated toward interventions and crisis management.

Drawing from their own experiences navigating the challenges of early adulthood, 20Talk arose out of recognition that the current mental health system is clunky, unrelatable and overly abundant.

Consequently, leaving many young people unsure of who to trust.

“There are a lot of great clinical services out there that serve a very strong purpose, but sometimes their ability to engage with young people and how they educate them online is often really poor,” Leighton said.

“As a result, you’ve got many young people and those on the fringes of society who don’t want to engage with a clinical service.”

Going beyond conventional mental health support, 20Talk strives to empower young adults to take charge of their mental health journey.

20Talk aims to go beyond conventional mental health support.

Through their evidence-based programs, they foster a culture of personal and community wellbeing, creating a supportive and understanding environment where every conversation matters.

“We want to create spaces where people are not afraid to talk about really tough things, open up and be real,” Leighton said.

“If we don’t have these honest conversations, then people feel more isolated.”

Since its beginning, 20Talk has raised more than $3 million for youth mental health.

Serving as a powerful reminder to young Australians that taking your mental health seriously doesn’t mean doing it alone.

“We all desire and need connection,” Leighton said.

“It’s important to remember that everyone experiences mental health struggles in their own way, there’s no such thing as worse or better.

“We all go through tough times, and once you understand that you can really speak to anyone and connect in some way.”

If you see a friend going through a tough time, Leighton said don’t be afraid to start a conversation.

“If anything, sit with them in the darkness, ask them how they are going, and just be there,” he said.

“Finally, listen to them and encourage them to seek professional help.”

20Talk Founders Leighton and Lockie are passionate about creating spaces where every conversation matters.

In the future, Leighton and Lockie are looking to expand 20Talk over east.

“At the moment, our goal is to have all our mental health maintenance training free in all universities across Australia.

“We will also be setting up our Sydney office next year as we are looking to expand our 20Hours program to more than 20,000 people per year.”

Learn more about 20Talk’s programs here.

We understand some readers may find this content distressing. Support is available through Lifeline (13 11 14) or the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467).

Saving those who save lives

2026-07-20T03:17:02Z

For Curtin paramedicine graduate Karen Hollings, becoming a paramedic wasn’t part of the plan. Neither was founding a charity that’s changing the lives of first responders.

Like many, Karen’s path to success wasn’t linear.

At just 29, she became a single mother following the breakdown of her marriage.

“I was on a single-parent pension, and I wasn’t happy in that space,” Karen said.

“I desperately wanted to give back to the community that was supporting me.”

While working at a party shop to make ends meet, Karen began studying to become a paramedic with St John WA.

“I remember studying while doing balloon orders. My notes were stuck all over the walls in the back of the shop,” she said.

Qualifying as a paramedic marked more than the beginning of a career it transformed her family’s future.

“The first thing I bought with my first pay cheque was private health insurance for my girls,” Karen said.

“Becoming a paramedic allowed me to give my daughters opportunities I never imagined possible as a single mum.”

“I wanted to show them that anything is possible.”

When Karen became a qualified paramedic, she was able to give her daughters opportunities she had never imagined possible.

For more than a decade, Karen witnessed both the best and worst of humanity on the front line.

Then, in 2014, her own life changed in an instant.

While on shift, she was violently assaulted in the back of an ambulance by a patient affected by drugs and alcohol.

“I remember my body slamming against the wall inside of the ambulance,” she said.

“He was sitting on me with his legs locked against the metal frame of the stretcher, and I could feel this intense pressure on the left side of my back.

“In that moment, I genuinely thought my ribs were going to break.”

Although Karen escaped the immediate danger, the impact of the assault remained long after the physical injuries healed.

Karen’s recovery from the assault lasted long after her physical injuries had healed.

Her recovery spanned years and included three surgeries with extensive rehabilitation to her right wrist and, eventually, a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“At the time, I just thought what I was experiencing was normal,” she said.

“But when I returned to work, some concerned colleagues noticed something had changed and I was guided to seek help.”

