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鈥淢y basketball coach was a big support and she gave me confidence to challenge myself on and off the court.鈥�

For Damien Nicks, the Yarra motto, Levavi Oculos, is all about broadening your vision and being prepared to step into the unknown. It鈥檚 a perspective that he鈥檚 embraced throughout his academic and professional life.

鈥淎cademically, I鈥檝e always been a generalist 鈥� while languages weren鈥檛 my thing, I did subjects like Maths, English, Biology, Finance and Accounting. I was prepared to step into a challenge to broaden my horizon. Yarra was good at encouraging that,鈥� says Damien.

When Damien joined Yarra in Year 7, he knew no other students but quickly made friends through playing sport and school camps. One of his favourite Yarra memories is a camp at Glenmaggie in Central Gippsland.

鈥淚 remember us jumping into the water off the ledge and getting incredibly wet when a big storm came through the camp. I remember evenings sitting around the campfire with my mates and exploring the bush together 鈥� good memories,鈥� he says.

鈥淪ome of my old Yarra mates still call me 鈥楴icksy鈥�, and I am still good friends with them today.鈥�

Damien enjoyed Saturday morning sport and while he played tennis and did cross country, his talents were mostly unleashed on the basketball court.

After graduating, Damien studied Commerce at La Trobe University and joined Deloitte. Early in his career, a mentor told him it was time to 鈥榞et some feathers on his wings鈥� 鈥� essentially, to learn more by pushing himself outside his comfort zone and into the unknown.

鈥淪o, I took on a number of broad roles and put myself out there, including working in the US and London for a while. 鈥楲et鈥檚 have a go at this and step into the challenge鈥� has been my mantra ever since,鈥� says Damien.

For the past three years, Damien has been CEO and MD of energy company, AGL, the 2nd oldest on the ASX and going through an incredible transformation.

鈥淭he energy transition is incredibly challenging and exciting 鈥� rebuilding the power system is one of the biggest things this country has done in the past 40 years,鈥� he says.

But it鈥檚 a role that energises Damien and one where each day can bring new complexities and achievements.

鈥淲hen I was at school, I worried about what I would study at uni and where my career would go. With the benefit of hindsight, I now know that you don鈥檛 need to worry about that. You don鈥檛 have to know everything and have everything planned out, you just need to be prepared to have a go.鈥