Eva Brookes (nee Brovedani)
Class of 1990
Asia Pacific Director of Recruitment, EY

During my years at Ivanhoe Girls’, you could typically find me playing my cello somewhere. Music was my life, and I was lucky enough to be the School Music Captain in Year 12. I wasn’t sure about my future career, and back when I was at school, Career Counsellors and Morrisby Testing weren’t a thing. On my university preference list, I had listed Music Therapy and Nursing because I wanted to help people. When I got my VCE results, I put the idea of music therapy aside and studied the more ‘practical’ option of Arts/Law at Monash University. I practised as a Lawyer for a few short years before I decided it wasn’t for me. There are so many things you can do with a law degree, but I never knew about all the options.

Having this experience lit the fire in me to pursue a secondary career in Human Resources – if I found the world of careers so tricky to navigate, could I help others navigate theirs? 

For the last 20 years, I have loved my career in HR. In my current role at global consulting firm EY, I lead over 200 recruitment professionals hiring over 25,000 people a year across Asia Pacific. My role is global and strategic, working across 150 countries to drive change in attracting and recruiting people and providing a platform for amazing careers.

In today’s world of technology, brand power, social equity and the changing nature of work, every day brings unique and creative challenges. I use my legal skills regularly, too, the degree and early career experience were not in vain. I gained post-graduate qualifications in HR as part of making this transition from law, and just last month completed my qualifications in Career Education and Development, formalising my career coaching skills

At Ivanhoe Girls’ I was able to be curious and try new things, whether it was fencing or afterschool pottery. This mindset of exploration underpins my philosophy on careers – be curious and try new things. This is how you uncover your interests, passions, skills and purpose, and continue to learn and grow. I still play my cello and sing with an award-winning folk music ensemble, and in my day job, helping people is at the centre of what I do.

Arnagretta Hunter
BA(Hons) MBBS MPH FRACP
Class of 1991
Senior Lecturer, SMP Rural Clinical School, School of Medicine and Psychology
Private Practice – Cardiologist/Consultant Physician

After spending almost all my education at Ivanhoe Girls’ (from 1981 to 1991), I completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at The University of Melbourne before studying Medicine at The University of Sydney. I trained as a Physician and Cardiologist working at St Vincent’s Darlinghurst, St Vincent’s Fitzroy and Wagga Wagga before moving to Canberra in 2014. I am now based at the Australian National University and in private practice working across healthcare and public policy.

I have a particular interest in health and climate change and am a member of the ACT Climate Change Council. At ANU, I have a range of cross-disciplinary interests including a role as Human Futures Fellow for the College of Health and Medicine and as co-host of the public policy podcast Policy Forum Pod with ANU Crawford School of Public Policy. 

In 2023 I took a Churchill Fellowship to explore narrative medicine – and work with colleagues across the healthcare sector using communication and the arts to improve quality and safety in medicine.

Reflecting recently as I celebrated my 50th birthday, I’ve been lucky to have a career that has been both rewarding and diverse – bringing in so many interests and passions across science, communications, music and the arts!

Ivanhoe Girls’ gave me a passion for knowledge and ideas. I particularly remember my time in Junior School where creative education was normal, ideas were exciting, and learning was celebrated. This foundation fostered at school and home, underpinned what I’ve been able to do throughout my career. At this stage of my life and career, I see these privileges and opportunities now inform opportunities to give back – with deep gratitude for all I have received.

Emma Synan
Class of 2012
Production Coordinator

I wasn’t the student who got academic awards at Celebration Night, I didn’t get a high ATAR and at times, my self-esteem was tested due to my Dyslexia. As a result of my common learning disability, my Primary School teachers informed my parents that they held concerns for my future prospects based on my academic performance.

However, I was lucky enough to attend Ivanhoe Girls’ from Years 7 - 12 and with the support of my parents and teachers through the School's Individual Differences Program, I was able to learn skills to navigate the curriculum that was designed for conventional learning.

Ivanhoe Girls’ gave me opportunities to explore other talents and skills in a range of co-curricular areas; I started to enjoy school and developed a love for lifelong learning.

Like many, I was uncertain about my future and career options. I had a love for storytelling and photography/cinematography but didn’t know where that fitted into the working world. Following Year 12, I completed a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) and after briefly working in the industry, I craved a more creative career. After returning home from backpacking through Southeast Asia and Europe, I enrolled in Certificate IV in Photography and later completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Communications.

Eventually, I landed a job in TV Advertising and relocated to Canberra where I worked as a Regional TV Commercial Producer for an Australian Broadcaster. As a Producer I came up with advertising concepts, pitched to clients, wrote scripts for voice-over artists, casted talent, directed shoots and made creative edit decisions through the postproduction process. Although I enjoyed working in Advertising, I had a desire to move into TV. Despite many rejections and applications, I was lucky enough to be chosen for a Production Traineeship with a major international production company, where I was routinely flown to London to complete training.

Now based in Sydney, I’m currently working as a Production Coordinator and absolutely love my job and the diversity of work in the industry. This year I have worked on a range of shows from documentaries to reality TV including Inside Sydney Airport (SBS), My Kitchen Rules (Seven) and Love Island Australia (Nine). 

I hope current and future students embrace all Ivanhoe Girls’ has to offer. Try new things, subjects and seek out experiences. Your ATAR isn’t a reflection or limitation on who you can be and what you can achieve – you are truly capable of being whoever you want to be.