How visual arts inspired visionary thinking
Alumnus and disaster management expert Michael Peach has learned that art can inspire visionary thinking and that every experience prepares you for the next one.
I studied a Bachelor of Arts with a major in English and a minor in visual arts and design at Avondale College. I remember the degree as three years of reading and amassing a library—with many trips to second-hand bookshops in Sydney—and hanging out in the studios under the Audo drawing, painting and making pottery while listening to music. Lectures and tutorials were a meeting of minds with academics and practioners such as David Blagden, Dr Andy Collis, Dr John Cox, Dr Richard Morris, Professor Daniel Reynaud and Marty Willis.
English taught me to write effectively, which has helped me to share ideas and influence people. Visual arts taught me to think conceptually, which has helped me to innovate. These skills have been so valuable throughout my career, particularly when I worked in government where there were incentives to innovate. I became known as someone who could revitalise and transform existing systems. The networks I made have also been valuable, particularly where I have worked in the church sector.
When I graduated, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. So, I worked for a year as a wardsman at Sydney Adventist Hospital. I learned about grief and death and developed people skills. This gave me a maturity that helped when I began working in disaster management.
Then I decided to further my study and completed a year of architecture at the University of New South Wales. At the end of the year, a former Avondale classmate suggested I apply for a job with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Asia in Bangkok—the role required good communication skills to help with strategic planning across 17 countries. This one year in Thailand turned into five working on development projects with ADRA Australia and travelling around the world.
When the Boxing Day tsunami hit, I moved to Thailand for three years to manage ADRA’s response in the province that suffered the highest death toll—more than 2500 people. I left ADRA after that to join the Queensland Government where I managed the State Disaster Coordination Centre. I then moved into a policy role, advising the Minister for Emergency Services and influencing the government’s agenda. Now I’m back at ADRA coordinating its disaster management program in the South Pacific.
Disaster management is my life career. It’s the discipline of working with communities to prepare, respond and recover from emergencies and disasters, which include everything from climate change to terrorism. Currently, I’m on loan to ADRA International coordinating the response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) across the 118 countries where the agency works.
While disaster management may seem far removed from my English and visual arts study, everything I learned about communication, people and creativity prepared me for this diverse, high-tempo and rewarding career. So, thank you, Avondale.
Share
About the Author
