Angela Toppin is a renowned educator, administrator and networker in the Far North Queensland region Combining a passion for teaching with strong business nous, Angela has been a driving force behind the Business Liaison Association’s efforts to link students with prospective employers in the region, and was the first public educator to win the Cairns Business Women’s Club Corporate Business Woman of the Year Award. After 35 years on the Tablelands, including stints as Principal at Malanda and Mareeba State High Schools, Angela will take her place as the first female principal of Cairns State High School in 2011.

1. What was your first ever job?  
Working on a tobacco farm in Mareeba.

2. What steps did you take to get where you are now? (ie study, experience)
University studies followed by promotions at various levels throughout my career, as well as a lot of hard work and dedication.

3. What were you doing when you were 20? 
At University studying to be a Teacher.

4. How long have you been in your current occupation?  10 years.

5. What has been the single biggest change impacting education since you started your career? 
The inclusion of special education into secondary schools and the offering of school based apprenticeships and traineeships in Senior Years of Schooling.

6. You’ve been a teacher and school principal for a while now; who have YOU learnt the most from over the years? 
I have learnt the most from the young people in my school/s.  They have always inspired me to strive and achieve more for them – I have always sought to provide great opportunities for young people in rural areas.

7. Your former students all seem to keep calling you “Mrs Toppin” even as grown adults. Do you ever wish they’d just call you “Angela”? 
One can’t change the habits of a lifetime!!

8. What three tips would you give to people just starting their career?
Be the best that you can be; aim high; and have no regrets!!

9. What do you like most about your industry?  
The fact that I can witness the great achievements by our young people and see first-hand  their joy and excitement as they go forward and become great citizens in our community

10. What do you dislike most about your industry? 
The long hours of hard work.

11. What is the best thing about working in Tropical North Queensland? 
The great diversity, the people and our climate.

12. What motivates you most to go to work each day?
The achievements of our young people and wanting to build on their successes.

13. If you had an opportunity to change careers for a month – what would you do?  Director of Marketing?

14. Have you ever had a great idea or innovation that you wish had the time to pursue?   
The Business Liaison Association has enabled me to blend the opportunities I want for young people in Far North Queensland with support from business and industry.  What I would like to pursue is more of these opportunities.

15. Who do you aspire to in business or in life?
I aspire to be the best that I can be in the job that I am doing.

16. If you could re-live one moment in your life – what would it be? 
The birth of my granddaughter.

17. Who would be on your ultimate dinner-party table of 8?  
Andrea Boccelli, Andre Reiu, Sophia Loren, Wayne Bennett, Geraldine Doogue, Mother Teresa (if she were alive), Nelson Mandela, and Prince William.

18. Describe the best holiday you ever went on? 
My overseas trip in 2008 which took me on hikes throughout the UK and Italy.

19. What is your favourite food?   Italian!

20. What do you want to be doing when you are 80? 
Enjoying my grandchildren!