Pippa Temperley: alumni profile

You graduated from CCGS in 2009, what has been your path since finishing school?

From CCGS, I went to the University of Sydney studying a Bachelor of Education (Secondary); Human Movement and Health, graduating with First Class Honours. Upon graduation I began working at Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness (SUSF), and realised my passion for sports management.

At SUSF I had the opportunity to work in the High Performance Department which oversaw the administration and development of the elite sporting programs. I was lucky enough to be involved in some great sporting achievements including a Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) championship. During this time, I was also completing my Master of Management (Sport) at the University of Technology Sydney.

Following this, I took up the role of General Manager of the Sydney University Australian National Football Club in which I oversaw the operations of our high performance and community based programs.

Last year (during the pandemic!) I moved to Melbourne and started working with La Trobe University overseeing their Elite Athlete Program. This program encompasses over 130 athletes who compete at a national or international level across a range of sports. My position plays a pivotal role in both the academic and athletic development of these athletes.

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about the growth and development of elite athletes off field (education and career development) and the role that plays in their on-field performance. I believe strongly in the holistic development of athletes and providing support to ensure that athletes are able to pursue both academic and sporting achievements.

What do you love most about your job?

I love that I get to work with such a wide variety of athletes across different sports and at all different stages of their careers. I have the opportunity to engage with athletes who are going to the Olympics, Paralympics and those who are already at the professional level of their sport as well as first year student-athletes who are just beginning both their academic and sporting journeys. It is incredibly rewarding to be able to play just a small part in the athlete’s success!

What CCGS experience or achievement most prepared you for where you are today?

CCGS really fostered my love for sport. During my time at CCGS I was lucky enough to play basketball and hockey and always competed in the school carnivals. I’m not a morning person but was more than happy (sometimes) to jump out of bed for a Firsts basketball training or get up at the crack of dawn to hop on the bus to Bowral for a Saturday game.

CCGS also taught me how to create trusting and respectful relationships with those around me, something that is crucial to my role now working with athletes. I was lucky enough at CCGS to have some amazing teachers (Emma Henshaw and Belinda Ho) that I grew very close with. Both of these teachers created a safe and trusting environment for me whilst I was at school – this is a quality that I try to emulate with all the athletes I work with today.

What is one piece of advice you would give to your high school self?

Don’t over plan the rest of your life! Your interests and passions will change as you experience more of the world so let things happen as they come!