Tori Benzie (No.3, 1989-94), currently leads Business Development across Australia and New Zealand. She talks to us about an exciting project she is working on and what lead her to first join Roedean!

1. What is your favorite memory of Roedean?

I loved playing sport at Roedean, so I have fond memories of playing lacrosse and swim training with Ms. Romonov. 

2. What was the best piece of advice you were given whilst at School?

Ms.Manning, our no-nonsense maths teacher, was the only teacher that allowed us to mark our own tests. She would always say to the class ‘if you cheat then you’re only cheating yourself!’  It’s a life lesson that’s stuck with me.

3. When you were at Roedean, what did you want to be when you ‘grew-up’?

I wanted to be a Musician. I studied music at University and after graduation, I landed a dream job working for Virgin Records. I spent the next 10 years of my career working for record companies before moving into Media, and most recently into the Tech industry.

4. What are you now you’ve grown up?

I lead Business Development for LinkedIn across Australia and New Zealand

5. What does your job involve?

LinkedIn’s vision is to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce.  I work within the Content Experience team, whereby I am responsible for building strategic partnerships that connect the world’s professionals with the knowledge they need to be more productive and successful.

6. What have you done that you are most proud of?

I am currently working on a project that aims to improve employment opportunities for First Nations Australians

7. What are the three objects you would take with you to a desert island?

I’ve been watching a lot of “Alone” recently - so I’d take fishing tackle, a pot to boil water and a satellite phone so I can call for help!

8. What books have had a significant influence on you and why?

I would never have gone to Roedean if it hadn’t been for Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers series.  After reading the books (and dreaming of midnight feasts), I begged my parents to let me go to boarding school. Unfortunately, my love for midnight feasts was not appreciated by Mrs. Martin our Junior House headmistress, who lived directly under our Terracotta dorm room - we got sticks from St Nicholas that Christmas!

9. What is on your bucket list? 

A few years ago, my husband and I took a break from our careers and fulfilled one of our top bucket list items- becoming certified snowboard instructors. Unfortunately, our trip was interrupted by the pandemic but we're looking forward to restarting our adventure one day. The next destination on our list is India.

10. If you had one year and unlimited funds, what would you do?

Without a doubt, climate change presents the greatest challenge of our time. With unlimited budget I’d invest in the development of large-scale renewable energy infrastructure in every country in the world. This would enable us to eliminate our reliance on coal, oil, and gas, which are the biggest contributors to environmental degradation.