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Print this page Alumni Reflections
“I didn’t imagine I could ever find so many overachievers in the one place at the one time. FFG has stretched my personal and professional boundaries and made me a better person, equipped to deal with more complex issues at work or in the community.” - Mr Mark Brownley, Crown Limited, FFG 2004/2005
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Committee for Melbourne's Future Focus Group™. It has been an eye-opening and challenging experience, but also a fantastic way to develop a better appreciation of key issues facing our community and the things we can do as individuals and as a network to ensure that Melbourne continues to be the place to be.” - Ms Angela Schooneman, Minter Ellison Lawyers, FFG 2004/2005
“[In FFG] you gain the opportunity to implement a project to enable others to enjoy Melbourne and grow further. The group networking ensures your opportunity to continually make the city more prosperous!” - Ms Sally Calder, Connell Wagner, FFG 2004/2005 “Participating in the FFG has most certainly opened up my mind to issues that are "everyday" to lots of Melbournians but have never been to me. So on that take it has enabled me to, if not as yet to take any action, certainly to give it some thought over the long term. The beauty of the program is that it is of significant length and develops thoughts, ideas etc that I'm confidant will continue well after the program has ended.” - Ms Eleanor Carswell, Shell Australia, FFG 2004/2005
“Participating in the FFG provided me with a perspective outside of the weekly working life and challenged my thinking of what Melbourne is and could be. It has been a thought provoking experience and highlighted what the collective strength of networking and working together as a team can achieve, that individually you cannot.” - Mr Stephen Gallagher, National Australia Bank, FFG 2004/2005 “The FFG has provided me with an opportunity to expand my knowledge on key issues that are shaping our community today and into the future. It has provided me with access to a network of other professionals from a wide variety of sectors which would not have been possible in my day-to-day working life. The projects enable you to extend yourself beyond your comfort zone to explore how you may be involved in giving something back to your community.” - Mr Adam Awty, CPA, FFG 2004/2005 “The Future Focus Group™ gives participants the opportunity to work on projects that will benefit the people of Melbourne - the most important and vital element of our city. The monthly meetings enable participants, and the various sectors that comprise Committee for Melbourne™ members, to learn from, as well as about, one another. Melbourne is a diverse and fascinating city, and the programme ideally gives participants a chance to learn more about that diversity, in business, lifestyle and community.” - Dr Michelle Callander, Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, FFG 2004/2005
“FFG provided me with an invaluable opportunity to meet, network and connect with people from other sectors. The project work was an opportunity to make a tangible and personal contribution to the Melbourne community. “
- Ms Teresa Tjia, The University of Melbourne, FFG 2002/2003
“One of the greatest things about FFG is that the program embraces such a wide and diverse range of people with different personalities and leadership styles.”
- Mr Peter Janetski, Ernst & Young, FFG 2002/2003
“FFG was really enlightening. It pushed me on to bigger and better things in my scientific career.”
- Mr Ricky Johnstone, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, FFG 2002/2003
“After two years, I’m just as passionate about Melbourne but now I’m also better informed about the city.”
- Ms Sonya Miller, Industry Superannuation Property Trust, FFG 2002/2003
“FFG tests one’s acquired skills in time management, project management, negotiation, leadership, risk management and communication. The outstanding benefits one walks away with are contacts with many new friends in a broad cross section of organisations, an understanding of your own ability and a sense of satisfaction at beating the odds when things go well."
- Mr Ian Pitcher, Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd, FFG 2000/2001
“Being in the Group has allowed me an opportunity to step outside the normal aspects of my working life and meet people I otherwise would not have met. It has also built on the people-management skills I had before and my time management skills – juggling the demands of the project in addition to the normal workload, study, etc.”
- Ms Cristina Mullins, Escor Pty Ltd FFG 1998/1999
“Perhaps the most exciting thing about involvement in our FFG Project has been the way we have been able to allocate project roles amongst ourselves, taking advantage of our different professional backgrounds and skills, and yet all remain collectively responsible for the project as a whole.”
- Mr Nick Miller, Clayton Utz FFG 2000/2001
"I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been nominated by Tattersall’s to participate in Future Focus Group™. I was unaware of what to expect and the experiences and the people I have met have made it an experience of a lifetime.”
- Ms Kate Nurse, Tattersall’s FFG 2000/2001
“I think participating in FFG opened my mind to the different initiatives and issues facing Melbourne and its community, and has strengthened and widened my skill set and knowledge. There is great satisfaction in seeing your project take shape, and meet milestones, particularly in an area that is not our collective professional industry or specialty but an area to which we are personally committed.”
- Ms Maria Galati, Hewitt Associates FFG 2000/2001 
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