IGS alums are building lives and careers shaped by curiosity, resilience and a willingness to embrace the unexpected. For Henry Brown (2019), Maya Konakci (2019) and Anastasia Rowan Buchanan (left 2010), the years since IGS have taken them in very different directions – from finance and migration policy to corporate sustainability.
Their stories are a reminder that there is rarely a single path from school to a fulfilling career. Along the way, each has navigated unexpected challenges, taken opportunities as they arose and carried lessons and friendships from their time at IGS with them.
HENRY BROWN 2019
After graduating, I had plans to travel, work overseas, pursue my passions for filmmaking and explore the world. However, the first lockdown came as a rude awakening.
During COVID and the two lockdowns, I was on-and-off between bartending at the Sydney Opera House, and sitting at home in lockdown, living and playing video games with a buddy of mine. While I loved working in hospitality, I knew it wasn’t my calling. On the other hand, the lockdown really squashed my ambitions for getting into the film industry, as jobs were few and far between at the time.
Coming out of the second lockdown, I managed to land a lucky interview for a junior sales position at a Sydney-based Fintech company. I took the job with zero sales experience but saw the value in learning along the way. This opportunity quickly kickstarted my career in finance and I was fortunate enough to purchase my first property within my first year at the job.
The security of this career has allowed me to cultivate a great group of friends around me, and I have found myself in some awesome parts of the world along the way – Hong Kong, Okinawa and Seoul are my favourites so far.
IGS taught me that the education system’s primary job is to put you in the best position to succeed later in life. While I found it hard to engage in the academics of it all, I wouldn’t have turned out the way I have without the support I had from my peers and teachers at IGS. It was a perfectly encouraging environment at a time when it was needed most.
Much like my years at IGS, I have no idea what the future holds and really have no plans on where I’m headed. For now, I’m enjoying the in-between moments. I spend most of my days hanging out with my buddies, DJing events for friends/families, playing video games, and still finding myself in the presence of the effervescent also alum Jack Beehan.
A couple of things I have learnt – nurture your closest relationships and support small local Australian businesses!
MAYA KONAKCI 2019
The only thing motivating me through HSC was the thought of a gap year in 2020, but alas, it was not meant to be. Though initially gutted, I started a bachelor in Politics Philosophy and Economics at ANU online, which was not ideal.
In 2021 I could finally move to the bush capital, where I spent a memorable and eventful four years. I worked three “hospo” jobs, joined inter-hall arts competitions (reminiscent of ArtsFest), went on exchange to the Netherlands (learned no Dutch but my IGS German came in clutch), did an internship at the Federation of Ethnic Communities Council Australia (FECCA), and organised fundraiser events with my friends.
After graduating, I took off on a four-month solo trip, visiting regions and countries I’d never been to like the Balkans, North Africa, Andalusia, Brazil and Chile!
I’ve since moved back to Sydney, working as an operations and research officer at FECCA, and have also started as a facilitator for anti-racism workshops in Sydney high schools. Working with teenagers is a very grounding and rewarding experience, and I’ve developed a newfound respect for all my IGS teachers.
I might end up in London or Geneva for a Masters in migration studies this September, haven’t picked which one yet, so if any IGS alum have any tips on LSE or the Geneva Graduate Institute, I’d love some advice! If anyone has experience in migration policy or research, I’d be equally eager to pick your brain.
My best friends from high school are still some of my nearest and dearest, like Chrissy Vlotis, Sabine Taylor, Elena Kokkaris and Nina Rewitzer, to name a few. It was only after I went to uni that I realised how rare it is to have made lifelong friends in primary and high school. I’ll always be grateful to IGS for that!
ROWAN BUCHANAN (left 2010)
My name is Anastasia Rowan Buchanan (I went by Stacey back then). Although I was only at IGS briefly, it left a lasting impression on me. I had amazing teachers, wonderful experiences and made great friends – all of which helped shape me into the person I am today.
After school, I moved to England. I first studied for my A-levels in Bath, before going on to complete a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Nottingham. I was dead-set on becoming a lawyer, but after working in the field, I realised it wasn’t the right path for me. I made the decision to leave my legal job, and a week later, I applied for a role in a sustainability consultancy despite having no direct experience, and I haven’t looked back since. I was fortunate to secure the role thanks to the transferable skills I had developed during my legal career. After a few years there, I was poached by one of their clients and later moved to another competitor.
I’m now a Corporate Sustainability Manager at Jupiter Asset Management, and I love both my role and the people I work with. My office is close to Buckingham Palace, and on the rare days when it’s not raining in London, I like to go for a walk to remind myself how fortunate I am to work where I do.
Since then, I’ve managed to obtain a certificate at the University of Cambridge in Sustainability and buy my own flat in my favourite city, Bath, which is something I’m incredibly proud of. Outside of work, I spend most of my time travelling around Europe, attempting (not very successfully!) to learn Italian, and occasionally writing blog posts on British history and architecture.
IGS gave me confidence, resilience and independence that have carried me through life. I will always remember Paul and my other teachers for their kindness, understanding and wisdom.
Although I’ve sadly lost touch with many of my Australian friends over the years, I think of them often and hope they are all doing well!
Lots of love from across the pond xx
