Name: Kane Williams

After graduating from BHS in 2010

After taking a gap year in 2011 I moved to Adelaide and started studying a Bachelor of International Tourism at Flinders University, I majored in Event Design and Management. Whilst studying I worked in hospitality and was lucky enough to transfer to Brisbane for 6 months working alongside head office trainers in their flagship restaurant.

In 2015 I left the hospitality field and joined Apple Inc working in Adelaide.

Initially working part time, I was also balancing part-time event work. I was contracted to co-ordinate an educational event for World Environment Day in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.

When I was offered a Full-Time position with Apple, the chance for stable income (after being a student) was too good to pass up.

September 2018 bought around big change for my career path, leaving Apple and taking a risk with a temporary Management contract.

Current job role:

I am a Store Manager for Lush Cosmetics. A cruelty-free and vegetarian cosmetic company, originating from the United Kingdom, most famously credited with the invention of the bath bomb and recently celebrating their 30th anniversary.

Lush has always ensured that from concept to production its products are free from animal testing. The brand is also responsible for driving the movement towards naked, or packaging-free, products. Currently I am co-managing the Rundle Mall Lush Store, which is the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere!

Our team consists of a diverse 35 people and as their manager I am responsible for overseeing the day to day operations of the business.

Highlights of your current job/career:

This role has taken me interstate multiple times, traveling to Sydney twice, Perth, and most excitingly to the United Kingdom! In July 2019 all managers across Australia were flown to Liverpool in the UK for a week of networking and development with store managers from across the globe.

While traveling is an amazing perk of the role, the biggest highlight of my current job is the strong value Lush places on their impact on the world and environment. Every day we raise funds via Charity Pot for not-for-profit organisations and regularly have campaigns for causes like preventing the expansion of the ADANI coal mine in Queensland.

Recently students across the world protested for Climate Action, Lush decided to close all of its stores around the world for the period of the protest. My store closed our doors, turned off our lights and marched alongside others during the busiest four hours of our day to stand in solidarity with all students.

Looking back on your time at BHS, did BHS help with your career pathway?

I love my job, but if you told me 10 years I ago I would be working in retail, I would have laughed.

This is not a career path I had in mind when I was thinking about my future, I regularly remember the sentiment from BHS teacher, “you’ll most likely have 7 or more jobs in your lifetime, so don’t stress!”. Well, Reuschy, I think I’m well past 7 now and I’m still trying not to stress.

BHS taught me a lot about myself, my values, and set me on a pathway towards exploring the world outside my hometown.

My resilience coming out of high school set me up for success at both University and beyond.

Anything else you would like to add about your time at BHS?

During my five years at BHS it felt like a rollercoaster, ups and downs, changes and growth that helped shape me into the person I am today.

I had some great teachers and made some great friends while at BHS. I’ve come so far since and I feel like a different person to the kid I was then but I am thankful for my past experiences.

You can’t make a diamond without pressure.