With support from her doctor and a life coach, Karen began to heal. It was during this time that she discovered the profound impact therapy dogs could have on mental health.

Karen with her therapy dog, Olav.

“When I was consumed by all these horrible thoughts, one of the few moments of happiness I felt was visiting my GP clinic to spend time with Olav, the therapy dog,” she said.

“In those moments, I felt safe enough to accept what I was going through, talk about it and simply be.”

That simple but powerful observation inspired a much bigger idea.

Almost a decade after the assault, Karen founded Dogs for First Responders, a charity providing frontline mental health support through trained therapy dogs and experienced first responders.

Six-year-old golden retriever Angus became the program’s first therapy dog.

Karen with a young Angus.

Since then, Karen has recruited four additional therapy dogs and their handlers, each with at least 15 years’ experience as a first responder.

“Because we’re mobile, we can meet first responders where they are, while they’re on shift, and assist in the prevention of mental health decline, compassion fatigue, burnout, self-harm, suicide and PTSD,” Karen said.

“Our goal is to bridge the gap between First Responders doing their job and seeking support.”

With rates of PTSD among emergency service workers continuing to rise, Karen believes peer-led support is more important than ever.

St John’s WA paramedics with a therapy dog.

“The first responder world is unique because we put enormous pressure on ourselves to be OK,” she said.

“Having lived that experience makes it easier to connect. They know I understand, often without many words being spoken.”

With rates of PTSD among emergency service workers continuing to rise, Karen believes peer-led support is necessary.

Throughout the challenges of raising two daughters while building a career, karate has become Karen’s constant.

Now a sensei, she credits the discipline with helping build the resilience that has carried her through life’s toughest moments.

“I truly believe my resilience as a paramedic is connected to my karate practice,” she said.

“My advice is to build a fulfilling life outside of work. If all your identity is tied to one thing and you lose it, you risk losing yourself too”.

“And above all, approach life with kindness. You can collect trophies, medals, accolades and titles but they should never define who you are.”

From Perth to Hollywood: A Curtin marketing graduate’s Unscrippted journey

2026-06-04T05:02:05Z

Growing up between the leafy streets of Mosman Park and the sun-soaked suburbs of California, Jordana Ripp always felt pulled toward two worlds.

One was grounded and familiar; the other shimmered with possibility.

Long before stepping onto a Hollywood red carpet event or working behind the scenes at the Oscars, Curtin marketing graduate Jordana Ripp remembers discovering a love for movies.

Sitting cross-legged on the living room floor at the family’s California home, Jordana was blown away by a VHS copy of The Little Mermaid.

“We had just moved into our new house in California, and Dad brought home the tape, which had just come out, and I watched it so many times,” she said.

“I was completely enthralled by the film, and it opened up this whole new world of possibility for me.”

For many children, that kind of magic fades with age. But for Jordana, it stayed.

A young Jordana always had a fascination with film.

Back home in Perth – one of the world’s most isolated cities in the world – and a long way from Hollywood Boulevard, Jordana held onto the dream of one day working in the entertainment industry.

Determined to turn that dream into reality, Jordana enrolled at Curtin University, where she studied communications and marketing, blending her love of storytelling with her fascination for film, fashion and pop culture.

But like many graduates, the path ahead wasn’t instantly clear.

Jordana graduated from Curtin with a Master’s in Marketing.

Following graduation, she worked briefly at her father’s construction company.

“The building industry wasn’t on my vision board, but there wasn’t really any outlet for the opportunities I was interested in,” she said.

“As the saying goes, if opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door – so I built a door and started Perth Style.”

What started as a side hustle soon became one of Perth’s premier local fashion blogs, covering fashion in film, reviews and photoshoots.

Jordana would go on to cover Perth events, new store openings, and rub shoulders with up-and-coming designers in WA.

Before long, those small local assignments grew into opportunities to cover Australian Fashion Week, collaborate with global beauty brands and attend New York Fashion Week.

