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Career Profiles
I started my festival journey as a volunteer. That was about seven years ago, but that spur-of-the-moment decision had opened a new world of possibilities to me that I did not know existed. I went back as an operations intern to the same festival, and soon after, I was hired as a full-time staff. As a very eager learner with an itch to experience and study more, I took the next logical step which was to travel and work at more festivals around the world.
As most people in the industry would say ‘You haven’t sold a ticket, till you’ve sold a ticket’. When I came to Adelaide in 2019 as a student, I worked at the box office, packed my schedule with as many internships as I could, and volunteered my time at community events between my study loads. I was keen to learn more and meet like-minded people because, at the end of the day, I think we all crave to be part of something that makes you feel alive. And I have not found anything else that makes me feel more alive than seeing people bond together over shared experiences and being part of a team that makes it happen.
In 2021, I graduated from the University of South Australia with an International Master of Business Administration degree specialising in Tourism and Event Management, and I landed my first full-time job in the festival scene a month before I graduated thanks to the incredible support of the people I met.
My mentor, Dr Boram Lee, often tells me to ‘always stay curious and ask questions when things don’t make sense, because chances are that someone else in the room is also thinking the same thing’. It is something I must keep reminding myself of because it is so easy to get carried away by the chaos and the dynamic nature of festivals. But I believe that knowing the ins and outs of the work that we do is what empowers us to make good decisions, be advocates, and look forward to what is to come.
Pronouns: She/Her
Content supplied by: Trena Jenifer
Edited for clarity by: Dahlia Opala
Photography by:
There are so many incredibly inspiring professionals working in the South Australian festival and events sector. If you would like to nominate someone or yourself for a career profile, please reach out via the form below.
