MountStJoseph_News_RachelDonovanRachel Donovan can’t pinpoint exactly when she knew she wanted to work in International Development. But one inspiration was definitely the work of the Sisters of St Joseph, which she learned about as a student at Mount St Joseph Milperra.

“We had a connection with their East Timorese study centre, and every year we’d raise money to send to the sisters in Peru,” she said.

“It was very clear throughout high school that if you have the capacity to help someone overseas you have the obligation to help someone overseas”

The 30-year-old, who graduated in 2006, took an unusual path to her current role in her dream field. It wasn’t her two master’s degrees that led to her first job, or to her current one running marketing and communications for Palms International.

It was a great opportunity to give back – but also to learn as well

– Rachel Donovan

“Getting that entry level position after university just wasn’t really happening,” she said, “they’d ask for five years of experience and several languages.”

“But for a couple of years, I’d been volunteering at a community radio station – just because I liked it”