In this week’s WITWAT, we have two tripleplay episodes where Paul Galea talks to Nik Donnelly (2003), Hunter Forbes (2018) and Parker Floris (2020) in episode #17, and Adelina Plaisted (2000), Amelia Cobb (2008) and Manet Connolly (2013) in episode #18, discovering they have taken a range of paths and are living in diverse locations since leaving IGS.
Nik Donnelly – 2003
Nik graduated in 2003 and initially pursued a career as a professional golfer. As an amateur, he travelled across Australia and Asia, striving to break into the professional scene. However, a back injury shifted his path, leading him to spend three years coaching golf in Europe before returning to Australia.
In an unexpected turn, he and a friend bought a bar—a venture he describes as random but successful for several years. When his partner, a paramedic, was stationed on the Central Coast, they relocated there, and Nik sold the bar. For the past four years, he has been thriving in real estate and loving the industry.
Now a proud father, he describes his two-year-old son, Finn, as an absolute legend. Reflecting on his time at IGS, Nik shared, “I have very fond memories of IGS!”
Hunter Forbes – 2018
Hunter played a key role in launching the Sustainable Futures Club at IGS and helped fundraise for the installation of an energy monitoring system at the school, inspired by his Senior Geography Project on IGS sustainability. During the SAGE trip to Tasmania, he undertook the Overland Hike, an experience that left a lasting impact. In Year 11, he completed a summer ‘taster’ Marine Biology course at the University of Tasmania, where he later earned his Marine Biology degree. He then pursued an Honours year, focusing on the conservation of giant kelp forests in the Great Southern Reef.
Now based in Tasmania, Hunter works as a technical officer at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, contributing to various scientific and diving projects. Having completed his Honours in 2022, he has been enjoying professional life but plans to begin his PhD next year. His passion for making a difference aligns closely with IGS’s sustainability ideals, making his journey a remarkable IGS story.
Parker Floris – 2020
Parker graduated from IGS in 2020, and after two and a half years of university, travelling to 11 countries, taking a gap year, and making many new friends, he is now preparing for the next chapter in his journey. London!
In Sydney, he has accomplished a great deal—photographing music festivals, hosting political debates, being invited to the YouTube Space, meeting his idols and even launching his debut magazine, creatorstrove.com. It’s been an exciting ride.
However, to take things to the next level, Parker knows he needs to be where the action is. Unfortunately, that’s not Sydney. Inspired by LeBron, he’s decided to take his talents elsewhere.
With zero connections and no job lined up, Parker is making the bold move to London. It’s a new adventure, and he’s ready for whatever comes next. I wish him luck!
Adelina Plaisted – 2000
Adelina is currently working for a construction company based in Pyrmont, not far from IGS. Her journey to this point began two days after completing her HSC exams in 2000 when she took a sabbatical year in Mexico. Upon her return, she started her degree at UNSW and soon found herself back at IGS, working in After/Vacation Care and occasionally in Early Learning.
After graduating with a BA in Spanish and Latin American Studies and Modern Greek Studies, Adelina continued working in childcare, including as a nanny for an IGS family and later at a local daycare centre. During this time, she got married and had two children. After observing the contrast between the care and respect shown to children at the local centre and the exceptional treatment at IGS, she decided to enrol her children in IGS’s Early Learning program, bringing her back to the school once again.
Beyond her work in childcare, Adelina has held roles in Academia, including as a Research Assistant and Copyeditor for a multidisciplinary and multilingual journal, as well as in various administrative positions, including at a tortilla factory.
In 2016, her youngest son was born, and in 2021, she left her marriage
Throughout her journey, Adelina’s Mexican heritage has remained an important anchor. She has been dancing with the Mexican Dance Group of Australia for over 30 years and still counts a handful of IGS alums among her closest friends.
Amelia Cobb – 2008
After graduating from IGS in 2008, Amelia moved to Naarm to pursue her studies and ended up staying for nine years. During that time, she completed three degrees and a diploma, accumulating significant HECS debt in the process. Now back on Gadigal land, she is teaching at a Montessori school, where she finds joy in working with children and is passionate about making learning dynamic, inclusive and relevant to their lives.
Amelia recently collaborated with Aboriginal educator Clarence Bruinsma to create two books that support teachers in integrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into the Montessori curriculum. This work has also led her to speak at various conferences across Australia on the subjects of antiracism and the importance of privileging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices in educational settings.
In addition to this, Amelia is keen on creative learning opportunities that connect children to the wider world. Last year, she teamed up with Megan Hanson, an artist and textile technician at UNSW, to organise a whole-school sustainable fashion show during Australian Fashion Week. Their ‘guerrilla event’ caught the attention of the ABC, who were eager to spotlight the next generation of sustainable fashion designers.
Manet Connolly – 2013
Manet is currently living in a small flat in Leith, Edinburgh, having moved there in January after a few months of travelling around Europe. After spending a year saving up while living on her mother’s farm in Mandalong, NSW, she’s thoroughly enjoying the process of settling in and putting down roots. Recently, she returned from a weekend in The Netherlands and is already planning her next trip to Stockholm.
She is continuing her work with the Presentation Design agency she started with in Sydney in 2022, and has been entrusted with expanding the business globally. The role blends two of her passions, which were originally nurtured at IGS: design and public speaking.
Before returning to Sydney to witness the marriage of two of the most important people in her life (Pink Moose—if you know, you know), Manet plans to explore more of the UK and EU, continuing to nurture her creative soul. She’s picking up the drums again (‘The Curtains’ will never close! Again, if you know, you know), scouting local theatre productions to audition for, and working on building a network in Edinburgh.
While she’s loving the experience, she admits the Scottish accent is still a work in progress. Anyone in Edinburgh is welcome to reach out for a chat!
