Nikki Carroll

"There's nothing you can't achieve if you aim for it - Yarra taught me that."

Nikki Carroll started at Yarra in 1996, but she was already familiar with the School as both her parents taught there.

“I was one of the first group of girls to start in Year 10 and there were around 30 girls in my year level. I always felt comfortable at Yarra. I felt that there were no barriers – boys and girls socialised, shared their viewpoints and discussed issues in the classrooms and common rooms. We always felt that we were all in this together.”

Nikki’s father, Dennis, was Head of English and her mother, Mary, was Head of Girls’ Sport. Her sister Marnie was School Captain the year she started at Yarra.

“My sister and I would joke that Mum was such a beloved teacher and coach that some students wanted her to be their mum. She had that effect on people. Dad inspired and encouraged mine and so many other students’ love of literature,” says Nikki.

Nikki was a humanities student who loved English, Literature and History - she also enjoyed playing a lot of sport.

“Every year we went to Canberra for the national volleyball tournament. The team was there the week we got our VCE results and it was lovely to share that.”

Nikki was Dux of her year and went on to the University of Melbourne to study Arts/Law.

In between completing her degrees, she spent 18 months living in London and travelling around Europe.

After graduating, she worked with the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office and then in commercial law with Herbert Smith Freehills. Nikki then worked at Hall & Wilcox alongside Yarra Old Grammarians Tony Macvean and Gavin Macrae, before moving to her current role at Impact Investment Group. She works on projects and investments that in addition to delivering financial returns to investors, deliver social and environmental benefits in order to create a better world for all of us to live in.

Fond memories of Yarra will remain for life.

"I remember the passion of our teachers, wonderful friends, driving to school with Mum and some enthusiastic singing along the way. And of course, all of the students loved gathering together at the tuck shop to hang out and share our love of the donuts!"