Rosy Sullivan – Australian College of Professionals

What’s your favourite place on the Northern Beaches?
Oooh, I have two – the rock pools at Whale Beach (where I grew up) and the Queensie to Shelley walk.

Is there something about you that would surprise people?
That I visit Cambodia at least once (preferably twice) every year.

What’s something everyone should do at least once?
Visit Cambodia and work with the kids who have been left by their families.

It’s Sunday afternoon, where do we find you?
Out walking in Manly near the water, or sitting at Fusion Point café in Wentworth Street (drinking something cold)

If you were down to your last $50 what would you spend it on?
Chocolate

Business

How did Australian College of Professionals happen? How long have you been operating?
I established the Australian College of Professionals in 2003, and has now been operating for 20 years.

Best business experience?
Seeing my clients bring their children into their businesses and then sending them to my College to be trained.

If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?
I’d be “talking” about something close to my heart. It would always involve talking or teaching in some way. Whether it was about the Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter where I have been involved since its inception in 2010 and am now Chair of the Board, or the Cambodian Children’s Fund that I have been working with for the past 8 years.

Best part of your job or most enjoyable part of your job?
Training people to be the best they can possibly be at their jobs and motivating them to search for continual professional and personal growth.

Most stressful part of your job?
Balancing compliance, with good service provision (the enjoyable part), and playing the zero email chase game.

Weirdest thing that has ever happened at work?
I went to a client’s business to run a course on legislation and they had a pet baby goat in the office because it had a bad leg. The goat (named Tripod because he only had 3 good legs) was wearing a nappy so that they didn’t need to deal with any unpleasant occurrences.

What’s the best part of working on the Northern Beaches? Why’d you chose to work here?
Although my head office is in the Sydney CBD, I work with clients on the Northern Beaches whenever I have the opportunity, as this is where I live.

Personal

What would you rate 10/10?
Being at the beach in any weather – ahhhhh, the serenity.

What is the best advice you’ve received?
Don’t judge other people by your own standards – you don’t know what is going on in their lives.

Greatest strength?
Connecting with people at any level.

Greatest weakness?
Inability to say ‘no’.

What’s your most treasured possession?
Time…
Memories (photos)…
Any gift from my family

What’s your idea of absolute happiness?
Spending time with family and friends

Which two famous people would you choose to be stuck in a lift with?
Dame Edna and Anne Frank.

What travel experiences are on your bucket list?
Africa and Antarctica

How do you switch off?
Walking by the beach or swimming

What’s your guilty pleasure?
Champagne and chocolate

Who’s your personal hero?
My mum

If you were an animal, what would you be?
A giraffe

How would you like to be remembered?
Kind hearted, generous and fun.

If we could ask you one more question, what would it be and what’s your answer?
What’s the strangest purchase you ever made?
A 2.4metre tall Christmas nutcracker with lights and music, that had to be returned because it was too tall for my home or my office.