Fifteen years later, that once-humble side hustle evolved into Unscrippted Creative -Jordana’s thriving digital marketing consultancy where she works with some of the world’s biggest entertainment brands.

Today, Jordanna has helped creators with a combined following of more than 26 million people and worked with powerhouse names including Sony Pictures, Netflix, Universal Pictures, NASA and L’Oréal.

Jordana with Vanessa Hudgens at the 2024 Oscars.

But getting there required a leap of faith.

Leaving Perth to move to Los Angeles was both exciting and terrifying.

“I gave myself about six months to find a job,” she said.

Five months later, she landed a role at Sony Pictures.

For the girl who once dreamed of Hollywood from her living room in Perth, it felt surreal.

“My very first film premiere was The Equalizer with Denzel Washington,” she said.

“Standing on the red carpet on Hollywood Boulevard was such a dream come true.”

Over the next decade, Jordana built a career inside one of the world’s most competitive industries, working her way from Coordinator of People and Organisation to Digital Marketing Executive at Sony Pictures.

Jordana behind-the-scenes working her very first film premiere, The Equaliser with Denzel Washington.

But beyond the glamour, Hollywood taught her resilience.

“Working in marketing taught me not to take rejection personally,” she said.

“I just tried to push boundaries as much as I could.”

That persistence eventually led her to one of the biggest moments of her career -working on the 2024 Oscars.

Making her dreams a reality, Jordana on the red carpet at the 2024 Oscars.

For someone who grew up watching award shows from the other side of the world, the experience was almost impossible to comprehend.

Yet behind the glitz, gowns and flashing cameras, Jordana discovered something surprisingly grounding.

“When you’re behind the scenes, you realise that the people running these events are just incredibly hard-working humans,” she said.

“It reminds you that even the biggest dreams are built by ordinary people who simply kept going.”

Despite everything she has achieved, Jordana says the most important lesson she has learned is not to fear failure.

“The biggest lesson I’ve learnt is to see failure as a necessary part of becoming successful,” she said.

“It’s not the end of the world if a door shuts. If you have the drive, you’ll always find another way through.”

Jordana Ripp, Head of Digital Marketing and Talent at Unscrippted Creative

Graduating from Curtin with a master’s in marketing (2011), Jordana is a passionate digital marketing and entertainment professional with more than 13 years of experience. Growing up in Perth for most of her life, Jordana decided to take a leap of faith and move to LA to pursue a career in entertainment marketing. Since moving, she has managed to work with global brands including Sony Pictures Television, Netflix, NASA, the 2024 Oscars, L’Oreal and Universal Pictures, plus many more.

A childhood dream leads to working with Attenborough

2026-06-04T05:01:58Z

There are few places on earth as powerful and endlessly captivating as the ocean, yet Curtin Marine Science (Honours) graduate and PhD candidate, Brodee Lowe believes much of it remains largely a mystery.

With close to a decade of experience in the industry, Brodee’s dedication to uncover the enigma of life below the waves led to an extraordinary opportunity.

World leading historian, Sir David Attenborough’s film crew reaching out to Brodee’s team, led by Grace Russell, to film his most recent documentary, Ocean.

Brodee’s specialised diving skills and wealth of experience working with blue whales led to her becoming a safety diver for part of the film.

Brodee (fifth from the left) with David Attenborough’s film crew.

Swimming eye to eye with the beautiful animal she’s dedicated her research career to protecting for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, completely blew her mind.

“All I had was this little DJI Osmo camera, it was never going to fit the whole 25-metre-long animal in the shot (laughs),” she said.

“I was so overwhelmed I ended up waving at the whale – you can see my hand in the film.

“It was definitely a pinch me moment, I’ve never felt so small yet so connected to the natural world, it was just insane.”

Brodee was a safety diver for David Attenborough’s film, Ocean.

This moment served as a powerful reminder of how deeply connected we are, as humans, to the ocean, and the importance of protecting these fragile yet vital ecosystems.

As our oceans continue to bear the brunt of climate change, paving the way forward for the next generation of aspiring marine scientists has become even more important.

