Philippa studied a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Asian Studies after graduating from Trinity. She then did her Honours year in International Development and later, a Graduate Diploma in Education, so as to have a tangible skill for development work. She did a study abroad in Canada whilst doing her diploma and taught History at a University in Beijing for 1 semester. She moved permanently to China in 2008 and immediately got involved with social action groups, initially as a volunteer. She started working full-time for Starfish Project, a social enterprise jewellery company founded in 2006 to provide exploited women with meaningful employment in a safe and supportive environment, initially as Director of Operations and Organisation Development and later as Director of Sales and Marketing. She simultaneously completed her Masters of Enterprise through Melbourne Business School. In doing this, and through networking with local and international groups, Philippa saw a great need within grassroots social action groups. Whilst these groups are committed and highly able, many of them lack an objective person who understands the unique pressures they face and is able to help them grow by identifying and looking strategically at problem areas and then forming solutions, and so S.A.R.N was founded.
Philippa truly is living the college vision of using ‘heart, head and hand for personal excellence’.