Kicking off his career in the music industry, Nathan production managed tours across North America and Europe and then pivoted to apply that same problem-solving mindset to the legal world.

Nathan completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) and Bachelor of Laws at Deakin University, topping the class in Financial Ethics and Constitutional Law. Despite his demanding coursework, he also served as President of Deakin's Commerce Honour Society and volunteered as a student mentor.

Last year Nathan earned the prestigious New Colombo Plan Scholarship, serving as the Singapore Fellow and 2023 cohort representative. He studied abroad at Singapore Management University, taking subjects such as AI Law, Policy & Ethics and Computational Law. He’s gained international legal experience at top firms like White & Case, King & Wood Mallesons, and Ashurst, with stints in Melbourne, Jakarta, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, Nathan also co-hosted a podcast with Swedish music tech start-up anotherblock, where he and Isaac Smith (another K-12 SPCC alumnus) interviewed founders at the forefront of music tech, recording 22 episodes.

We asked Nathan to catch us up on what life looks like for him now, and reflect on some of his memories from his 12 years at the College.

These days, you’ll find me…based in the heart of Hong Kong, amidst the neon skyline and bustling street markets, working in derivatives law at an American law firm. supported by a New Colombo Plan scholarship. My role involves a wide range of complex and exciting matters: from expanding access to African government bonds, to hedging foreign exchange risks for a Southeast European country, and managing asset price risks for an Asian company with significant Australian investments. It’s a far cry from my time at SPCC, where I was more likely negotiating with teachers to get out of class – not for mischief, but to help with technical production setups or to make music.

My best memory from my time at SPCC…it is tough to pick one, but a few stand out. One that always makes me smile is the image of Paul Welham sprinting through torrential rain, pants rolled up, carrying containers of junior school lunch orders—pure dedication! Another memorable moment was the Year 8 hiking trip, which pushed me to my physical limits for the first time and gave me a huge boost of confidence in my abilities.

Being an only child, my family opened our home to Chinese students through the SPCC homestay program. Often in their final years of senior school, the students became like older siblings to me. This bond was further deepened by a two-week SPCC-organised trip to Hong Kong and China, during which I stayed with a Hong Kong family, explored regional China, and forged connections that have lasted to this day. In fact, that same family played a role in planning my current Hong Kong adventure!

At school you’d find me… almost certainly in the theatre – it was my sanctuary. That space wasn’t just where I indulged my passion for technical production; it was my training ground for creative problem-solving. I learned to identify challenges and think on my feet, finding solutions with whatever resources were available. That mindset has been invaluable throughout my career, whether in the music industry, at university, or now in corporate law. Back then, I couldn’t have put it into words, but looking back, it’s clear: my strength has always been in creative problem-solving, not in rote memorisation or regurgitating facts—my ATAR will attest to this!

There were several staff members who left an indelible mark on me…

• Michael Cooper: He had an uncanny knack for balancing self-learning with direct instruction, crafting an environment where I could explore technical ideas while making meaningful contributions to the school community. His guidance was subtle yet profound, allowing me to stumble and learn from my mistakes, fostering a deep sense of independence and confidence in the skills I was honing.

• Patrick Moir: A long-distance mentor whose inquisitive mind and thoughtfulness have been a constant source of inspiration. Whether it was during school camps or my brief post-school involvement in Smartrack, Pat’s ability to ask good questions and encourage critical thinking has shaped my approach to problem-solving.

• Graham Dunn: Science wasn’t my strongest suit—once again, evidenced by my ATAR—but Mr Dunn’s enthusiasm for teaching physics was infectious. His passion for the subject and his flair for making complex concepts accessible left a lasting impression. Mr Dunn's dedication to his students and unwavering enthusiasm taught me the importance of maintaining a sense of passion and curiosity about one’s work.

• Mrs. James: A consistent and caring presence during the turbulent years of middle school. Whether I had been kicked out of class or had a sore tooth, Mrs James always treated me with the same level of care and respect – necessary in those formidable years.

After school, I… probably wanted nothing more than to dive headfirst into technical production, free from the interruptions of classes. But life has a funny way of infrequently turning out as expected. Today, I’m driven by a desire to understand the world in order to tackle increasingly larger-scale problems. I never imagined I’d end up as a lawyer, but here I am, currently navigating the complexities of international derivatives law.

Among my proudest achievements are…

• Managing tours across Europe and North America, working in the production team at a sold-out event at Madison Square Garden and an event attended by the then-US Vice President in Washington DC.

• Running a podcast series (with Isaac Smith) in collaboration with a Swedish music tech startup that has issued secondary music rights for artists like Rihanna and The Weeknd.

• Being recognised as the 2023 New Colombo Plan Singapore Fellow and 2023 cohort representative, culminating in a speech at the annual awards night in Canberra, attended by the Governor-General and various APAC diplomats.

I’m very glad that I… made the humbling decision to return to university—technically, as a mature-age student—to pursue studies in finance and law. This point is particularly significant, given that neither I, nor anyone else, would’ve described me as a studious school student. Even my short stint in Mechanical Engineering at Newcastle University straight out of school reaffirmed my view that formal study just wasn’t for me. Hence, my entry into finance and law certainly felt like a leap of faith, a commitment to growth and learning, and a testament to the fact that it’s never too late to adjust the substance of your contribution to the world.

One thing that I do regret… is not becoming proficient in another language—Mandarin, to be precise. I'm working towards achieving this goal sometime soon.

Thank you Nathan for sharing with us!