Brodee still remembers the day she fell in love with marine science.

She was eleven years old when a visit to a pearl farm in Broome on the Kimberley coast in Western Australia opened a whole new world of possibility.

A young Brodee was fascinated with water from a young age.

“I didn’t know what marine science was until I went to a pearl farm in Broome,” she said.

“I was helping dissect a pearl out of a clam and it just blew my mind that there was jewellery inside of this living thing.”

That evening her dad explained that studying the ocean and its creatures is a profession. From there, Brodee knew she wanted to be a marine scientist.

But when she approached the end of her undergraduate degree, she yearned for more.

It wasn’t long before she began her Honours in Marine Science at Curtin.

As part of her Honours program, Brodee completed fieldwork onboard a whale watching vessel in WA’s Southwest region, collecting photo-identification imagery of whales to assess their population.

Not long after her degree she began working on the same whale watching vessel as their onboard marine biologist. This is when she witnessed her first pygmy blue whale, and the rest is history.

A whale watching trip in WA’s Southwest region ignited Brodee’s passion for pygmy blue whales.

“I still remember the blue whale coming up from the depths of the crystal-clear water, almost glowing – we call it Gatorade blue,” she said.

“Seeing their exhale blow more than ten metres into the air is an experience, and I couldn’t believe I was being paid to witness this moment, it’s such a dream come true.”

This moment set her on a path toward a post doctorate in the socioeconomic value and acoustic ecology of pygmy blue whales, helping to inform conservation efforts for the endangered species.

But these incredible career opportunities have not come without hard work and perseverance.

Brodee in her element, diving.

Having spent the last decade working in marine science, Brodee has experienced first-hand how challenging it is for early career scientists to break into the industry.

“At the start of my career, I did a lot of volunteering, internships and unpaid work which was overwhelming at times and there were moments where I felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere.”

On a mission to change this, Brodee and her friend, Emily created the Marine Industry Mentoring (MIM) Network to give aspiring marine scientists the network they wish they had when they started their careers.

Founders of the Marine Industry Mentoring Network, Emily and Brodee at their Curtin graduation.

Through the power of community, Brodee and Emily have created a space that empowers the next generation of marine professionals through mentorship, hands-on experience and purpose-driven pathways that connect science, industry and community.

“When you leave university, the real world can be overwhelming, so the network is about creating a better community around work that is less about hustle and more about intention,” she said.

Brodee and Emily are passionate about empowering the next generation of marine professionals.

When it comes to pursuing a career in marine science, Brodee’s advice is to say yes before you’re ready.

“Show up, ask questions and don’t underestimate the value of genuine relationships and showing up as the best version of yourself,” she said.

“Marine science is a big world – it’s only until you start working in the industry that you realise how small it actually is, but at the same time it can be really generous to you, as long as your generous to it.”

Brodee Lowe, Senior Marine Scientist & Co-Founder and Director at MIM Network and MFOS Australasia

Graduating from Curtin with a Master of Science (Honours), Brodee is passionate about protecting our marine environment for future generations. With ten years’ experience in the marine industry, Brodee has worked on various marine projects across industry, government, academia and conservation sectors. Currently, she is a PhD Researcher at Curtin’s Centre for Marine Science and Technology (CMST) where she is exploring the socioeconomic value and acoustic ecology of pygmy blue whales in Australian waters.

From homesick beginnings to ocean-bound purpose

2026-06-04T05:01:48Z

Packing her bags and leaving her family behind to follow a childhood dream was never going to be easy for Curtin Marine Science graduate Brodie O’Breza.

There were moments when it felt overwhelming, moments when she questioned whether she belonged, and whether she should keep going at all.

“When I moved up to Perth, it was really hard living on campus for the first few years,” she said.

“I went home every weekend and even thought about dropping out in my first year.”

But as the first in her family to attend university, she carried something deeper than doubt; there was a quiet determination to see it through.

A proud Torres Strait Islander woman, Brodie grew up in Western Australia’s Great Southern, between Pemberton and Manjimup.

