For Brisbane architect Madeleine Swete Kelly, St Aidan's is more than a school - it is family.
She speaks fondly of her former school and its influence on her life, both professionally and personally.
"Being at a single gender school allowed me to become a woman in a nurturing and caring environment without distractions. I had amazing peers and teachers who inspired all the girls to believe that they could achieve anything they put their mind to," she says.
Madeleine studied a Bachelor of Design and a Masters of Architecture at Queensland University of Technology.
After graduating she worked for the UNHCR Shelter and Settlement Section in Geneva for a year, which included a trip to Ethiopia to develop a master plan for six camps on the country's border with Somalia.
Back in Brisbane, Madeleine pursued her passion for architecture and has worked on a range of master planning, commercial and educational projects.
In a complete 360°, the school that has had such an important impact on her as a student is now one of Madeleine's clients. She has worked on the new master plan for the Ruthven Street campus and the Ambiwerra Sports Precinct.
