Page 71 - haleian_Summer-2022-3-web
P. 71

OLD HALEIANS



            Mitchell Thompson
            (2016-21)
            The West Australian Pulse exhibition (previously known as
            Year 12 Perspectives) showcases the artwork of Western
            Australia’s talented young artists. In 2022 the exhibition
            celebrated 30 years and featured 49 works by 2021 Year 12
            Visual Arts graduates from 32 schools across WA.  Mitchell’s
            work, titled ‘Wildfire’, was selected to feature in the exhibition
            displayed at the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
            The 2019 bushfires that ripped through the Stirling Ranges
            near Mitchell’s family farm inspired him to create the multi-
            media work with environmental commentary. The oil on
            canvas features the outline of a mallee fowl within smoke,
            symbolising endangered species. The metallic sculpture of
            the non-indigenous fox made from bits of scrap metal found
            on his property, and the bushfire depicted on the canvas both
            symbolise the threats to the native flora and fauna.
            Mitchell enjoyed taking part in the exhibition and is looking
            forward to exploring opportunities to further enhance and
            develop his artistic endeavours.



                                                                                  visiting students particularly enjoyed
                                                                                  talking with three Young Haleians – Jay
                                                                                  Thornton (2013-18), Noah Fleming
                                                                                  (2013-18) and Harry Saggers (2014-
                                                                                  19) – who all joined the firm as part of
                                                                                  the GeersSullivan Trainee Accountant
                                                                                  program. The program provides
                                                                                  introductory roles within the firm to
                                                                                  university students with an Accounting
                                                                                  major, whilst highly-experienced
                                                                                  directors and senior managers actively
                                                                                  mentor them through the completion
                                                                                  of their degree through to promotion
                                                                                  as qualified accountants with
                                                                                  GeersSullivan.

                                                                                  Piers Kirk
                                               19 years ago is evident today. He is
            Andrew Sullivan                    Chair of the Ronald McDonald House   (2010-19)
            (1987-91)                          Charities Western Australia and    Piers is currently completing his final
            After completing his Bachelor of   GeersSullivan continues to give back   year of his Bachelor of Commerce –
            Commerce, Accounting degree at Curtin   to the community with all staff actively   majoring in Accounting and Finance at
            University in 1996, Andrew started   involved in volunteering opportunities   the University of Western Australia.  In
            his financial career in Perth before   including sponsorship of Ronald   addition to studying, Piers has also been
            relocating to London. Upon returning to   McDonald House.             working at ANZ in retail banking and
            Perth, Andrew was eager to make an   Passionate about knowledge transfer   recently accepted a role to work in the
            impact, not only for his clients but also   and continuing his involvement with the   audit team of KPMG as a part of their
            for his employees and the community   School beyond being a parent at Hale,   graduate program commencing in 2023.
            at large. With that in mind, rather than   Andrew has been a participant at Hale   This year Piers joined the Young
            joining an established local firm to ‘work   School Career Investigation evenings   Haleians Committee and looks forward
            his way up the corporate ladder’, in 2003   and in September, he welcomed our   to supporting our recent graduates and
            he co-founded boutique accounting   Year 12 Business Management and   providing them with opportunities for
            practice, GeersSullivan.           Enterprise students on excursion to   reconnecting.
            The impact Andrew envisioned making   GeersSullivan to see firsthand the inner
            through starting his own business   workings of an accounting firm. The



                                                                                                              69
   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76