With a strong connection to the natural world, it was the ocean that truly captured her heart.

A young Brodie on a camping trip with her family.

Shaped by simple, treasured moments walking along the shoreline with her mum, collecting seashells and discovering the beauty hidden beneath the surface.

Those early memories became the foundation of something much bigger.

Now a Curtin graduate in Coastal and Marine Science, Brodie is driven by a clear sense of purpose – to give back to her homeland in the Torres Strait.

“I would love to eventually work in the Torres Strait.

“To reconnect with my country and culture in person and contribute to the community would mean everything to me.”

Along the way, Brodie has embraced opportunities that once felt out of reach.

Being awarded the prestigious New Colombo Plan Scholarship saw her travel to Fiji, where she undertook an internship supporting local marine communities.

Brodie travelled to Fiji as part of the New Colombo Plan Scholarship.

“At first, I couldn’t even believe I had received it,” she said.

“But it taught me that when you feel scared or uncomfortable, that’s often when you need to say yes.”

Spending seven months abroad became a turning point.

“It made me feel like I could do anything,” she said.

“To reconnect with my country and culture in person and contribute to the community would mean everything to me.”

Brodie’s dedication and impact earned her the 2024 Indigenous STEM Student of the Year at the Premier’s Science Awards.

Brodie together with her family celebrating her graduation.

Now, she is setting her sights on the next chapter – pursuing a master’s in marine science, with the goal of joining the CSIRO Indigenous Graduate Program and returning to northern Australia.

It is a journey that has come full circle from uncertainty to purpose, from homesickness to confidence.

And if there’s one thing Brodie would tell her younger self, it’s simple:

Say yes.

“If an opportunity comes your way and you’re unsure just do it,” she said.

“Have faith in yourself. You’ll get to where you’re meant to be.”

Brodie O’Breza, Marine Research Intern at TropWATER

Graduating with a Bachelor of Science (Marine Science), Brodie is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman with family connections to Saibai Island. Brodie was named WA’s Aboriginal STEM Student of the Year at the 2024 Premier’s Science Awards. In addition to her academic achievements, Brodie has received multiple prestigious scholarships and has participated in various industry and international marine programs, including the New Colombo Plan Scholarship and CSIRO Indigenous Time at Sea Scholarship (ITSS). With a passion for marine science, Brodie aims to combine culture, science and research to strengthen Indigenous voices and representation in marine research.

Finding healing and purpose beyond the lens

2026-06-16T02:26:10Z

As a young boy, Harman Singh Heer would sit quietly in the back of a safari vehicle, watching the African wilderness unfold before him.

Growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, early morning safaris with his dad were a highlight of his week.

With the morning air still and golden light melting across the savanna, herds of elephants and towers of giraffes moved through the grasslands.

Watching these animals in their natural habitats, moving at their own pace, left Harman in a state of wonder. He came to understand that this place and its flora and fauna, were something to be respected.

“There’s no greater peace than being out in the African wilderness with no one else around,” Harman said.

“It’s just you and these wild animals.”

It was in these quiet moments that something began to take hold. Not just a love for wildlife, but a deeper sense of connection.

A young Harman capturing a leopard while on safari with his family in Kenya.

But when his dad passed away in 2013, that world shifted. The places were familiar, yet the feeling of being there was different.

In the midst of that grief, Harman still returned to what he knew – the wilderness.

However, this time he saw it through a different lens.

Picking up a camera, Harman found a way to preserve precious memories, and in doing so, discovered a powerful outlet for healing and connection.

“My dad loved leopards,” Harman says.

“So, capturing these photos connects me back to him.”

Harman said each image became a quiet act of remembrance. A way of keeping both memory and meaning alive in a world where so much is fleeting.

For Harman, capturing leopards has been a way for him to connect with his Dad.

On one of their final safari trips together, a photographer – who would later become Harman’s mentor – captured some of the last images of Harman and his family with his father.

At the time, they were simply photos.

