Sacred Heart Alumni Unite at Ivy Street

For Geelong-based Creative and Marketing Agency Ivy Street, the connection to Sacred Heart College runs deep. With a team of 35 based at their Federal Mills office in North Geelong, seven are Sacred Heart alumni, while Managing Director and Founder Brad Papworth also has his own personal connection to SHC, with his wife Sally (nee O’Brien, Class of 1996) and daughter Ruby (2019) also former students. 

“This wasn’t a deliberate recruitment strategy. As it worked out, we were able to create opportunities and expand our business in Geelong, and they were the best candidates for their respective roles. The Sacred Heart background had an influence, having seen the enormous impact the school had on our daughter and my wife, and the values they instil in the girls - they sit well with our values as a business,” explains Brad.

As a fully-integrated agency providing Creative, Strategy, Content, Digital and Account Management solutions to clients across Geelong and Melbourne, Ivy Street has offered a unique opportunity for career growth and development, with many of its staff making the move from working in Melbourne and overseas back to Geelong.

“I’ve worked in the Creative industry as a layout artist, finished artist and studio manager for 28 years, from magazines to advertising to design in Melbourne and overseas. SHC nurtured my creative flair, which I believe led me into the industry that I’m in today; it was a school that supported my creative aspirations, encouraged positive growth and fostered my goals.

It’s exciting to see a thriving creative culture in Geelong. I moved back seven years ago to be closer to family and friends, which became more important as I got older. Geelong and Ivy Street has definitely allowed me to have the career I want, alongside a great lifestyle.”

- Rachel O’Brien, Operations Manager (Class of 1992)

“SHC was a haven of laughter, tight-knit friendships, and teachers who genuinely cared.
The school supported my creativity through diverse subject choices and extracurricular activities like fine arts, dance, graphic design, performing arts, and music. Present students, dive in and explore!

After Primary Teaching in various locations both in Australia and overseas, I pursued my passion for creativity by studying graphic design. A chance encounter with Rachel O’Brien led me to Ivy Street, where I now work as the Creative Studio Manager, blending my teaching and creative pursuits.

Geelong and Ivy Street provide the perfect platform for my career. Working in a fully integrated creative agency alongside talented colleagues and amazing clients fulfils my professional aspirations.”

- Kate Jones, Creative Studio Manager (Class of 1992)

“My time at SHC was instrumental in nurturing and honing my creative skills. The wide range of subjects in the arts allowed me to experience different mediums, such as photography, fine arts, fashion design and visual communication - ultimately preparing me for a successful career bringing ideas to life through visually compelling and impactful design.

I have been with Ivy Street for five years after moving back to Geelong from Ballarat, starting as a graduate designer. I was recently promoted to Senior Designer and I am incredibly grateful to work with incredibly talented and inspiring people and fellow Sacred Heart alumni.

Geelong’s creative community is one that continues to grow, with its blend of opportunity, community and vibrant energy. The more we nurture and support the creative arts in Geelong, the more opportunities will be available to young people moving into the industry.”

- Jessica Pepper, Senior Designer (Class of 2006)

“I was always very drawn to the arts, and the subjects and guidance that was offered to me at SHC prepared me very well for a career in the creative industry.

After I first graduated, I completed a Bachelor of Environments at the University of Melbourne, and went on to start my career in Town Planning, working for various local councils surrounding the Geelong area. During the COVID-19 pandemic though, I was spurred by my passion for design and returned to study at Deakin University undertaking a Master of Communication (Visual Communication Design). Through researching local agencies, I came across Jessica’s profile on Linkedin and sent off a message wondering if I could have some career advice. Jess went one better, and Ivy Street offered me an internship, and then a few months ago offered me a position as Casual Designer. It’s been a fun place to work and develop my skills as a designer.

Having studied in Melbourne, the commute was certainly something I didn’t place in my university highlights! To have an agency which offers interesting and diverse clientele within an easy commuting distance from home is an opportunity I’m not taking for granted after many cold mornings spent on the South Geelong Station platform.”

- Laura Hardiman, Casual Designer (Class of 2015)

“After SHC, I completed a double degree of Marketing and Human Resource Management at RMIT. My first job was working at the Coles Support Centre in strategy, before moving to the Geelong Cats where I spent five years in Marketing, Membership and Merchandise. I then took a role as Marketing Manager at Netball Victoria and the Melbourne Vixens.

I was ready for a change out of the Sports Marketing landscape and was keen to come back to my roots in Geelong and also take the next step in diversifying my marketing skill set when the position at Ivy Street came up in 2022. It ticked every box in terms of location, organisation and job requirements.

Geelong is now a business hub and it’s definitely growing in the right direction. There are definitely more opportunities than ever before. I believe that if your ambitions are to stay in Geelong, you definitely can with the opportunity the city now provides.”

- Adrianna Johnson (nee Maddalon), Digital Campaign Manager (Class of 2012)

“After SHC I studied a Bachelor of Communications (Public Relations) at Deakin University and got my first job at a marketing agency in Melbourne before deciding that the commute wasn’t for me.

I came to Ivy Street as an Account Manager after a couple of years working with another Geelong-based agency as a Digital Marketing Specialist and Content Creator. I’m a true people person so this role has been the perfect fit for me.

Ivy Street has a lot of Melbourne-based clients so I still get a taste of big city life while living and working in Geelong. I’m incredibly grateful for the time I spent working in Melbourne, but the decision to work back in Geelong was easy when I looked at my work/life balance and the opportunities that presented themselves to me here.

The foundations you’re taught, and the morals and values that are instilled in you at SHC have been a great help throughout my career. We were always encouraged to work hard, achieve our best and strive for excellence.”

- Natalie Simpson, Account Manager (Class of 2014)

“After graduation I had no idea what I wanted to study, but ended up studying for a Bachelor of Business Management and Public Relations at Deakin. Due to the broad nature of the course, I was able to study what I was interested in, and also had the opportunity to study abroad.

I got my first job at Ivy Street through the Deakin jobs notice board as an admin assistant and I have been able to progress through the business, first as a Content Manager and now into Performance Marketing. My role involves optimising paid advertising across Meta and integrated digital channels.

The foundations you learn at SHC and the respect towards traditions and values has been the best life tool-kit to prepare me for life outside of school and to explore through travel, future studies and work life. They connect you to like-minded people, but also help you to navigate your way through challenging times.”

- Emma Kolic, Performance Marketer (Class of 2016)

Thank you from SHC to Erin Craven (Head of Content at Ivy Street)