The stories of accompanying expats, often go untold. With a focus on careers as the primary driver for relocation, it is important to remember the families of those that transition.

When Andrea Barton's husband was offered a relocation to Lagos, Nigeria, Andrea was forced to think about her career and how she could reshape it. Throwing herself initially into community initiatives Andrea explored her passion for writing and storytelling. Over the next 13 years and multiple moves, Andrea’s writing drew inspiration from the people, places and communities she and her family found themselves living in.

Five books later, Andrea's writing has continued to shape her career and move with her now that she has returned to Australia. Since arriving ‘home’, Andrea has been working on developing her literary network, starting her own company and finalising her novel.

Her debut novel, The Godfather of Dance, was published this year and is available now.

With a 25-year career bridging the worlds between Australia and the Middle East, Adam Malouf is now forging a new path, in a new sector and creating a new, albeit familiar life for him and his family.

The possibility of unchartered opportunity first attracted Adam to Dubai in 2004, long before the UAE was frequented by the volume of expat Australians who now work and live in the region. Initially attracted to the region as a way of fast tracking his legal career, Adam's career rapidly expanded through a series of investment roles and engagements on multiple board and committees, including the Australian Business Council in Dubai and the Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and the AICD Middle East advisory committee – reinforcing his contribution in both regions.

It was on a family holiday back in Australia when his kids uttered the words ‘Dad we think it’s time, we want to come back to Australia’ that the idea of returning was planted. Having already repatriated once before, Adam knew it was going to take more than a couple of calls to recruiters and a scan of the jobs page in the weekend paper to land the right opportunity. Determined to return with a role - and a meaningful one at that, Adam set about putting together a robust plan to leverage his networks – both in Australia and abroad - as he explored what was possible.

The plan worked and Adam returned in 2023 to the role of COO of the University of Wollongong.

When Chelsea Guy came back from Tokyo, and the work experience of the lifetime, she found she had still a pay cheque but didn’t have a role.

Chelsea had worked her way through various marketing roles at Toyota when there was an opportunity to put her hand up for a coveted secondment. Her assignment – digital marketing to support Toyota’s sponsorship of the Tokyo Olympics.

For Chelsea, not even being struck by the COVID curse, could diminish the experience she gained working with an international team, on the world’s biggest event while learning a new skill in digital. However, when she returned to Melbourne two years later, she found she and her new experience didn’t quite fit, even in the office she had worked for, for many years.

Her Japanese experience unleashed her passion for major international events, and 18-months after returning home, Chelsea strategically forged a path to secure a coveted role at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Chelsea has managed to carve out a career that harnesses her global sponsorship experience, elevates her international connections and supports her passion for delivering world-class events.

Today, I talk to Chelsea about how her international experience not only lit her career flame but how she has combined all her experiences to create a pathway to her her dream role.