Years later, when those images found their way back, they became something far more significant – a tangible fragment of a moment they could never return to.

What began as a chance meeting, unfolded into a mentorship grounded in patience, curiosity and time in the field.

Every Sunday, the two would return to Nairobi National Park. Long days of waiting and quiet observation.

It wasn’t about chasing the perfect shot. It was about learning to see and notice the small shifts, the subtle movements, the moments most people would miss.

Capturing once-in-a-lifetime photos often requires patience and quite observation.

Over time, photography became more than a skill. It became a constant.

Years later, that patience would be tested elsewhere.

Deep in the dense, rain-soaked forests of South India, Harman and his mum set out in search of one of the rarest animals in the world, the elusive black leopard.

Drive after drive, there was nothing.

The rain fell steadily. The forest closed in. And slowly, doubt began to creep in.

“We almost gave up,” he said.

But something told him to keep going.

And then, just as the light began to fade, there he was, perched quietly in a tree.

Harman captured one of the rarest animals in the world, the black leopard, in South India.

A moment so rare, so fleeting, it could have been missed entirely.

Life eventually led Harman far from the landscapes that shaped him.

Moving to Perth, he spent six years at Curtin completing a BA in International Relations and Affairs and a Masters in Professional Writing and Publishing.

At his February graduation, Harman shared an important message with his peers: “Don’t wait for clarity or certainty before you move forward; step beyond what feels comfortable. Trust that growth often begins where certainty ends,” he said.

In the future, Harman hopes to combine his love for writing with his passion for photography.

“My next step is a coffee table book,” he said. “But my all-time dream is to work on a project with National Geographic.”

Harman also hopes to continue his safari business, Mzuri Safaris.

Co-founded in 2023 with his friend, Nili Gudhka, Mzuri was designed to bring Africa’s wilderness closer to people around the world.

“I’ve seen guests cry at the sight of their first elephant or leopard,’’ he said.

“For me, giving people that sort of experience is incredibly uplifting.”

Harman’s most favourite photo, a lioness in the sunset.

For Harman, photography has always been more than making ends meet. It’s been a way of life.

“I don’t think I’ve ever thought that I need to make a living out of this because photography has just always been pure passion and joy,” he said.

His biggest piece of advice for those wanting to follow their passion?

“Just do it. Many people will sit on a passion they want to pursue and will be too scared to jump on it,’’ he said.

“Honestly, there will never be a right time – you have to decide if this is something you really want to pursue and then do it.”

___

Rising with purpose: Board Chair executive Marion Fulker AM on courage, resilience and lifting others up

2026-03-20T04:51:26Z

This International Women’s Day, Curtin Master of Business graduate and respected Western Australian leader Marion Fulker AM reflects on the quiet courage it takes to rebuild a life — and the strength found in using that journey to lift others.

That courage began in the 1980’s – when Marion took a brave leap of faith and left an abusive relationship in search of safety and a fresh start.

“I was in a very violent relationship in Sydney, and it seemed to me the only way I could truly be safe was to move somewhere he couldn’t find me,” she said.

At the time, domestic violence was rarely spoken about openly, and many women carried their shame in silence.

“Back then, most women didn’t go to the police. You didn’t tell anybody,” she reflected.

“We still have work to do, but it’s also important to recognise how far we’ve come.”

Starting again in a new city required extraordinary strength, but Marion slowly rebuilt her life, career and confidence – proving to herself that she was capable of far more than the limitations others had placed upon her.

Over the decades that followed, she would go on to play a significant role in shaping Perth’s economic and cultural landscape, while advocating for fair, inclusive and accessible opportunities for women.

But long before her leadership roles, Marion’s values were shaped by the strong women who surrounded her growing up.

Among them was her grandmother – a quiet but formidable influence whose determination left a lasting impression.

“At the time, her career was quite unusual,” Marion said.

“My nan was a general manager of a credit union in the 1970s, a senior level position in the banking and finance sector which was almost unheard of.”

A young Marion with one of her biggest inspirations, her Nan, Gwenda.

