Kerri Tepper OLY
Current role: Associate Director of Community Engagement - Marketing and Communications
Current organsiation: Caulfield Grammar School
What sport did you hold a scholarship for at VIS: Table Tennis
Time as VIS athlete: 1990 - 1996
Tell us about your life after your time as an athlete at the VIS?
My transition from competitive sport, like for many, was forced through injury which was tough. But it was almost time to hang up the ‘paddle’ in any case.
Remaining active and connected to the VIS and Olympic movement in lots of other capacities provided much joy and connection in that transition period (and still does). To pay it forward, and continue spending meaningful time with like-minded sporting ‘family’, is special and never taken for granted.
I served on the Victorian Olympic Council and Victorian Institute of Sport Boards, along with diving into opportunities such as VIS Athlete Career & Education champion, AOC Drug Education champion, coaching and mentor roles, and calling the Olympic table tennis with Channel 7 / SBS.
From a career perspective, my Bachelor of Secondary Education was gained during my sporting career - providing some balance alongside the often single-minded focus that can be elite sport. I did relief teaching during the final years of competition, then State Government changes in the education sector meant I couldn’t move into a permanent teaching role at that time. I transitioned firstly to sports administration, as Executive Director of Table Tennis Victoria, and then into my first corporate role at Westpac as an Olympic Sponsorship Manager in the lead up to Sydney 2000.
With passions also for philanthropy and shared value, I then had the fantastic remit to launch the PriceWaterhouseCoopers Foundation as their first program manager. From there I’ve had a range of corporate roles managing projects across brand marketing and communications, brand sponsorship and experiential marketing strategy and activation, employee recognition, and corporate responsibility. Roles where I can apply my ‘passion’ and connection with ‘purpose’ have remained the constants I always look for.
In 2019, I braved up and took the leap back out of many years in corporate - and have returned to my heartland of education.
What’s the one career achievement you’re most proud of?
Standing on the VIS Awards of Excellence Monthly Award winner stage alongside the great Catherine Freeman OAM. A definite ‘pinch me’ moment. I made it there by achieving my highest podium finish of a Commonwealth Games silver medal.
Sharing the stage with 129 other international table tennis players when the sport was included for the first time on the Olympic program at Seoul in 1988. This will always hold the most sentimental place in my heart.
What’s the most valuable lesson you learnt during your career as an athlete at the VIS?
So many lessons!
Have a crack! Say yes to opportunities that scare you. Start with your passions. Stay true to yourself and remained anchored by your personal values. Understand the transferability of the skills and experiences gathered during your sporting career.
And my favourite, learning from the wonderful Dr Deidre Anderson AM, who was the first VIS Athlete Career and Education lead: “Never let perfectionism get in the way of good enough.”
