“I would‘ve spent nearly three and a half years on and off sailing and I got to the point where I knew I needed something a little bit more. I was incredibly isolated for several years, away from my family and friends, from human connection and professional opportunity.

I had been doing university via distance while at sea, and I thought I could finish it a bit quicker if I got back on land and did it in person in Brisbane. I thought rather than working late nights at a pub, I’d reach out to an agribusiness and surprisingly they offered me a fulltime job, so it was back to working all day and doing uni of an evening. At least it was a bit easier than trying to do it at sea!

 Not long after being back I had the chance to go to a conference in the Territory and I got some advice that, the most important thing I could do was to shake the hand of every bloke and woman, introduce myself and then remember their name. It seems pretty basic, but I went back up to the Territory several months later and the door had been opened, it was incredible!

I’ve been back on land for the last 12-18 months and now I actually can understand how that experience has shaped me. I got on [the boat] as a bit of a boy and now I feel like I’ve grown into a professional and that time on board has been the catalyst for that. I think it has taught me the importance of communication as well as having the humility to admit that there is so much I don’t know. 

As I step into the role of Chair of YLEN, I’ve been fortunate to have many opportunities presented to me, so I thought it was important that I should try and help facilitate the same for others coming through the industry.”

-Ollie Thorne