I recently represented Griffith University at the Golden Key Asia-Pacific Summit 2019 in Adelaide, Australia. Golden Key is an invitation-only honours society for the top 15% of student cohorts each year at participating universities throughout the world. I was invited to join Golden Key in 2015 during my Bachelor of Information Technology and I’ve since been lucky enough to attend over five summits, both internationally and throughout Australia. I have also held the position of webmaster on the Griffith University Golden Key Executive Committee for two years.
Public speaking has not always been something I have been comfortable with (I know I am not alone with studies showing some would prefer death), but as someone who enjoys talking with others, it seems to be a natural fit once I get over my nerves. In fact, I’ve done plenty of public performances, such as being the lead in my high school musical in 1995 (Man of Steel) and representing Australia in Synchronised Ice Skating, to recently competing in Modern Jive dancing competitions.
In the beginning of 2017, after already attending two summits, I gathered up my new confidence and applied to present at the Golden Key Asia-Pacific Summit 2017 in Sydney. My application was received and before I knew it was presenting. I took on many of the things I learnt while watching others present on a large and small scale and before too long, I was presenting at other conferences, with one of my most memorable being THETA 2017 with professor Mark Finnane from Griffith Universities School of Criminology. We won 2nd prize for the best presentation.
