Alice Lane

I have predominantly worked in marketing and event management roles across my career. These roles have sat in Communications, Engagement and People and Culture functions which are typically very female dominated areas. As such, I’ve been really fortunate to have strong female role models and leaders around me and have been given opportunities to develop and progress based on my ability and not gender. The main barriers or stereotypes associated with my career have been around educating colleagues or leaders from outside my business area about what event management entails. There is a stereotype that suggests events are just about booking a boardroom for an important meeting or organising cupcakes for a morning tea. In reality it is more likely to be managing complex contracts, balancing numerous stakeholders’ needs and wants, financial and reputational risk management, problem solving on the fly and working to rigid deadlines – unfortunately there’s no chance to just push things back a week if you’re not quite ready! 

I’ve got a couple of key pieces of advice for young women navigating their own journeys today:

1) “If you don’t ask, you don’t get” or similarly “if you don’t ask, the answer will always be no”. It’s so important to ask for and apply for opportunities, to speak up and to let people know what you want and where you want to go. So many opportunities can come by chance through conversations so if you don’t share these aspirations with others, these opportunities will probably pass you by.  

2) I’d recommend finding mentors or people you look up to who’ve travelled the path before you – male or female. Everyone that I have ever asked for advice or guidance has only been too happy to share their wisdom and help me out and I’m confident people will do the same for you.

3) Don’t be so focused on a long term goal or idea that you close yourself off to opportunities that come your way, even if they may change your path. Say yes to opportunities and broaden your horizons because you never know where they will lead. Just because you have studied one thing, doesn’t mean that’s all you ever have to do. Similarly if you’re down one path and you decide it’s not for you, there’s always a way to pivot; if you want something badly enough you’ll make it happen.

It’s obviously a given to say making life-long friends and the exposure to so many social, sporting and cultural opportunities as well as the seemingly mundane moments of playing Werewolves until 2am and Swotvac sock assassin. Winning ICC Hockey was a huge highlight, as was winning our first rowing oar in years – those intercollege rivalries were always so strong! My favourite memory though, and one that changed my career trajectory, was being involved in the Emmanuel Rugby 7s tournament; working alongside some of my best friends as college students, to deliver an epic event for amateur and professional athletes. It’s crazy looking back now to think at 21 I was sitting in a boardroom with the CEO of UQ Sport or liaising with staff from the Australian Rugby 7s program but it was definitely an incredible opportunity that set me up for future success.

In 2025 Emmanuel College is celebrating 50 years since women were admitted to the College. If you know of an inspirational female-identifying alumnus who you think should be featured, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at alumni@emmanuel.uq.edu.au.