Inspired by this example of independence, Marion began her career in banking before moving into the credit union sector, a path that eventually brought her to Perth to work in the emerging Information Technology (IT) industry.

“It was very male-dominated, and women like myself were mostly in support roles,” she said.

“But it was still an opportunity, and I learned a lot.”

Like many women, Marion also experienced the challenges of balancing work and family when she welcomed her first child.

“At the time, there was an assumption that if you became pregnant, you would simply stay home to care for your child whilst your husband went to work,” she said.

“I did for a while, but financial circumstances meant returning to work earlier than I hoped.”

That experience deepened her understanding of the structural barriers many women face – particularly when it comes to childcare and career progression.

During her time as Executive Director at the Committee for Perth, Marion saw first-hand how these challenges limited women’s opportunities.

“Following a two-year study as to why the women of Western Australia were not participating and progressing in the workforce, a significant issue was identified in that Western Australia had the lowest per capita childcare places in the country,” she said.

“That made it incredibly difficult for women to return to work full-time or move into leadership roles.”

While progress has been made over the years, Marion believes true equality still requires continued effort.

Today, Australia’s national gender pay gap remains significant, and many boards still lack a balance of female representation.

Marion has also observed the long-term consequences for women who spent decades working but still struggle with financial security later in life.

“I’m reconnecting with friends who have undertaken caring roles and worked but are living just above poverty,” she said.

“I was part of the first generation of women who were told we could do anything – but the systems around us didn’t always support that promise.”

Despite these challenges, Marion remains hopeful.

At the heart of real change, she believes, is something simple yet powerful: respect.

“When women are respected, truly respected as equals, they can flourish,” she said.

“And when they flourish, society benefits as a whole.”

Today, Marion dedicates much of her time to mentoring and coaching emerging leaders – particularly young women navigating their own careers.

It is a role she finds deeply rewarding.

“There’s something incredibly special about women who support other women,” she said.

“I’ve been fortunate to benefit from that myself, and I feel a strong responsibility to pass it forward.”

Watching others grow and discover their potential is one of the most fulfilling parts of her work.

Marion supported fellow Curtin Master of Business Administration graduate, Claire Negus in her transition from executive leadership to board roles. Photo: Marion and Claire at the Curtin Bentley campus.

When it comes to leadership, Marion believes courage is one of the most important qualities young women can develop.

“In leadership, you will make decisions that not everyone agrees with,” she said.

“As women, we often feel pressure to be liked – but I believe it’s more important to be respected.”

Looking back on her own journey, Marion says she would offer her younger self a simple piece of advice.

“Take every opportunity,” she said.

“And if the opportunity doesn’t exist – create it.”

Marion Fulker AM, Non-Executive Director, Executive Coach & Mentor

Graduating from Curtin with a Master of Business Administration (2009), Marion is a trusted thought leader, strategic advisor and transformational chair, with more than 20 years’ experience working across a range of diverse sectors. Marion’s leadership has been recognised with the Order of Australia, the John Curtin Lifetime Achievement Award and Induction into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame. She is also a member of Chief Executive Women and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Investing in tomorrow: Why Roger Chao is choosing to leave a legacy that outlives him

2026-03-18T02:55:29Z

18/03/2026. By Carmelle Wilkinson.

For many people in their early 40s, writing a gift into their Will is something reserved for much later in life.

However, for Curtin MBA alumnus Roger Chao, that is something worth acting on now.

A distinguished governance expert, entrepreneur, board strategist and advocate for social justice, Roger has spent much of his life thinking deeply about responsibility – not just to his profession, but to society.

That thinking inspired him to make an extraordinary commitment: to leave a significant gift to Curtin University in his Will, investing in the students, researchers and ideas that will shape a better future long after he is gone.

It is a decision grounded not in recognition, but in gratitude, duty and a conviction that one generation should leave society stronger for the next.

Born in Australia to immigrant parents, Roger has always been deeply aware of the opportunities education made possible in his own life.

“I’ve benefited from my education, from university and from the social infrastructure around it,” Roger said.

