I could never have guessed where my life would take me when I graduated from Ivanhoe Girls’ in 2004, having spent all of my education in the warm embrace of the School. But looking back, my schooling gave me all the tools I needed to forge my own, authentic, unpredictable, and incredibly rewarding path.

I could not have imagined that 20 years later I would end up living in Tasmania and working as a senior public servant on a huge range of social policy issues for the Premier and Cabinet, with my wonderful partner (soon to be wife) Anne, four stepchildren, two grandchildren, and two highly strung but adorable schnauzers, in a house overlooking the Derwent River.

My pathway to this point has taken me overseas, through marriage and divorce, and a career that has seen me move from working in public libraries, to Senior Political Advisor to the Minister for Education, to the roles of Deputy Secretary and Chief Reform Officer in the Department of Premier and Cabinet working across a wide range of reform areas.

I have now lived in Tasmania for over a decade, and whilst I will always be a Melbournian at heart, I am a passionate advocate for the amazing island where I live and nurture my family. Tasmania is beautiful and brutal, wild and contained, conservative and radical all at once. It’s an incredible place to work in the public service, where you are always so close to the community you serve and where you can see the real life impacts of your day to day work.

At 38, I’m not sure what is around the next corner, but courage and authenticity has guided me to where I am now, and I couldn’t imagine a better place to be.

Ivanhoe Girls’ gave me a deeply held belief that I could speak for myself, not let others define me, and go after my aspirations with integrity, purpose and tenacity. This has led me to some crazy situations: negotiating Tasmania’s NDIS agreement with the Australian Government, meeting former Prime Ministers and Ministers, welcoming artists and creatives to Tasmania, briefing the commander of the United States Antarctic Marine Command, working with three different Premiers, being appointed to national boards, and advising on mask mandates in schools during COVID. So many different things - not to mention an incredibly productive vegetable garden!

This has not always been easy - and it won’t always be easy professionally or personally. Like many women, I face the daily challenges of balancing work and family – and meeting all of the needs in my life, whilst taking care of my own health and wellbeing. But like the long line of Ivanhoe Girls’ that came before me, I forge ahead committed to making positive difference in my own way.

Courtney Hurworth
Class of 2004