Hailing from where we’d all rather be – northern NSW – we’re forever grateful that this people-focused amateur baker made her way to Melbourne and, eventually, to the EJ team.
When Trudy rolls into the office (literally, on her bike), she’ll deliver a zinger of a joke, a flash of her killer earrings, and then get down to it.
As the senior consultant in our health and ageing team, she’s got a heart of gold and the smarts to match.
Her preferred music genres may contain lots of yelling (she declines to control the office speakers, for diplomatic reasons) but above all else, she cherishes quiet time and switching off. At the rate she works, she certainly deserves it!
It’s time to meet Trudy.
Describe yourself in three words.
Sarcastic. Helpful. Supportive.
What were you doing before EJ?
I was working at another creative agency, where I managed integrated marketing campaigns, mostly for large retailers and electrical goods. I was drinking lots of coffee, directing designers and sharing the caring for the office dog.
What area of your work are you most passionate about?
Driving awareness and behaviour change in the mental health space. It comes up a lot – not only our dedicated work in the space – but also across the rest of the health continuum – intersecting across health services and ageing, in particular.
I also have a side-project with my sister where we make greeting cards for people experiencing mental health conditions. Our cards have messages that are specific to the experiences of anxiety, depression, bipolar and so on. They come with a pamphlet related to the diagnosis, which gives families and friends the right tools to start a conversation and to provide the right support. A lot of people find they don’t know what to say or do when their loved one is experiencing a mental health condition, and most ‘get well’ cards out there don’t contain appropriate messages or do much to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. We’re just trying to better guide conversations and attempt to overcome some of those barriers.
Where is your favourite place in the world?
Anywhere I can switch off – most recently, that was in Borneo (did you know that they have mudskippers living in the wild there??). I also love going home to Bangalow, NSW – in between Byron Bay and Nimbin.
Where do you hope to be in five years?
Wherever I am, I want to be more adept at balancing professional goals with personal goals and ‘side-hustle’ goals.
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Don’t become a chef because you’ll get divorced. I was in year 10 and I was thinking about becoming a chef. Perhaps it rubbed off?
If you could choose just one thing to change about the world, what would it be?
I wish everyone spent more time preparing and eating meals together. I think it’s very important for sustaining community and relationship-building; it’s a tool for teaching, learning, talking and connection. And surely it tastes that bit better.
