WITWAT TRIPLEPLAY # 8 (Where in the World Are They)

This week we hear from Manakon Eammano 2011, Dyon Leddie 2016 and Ved Kamat 2001.

Manakon Eammano (2011).

Sydney and Montreal, Canada

Since finishing IGS in 2011, I went straight into a Bachelor of Applied Chemistry, completing that in 2014. I went on to work for UTS grad research school for a few years where I decided to do a Bachelor of Paramedicine and now I work on road for NSW Ambulance as a Paramedic based out of Haberfield station for over a year now.

I’ve pretty much have stayed local to the area and even have the pleasure to work with Hidemi Shishido, another IGS alum from 2005 on road. We even got a cheeky visit past the famed pink wall a few weeks ago.

Two people wearing uniforms stand smiling with arms outstretched in front of a bright pink wall that reads International Grammar School and Reg St Leon Building, ready for their WITWAT—Where in the World Are They—TRIPLEPLAY challenge.

Other than that, I never left the aquatics scene. I was swimming for leisure until I discovered Underwater Rugby back in 2015, where I got to play and travel around Europe training with various teams for two years and even competing for Norway at a club championship in Berlin.

A person wearing a swimming cap, snorkel, and goggles smiles whilst standing against a white brick wall in a sleeveless AUSTRALIA shirt. It's a real TRIPLEPLAY moment—Where in the World Are They?.

I was selected for the Australian National team back in 2019, where I got a chance to play at the World Championships in Graz, Austria. Australia came 9th out of 17 teams which was Australia’s best result since joining the world stage.

I am currently on a trip in Canada where at the beginning of July I’ll be completing in my second world championship for Australia in the lovely city of Montreal!

A large group of people wearing matching white shirts pose for a group photo outside. A red arrow above one tall man hints at a game of Where in the World Are They, making this TRIPLEPLAY moment even more memorable.

Editors note: This was written in late June. Australia came 7th in the Mens behind Columbia! In the Womens, Australia came 4th behind world underwater rugby superpower, Columbia!

A group of people wearing snorkels, masks, and flippers play an underwater sport in a swimming pool, reaching for a small ball near the pool floor—can you guess Where in the World Are They?.

Dyon Leddie (2016)

Europe

A person in light-coloured clothing stands smiling in front of the Koutoubia Mosque, a historic sandstone tower in Marrakech, Morocco, under a cloudy sky—can you guess Where in the World Are They? WITWAT TRIPLEPLAY!.

I’ve been up to a bit since graduating from IGS in 2016. I’ve lived, studied and worked in Shanghai, the US, France and Morocco and of course have spent some time in Sydney’s inner west for good measure.

After a few years working in private equity, I realised the industry wasn’t for me and pivoted towards the wine industry, recently completing a double diploma in wine management at Le Cordon Bleu, Paris.

I now work as a wine importer which has allowed for some amazing trips around Europe, meeting some of the most incredible, talented and kind people in the industry. It’s something I look forward to continuing over the coming years.

A wooden table set for a wine tasting, featuring open bottles, glasses, a WITWAT TRIPLEPLAY notebook with handwritten notes, and snacks. A wine cellar and framed "Where in the World Are They" photos complete the scene in the background.

I move back to Sydney in a couple weeks time, but for the moment I’m closing in on the end of a month-long hike through the north of Spain, having walked close to 1000km along El Camino. My next few years will be spent between Sydney and Europe, which is quite the dream.

I’m also incredibly lucky to say that most of my best friends are friendships that were formed at school. It’s nice that my year group is still so close. It’s not something I’ve seen in many other schools or places.

P.S. Shout outs to Ms Alonso. Incredibly grateful that languages have allowed me to live and work around the world in a way that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. I mightn’t have been the best student, but hey, thanks for putting up with my ****.

A man wearing sunglasses and a navy jacket stands on a wooden bridge over a canal in Venice, Italy, showcasing the WITWAT TRIPLEPLAY vibe—Where in the World Are They—with historic buildings and Santa Maria della Salute in the background.

Ved Kamat (2001)

Tokyo, Japan

A smiling man wearing glasses and a dark shirt holds a large piece of raw tuna. He is indoors, surrounded by wine bottles and glasses, with a mask under his chin—ready for a WITWAT TRIPLEPLAY: Where in the World Are They?.

Hey IGS! It’s been quite a while — I left IGS, and Australia, in 2001 — moving back to my native India for a few years, and then to Japan where I live currently. I spent my childhood moving around a lot, from Mumbai to Auckland, Sydney to Singapore to LA, and went to about six or seven different schools. I did have the pleasure of going to IGS not once or twice, but on three separate occasions — so it was in a way the only school that made a lasting impact on me! Learning Japanese back in Year 3 was what ultimately set me on the path to living in Tokyo since 2013 — for that and many other things I am grateful to IGS!

A smiling man sits at a wooden table in a traditional Japanese restaurant for WITWAT TRIPLEPLAY, with an array of Japanese dishes—hot pots, rice, vegetables, sauces, and an orange—neatly arranged in front of him. Where in the World Are They?.

So what have I been doing? I fulfilled every Indian parent’s dream and first became an engineer in India. After being a developer for a couple of years I packed it in and moved to Japan to study business, learn the language and start working in consulting. I then decided I disliked consulting and became an English teacher, a freelancer in tech, tried to start a business, and ended up working for various startups in Tokyo in product management.

Two men sit at a restaurant table with empty dishes and drinks, smiling at the camera. One man points playfully in true TRIPLEPLAY spirit, whilst the other sits with hands folded. The lively setting begs: Where in the World Are They?.

I spend my days traveling in Japan, visiting onsens and getting my ramen and yakiniku in, with my wife who I met in Tokyo. Although I haven’t been back to Australia in 20 years, I would love to visit some day. If anyone is ever in Tokyo, or Japan, drop me a line. I have a lot of free time!