“And that’s not because I’m better than someone else. Much of that comes down to luck – luck in where you’re born, the education you can access, the safety and stability around you. Not everyone gets that.”

That belief has shaped the way Roger sees the world.

Across a career spanning more than two decades, he has worked across corporate, public and not-for-profit sectors in areas including health, education, sustainability and emerging technologies – fields he is drawn to because they help determine whether a society is merely productive or genuinely decent, and whether prosperity is built without quietly stealing from the future.

Yet beneath the titles and achievements sits a simple guiding question: who is better off because I did this work?

It is the same question that sits at the heart of his decision to support Curtin through a legacy gift – if education widened opportunity in his own life, what would an honourable response look like for those who come next?

For Roger, education is one of the most powerful forces for fairness in society. It can widen opportunity, soften disadvantage and unlock talent that might otherwise go unrealised.

“A lot of structural inequality can be mitigated through education,” he said.

“If you truly value something, you don’t leave your support for it to chance.”

Roger completed a Diploma of Business and MBA at Curtin University, drawn to the University’s broad subject offerings and flexible delivery, which allowed him to study while working full-time. But what stayed with him most was not only the academic content – it was the mindset Curtin fostered – that intellectual attainment carried civic obligations, and that competence without integrity is not merely hollow but dangerous.

He speaks warmly of the diversity of people he encountered through the program, from different industries and backgrounds, and of the realisation that education is never just about personal advancement.

“Learning isn’t separate from responsibility,” he said.

“It’s not just about acquiring knowledge for its own sake. It’s about what you do with that knowledge once you have it, because other people’s lives sit downstream of your decisions.”

That long-view thinking has become central to how Roger leads.

In high-stakes environments, he believes leadership is not about ego or numbers, but about staying calm in complexity, seeking truth with discipline, and never losing sight of the people behind the data.

“Every number is a person,” he said.

“It’s a patient, a student, a staff member, a family, a community. Good leadership means asking who is affected, how they are affected, and what we owe them.”

That same people-first philosophy underpins his gift to Curtin.

Roger hopes his future bequest will do more than inspire. He wants it to make a practical difference – helping ease the burdens that can quietly derail a student’s potential and creating room for research that may one day transform lives.

“Sometimes the difference between continuing your studies and dropping out is rent, transport, childcare, healthcare costs, or a laptop,” he said.

“When those pressures ease, even slightly, students can show up more fully and meet their potential.”

He believes the same principle applies to research, where the public good often depends on whether people are given room to ask difficult, unfashionable and ethically necessary questions.

Good research, he says, requires time, courage and the freedom to ask difficult questions – including the ones that do not fit neatly into current funding priorities.

“Some of the most valuable work starts with a question that doesn’t fit into any category and isn’t of immediate interest at the time,” he said.

“Talent is spread everywhere, but opportunity is not. That’s the gap I want to help bridge.”

At a life stage when many are focused on building careers and raising families, Roger is also thinking generations ahead.

Not because he believes legacy belongs only to the wealthy or the elderly, but because he believes values should be acted on while there is time and clarity to do so.

For years, he admits, legacy was something he assumed he would think about later. But witnessing how quickly life can change shifted his perspective.

“I used to assume legacy was something you ponder later in life,” he said.

“But what changed for me was realising that everything we do now shapes the future. The question isn’t what should I do when I’m older – it’s what should I do now?”

Roger does not describe his gift as generosity. Instead, he sees it as duty – a way of strengthening the same institutions that helped him succeed, so others can have the same chance to thrive.

“I don’t think about it as generosity for generosity’s sake,” he said.

“I think about the difference it can make. Individuals benefit through education, but society benefits too, because those individuals go on to shape healthcare, technology, communities and the future.”

For Roger, legacy isn’t what you leave behind – but who is better off because you were here.

For more information or to discuss the possibility of leaving a gift to Curtin University, please contact Alana Hammond on alana.hammond@curtin.edu.au or +61 8 9266 3839.