Stephanie Hickman – Sydney Site Director
Email: shickman@cisabroadonsite.com
Steph is a Sydney native who enjoys showing off all the amazing spaces her home city has to offer! Steph has many years of experience working with American students and even studied abroad in the US. She is currently pursuing a Masters Degree at the University of Sydney.
Jackie Chapman
Australia Country Director Email: jackie@cisaustralia.com.au
Jackie was born on the Central Coast, NSW (on the coast half way between Newcastle and Sydney) and now lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Jackie holds a Masters in Communication (Corporate Communication) from Bond University, QLD and a Bachelor of Social Science (Recreation and Tourism) from Newcastle University, NSW. Jackie has a passion for travel and education having worked, lived and studied overseas.
As an undergraduate student Jackie studied abroad at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, upon her return from the US, Jackie kicked off her career in international education working in student support and admissions at the International Office at University of Newcastle. Later relocating to Denver, CO for two years she lived and worked in the international education sector, enjoying weekends snowboarding and hiking in the Rockies – simply incomparable to the ‘mountains’ in Australia! Upon returning home she took on a support role for US students studying in Australia and New Zealand before moving into various marketing and management roles focused primarily on project management, business analysis, large scale events and strategic planning.
What makes Australia so special: We are a diverse & multi-cultural country, we consider ourselves pretty laid back and friendly, we enjoy the outdoors and love our sports and yes we have sharks, crocodiles, snakes and some decent size spiders – but most of us never see them – we have cute koalas too and I even have kangaroos jump past my house. Australia has something for everyone – from the spectacular Great Barrier Reef, the amazing red centre, thousands of miles of beautiful beaches, and remarkable wine regions to the eclectic Byron Bay, stunning Fraser Island, breathtaking Blue Mountains and plenty of national parks to explore. You can swim with dolphins, trek the rugged Grampians, drive the famous ocean road, take a camel trek through the Simpson Desert, chill out in trendy city cafes, learn to surf – or simply come over and see what you discover as ‘your’ Australia. Here’s a taste of what may lay ahead for you:
I enjoy meeting students and love the fact that you have chosen Australia as your study abroad destination – I think our country is pretty amazing and can’t wait to share it with you – travel safe and hope to see you soon”.
In addition to our Country Director, Jackie, you will have additional onsite staff to support you throughout your time in Australia. These people will help you navigate the day to day of living in Sydney and be with you on many of the cultural activities and excursions. However, Jackie is always available should the need arise, such as with emergencies, group issues, or just for check ins. Don’t hesitate to contact any of them!