Paul Galea spoke with three IGS alums – Cosmo Reindorf (2015), Evann Doumanis (2006) and Nicola Irvin (2014) – each reflecting on the diverse journeys they’ve taken since graduation. From film festivals in London, to global sports and travel partnerships, to a career in sports media shaped by a lifelong love of Italy, their stories highlight the varied paths IGS graduates pursue and the passions that continue to guide them.
Cosmo Reindorf (2015)
After school I made the brave and daring decision to take the long journey down the road to Sydney University with maybe half of my year group following suit. I jest but it was there that I developed my deep passion for film and history that had already been cultivated by Dr Dennett’s great history extension classes and Mr Patulney teaching us Deleuze during HSC crunch time (which may not have helped then, but was invaluable when I was in the throes of my honours year writing my dissertation on the digital aesthetics of the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy). After finishing Uni it was always my goal to live the dream IGS, cosmopolitan lifestyle and move overseas, but there was just a small matter of a global pandemic that got in the way. After stalling a bit during the post uni, lockdown haze, I tried to make my passion for film a reality, and began working for Sydney Film Festival as well as traveling around the country working for multiple small film festivals. It was then I felt ready to move to London. I am currently on the festival circuit in England, working for festivals across the country from London Film Festival to Sheffield Documentary Film Festival, All the while making my own little (and by all counts, quite frivolous) short films in my spare time. I even got to dust off my (IGS Learnt) French when I attended the Cannes Film Festival last year! Although career wise it’s been tough to get settled and I still have to do part time work at Serpentine Art Gallery and running on Film Sets, I hope to eventually crack through and achieve the miracle of getting consistent work at a film festival (delusional and crazy I know!) Yet despite the many struggles of modern life it has nonetheless been a whirlwind and rewarding ride of great friends, traveling and having fun!
Evann Doumanis (2006)
Once I left school in 2006, I was convinced I wanted to work in sports administration, having grown up in a football focused family. I studied Business Sports Management and got my first job in a global sports marketing agency called M&C Saatchi Sports & Entertainment where I looked after major brands’ sport sponsorships. I worked in the sponsorship industry for 10 years across a number of agencies as well as going in house for Citibank. I was lucky enough to work across every major Australian sporting code as well as local activations of international events like the Formula 1, Presidents Cup and the Olympics.
I’ve since shifted into more commercial partnerships and currently work for a travel brand called Kayak where I lead our global affiliate and strategic partnerships. I found working in sport actually made me enjoy watching it less and so felt it was best to separate my passions from my profession. I also MC weddings as a side job and enjoy helping bring the special day of couples to life. https://www.feelsmusic.com.au/evann
Outside of work, I’ve stayed in Sydney and currently live near the beach at Coogee where I split my time between playing for the mighty Pagewood Botany FC (in my 16th season), boxing and enjoying time with my partner, friends and family. I keep in contact with a couple of school mates but between Laurie Horesh being an ESPN hot shot, Toby Wilson taking the culinary world by storm and Nick Stubbs making babies between gym sessions – it’s tough to find time to catch up.
NICOLA IRVIN 2014
After school, I went straight into a double degree in International Studies and Media at UNSW. The best part was uni exchange where I moved to Bologna, Italy for a year, and I have maintained great friendships with a few IGS alumni who were also in Bologna at the time! I’d learnt Italian at IGS since age 3 and had gone on a 6-week exchange in Year 11 to Rovereto, Italy to live with a family over there – so studying and living in Italy (again) was a full circle moment.
Twelve years on from my exchange to Rovereto and I’m still great friends with my Italian exchange student, Martina. We’ve always had lots in common (although she’s now a doctor and I feel ill at the sight of blood). I visit her and her family every time I go back to Italy. My partner of 8 years, Tom, has met Martina many times, and we all went on a trip to Sicily together in 2022.
I’m not sure if my love for Italy is obvious, but it also rubbed off on Tom – who started learning Italian 5 years ago. To clarify – I’m not of Italian heritage, but many of my fond experiences involve Italy, and I have IGS to credit for that!
Separately, I currently work at Fox Sports Australia in Sports Content Acquisitions – we’re the team who buy sports media rights for our sport channels on Foxtel and our streaming app, Kayo Sports. It’s a fun job with a lot of amazing perks.
