Over the last couple of years a number of past students have arrived at Carmel to enrol their daughters. The conversations around what they and their Carmel friends have been doing since they left school have been really interesting. So interesting that we thought, with their permission, we would share some with our wider community. These stories show that Carmel Girls have left our school with the values, skills, and self belief to challenge the world.

Introducing Nicole Dunn – 2000 School Leaver

Although my school days at Carmel finished many years ago, many of the lessons I learnt are still a big part of my life today. On finishing year 13 in 2000, I enrolled in a Bachelor of Business at AUT . However, it has been my passion for sport that has underpinned many of the decisions and career choices I’ve made since then.

Although opportunities can take time to eventuate, in 2010 I got a role which was a turning point in my career – working on Rugby World Cup 2011 as a Volunteer Coordinator. That role introduced me to the world of major sporting events and gave me a taste of what I’ve come to love – working behind the scenes of some of the biggest sporting events in the world, experiencing the operation from a different perspective and meeting some amazing people along the way.

In the last 10 years I have been fortunate to work on two Rugby World Cups, a Cricket World Cup, an Olympics and Paralympics, an America’s Cup and World Masters Games. The majority of my roles have been in leading volunteer programmes or operational projects, all focused on getting large groups of people working together to deliver something special. In early 2020, I returned to Auckland and began a role at NZ Cricket as Head of Female Engagement. My job is now focused on engaging females with cricket in new and innovative ways and evolving how the sport is delivered.

There have been many highlights along the way and many unforgettable moments. Coming from a big rugby family, it’s hard to beat working on the side of the field at Eden Park in 2011 as the All Blacks won the RWC Final and then the very surreal experience of being part of the trophy presentation after the RWC2019 Final in Yokohama.

I haven’t planned my career or sought out future roles. I’m a big believer of focusing on the job in front of you and making sure you do it well, then the future will look after itself. But most importantly, enjoy the life in front of you.