The executive assistant works behind the scenes by day and is a circus performer by night.
Amanda Lum, Executive Assistant in Medicine & Health’s School of Biomedical Sciences, “really enjoys doing things for people, making processes efficient and working in the background to achieve a shared goal,” she said.
As a UNSW alumna and psychology graduate, Amanda hadn’t always planned to work in admin.
“After graduating, I did a couple of years temping, trying to figure out what I wanted to do. Then I realised I really liked being an administrator,” she said.
At one point she managed a team of 20 between Sydney and Newcastle for NSW Health.
“Some of my responsibilities in that role were why I didn’t pursue a career in psychology. I didn’t want to be a front-facing person – I feel I’m better behind the scenes,” she said.
Amanda returned to UNSW and has been in her current role for a little over a year.
From behind the scenes to centre stage
While Amanda is happy not being the centre of attention during the day, outside of work hours, she’s the star. She performs at large corporate events or showcases, dangling from the ceiling, upside down, surrounded by glitter and lights.
“My main apparatus is what we call ‘silks’, but I also do a bit of lyra [aerial hoop] and trapeze. For client events, we curate the performance. We do have our ‘go-to’ moves though. Everyone just loves a good split,” she said.
“I started 10 years ago and I’d never done anything like dance or gymnastics. I wasn’t a particularly fit person, I just really liked the circus! When a nearby studio had a promotion offer, I gave it a go.
“I’d never stuck with anything previously. I tried Taekwondo, karate and a few other things, but nothing grabbed my attention for long enough to make me want to dedicate time to it,” she said.
Nowadays, Amanda spends anywhere from three to five hours a week training in aerial acrobatics, and she also teaches.
“It’s been a long road to get to here. I was nervous at first, but now the people I train with are some of my best friends,” she said.
Building confidence and buying circuses
Amanda said becoming an acrobat performer has impacted her life and work.
“Before I started the circus, I was very shy, very timid and a pretty anxious person. Everyone is so supportive at the training studio, always cheering you on, no matter how you perform. It’s made me a lot more confident.
“In aerial acrobatics, you don’t have to put yourself out there, it’s the performance that does the talking. It’s attention grabbing, but everyone’s looking at what you’re doing rather than you as a person,” she said.
Even though Amanda loves aerial acrobats, UNSW isn’t at risk of losing her to the circus just yet.
“I think it’ll always just be my little side gig.”
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
My brother likes to say, “do hard things, get cool stories”. I like the idea of challenging yourself to do something outside of your comfort zone. Whether you succeed or fail, you’ll have the experience and a cool story to tell.
What might surprise your colleagues about you?
As well as being an aerial acrobat, I also bake cakes and make candles, and people seem surprised by the number of things I’ve taught myself to do.
What makes you happy?
Being creative.
What day would you like to relive?
On 11 October 2024, my husband and I got an alert that there was an Aurora Australis coming. So we booked tickets to Tasmania and flew out that day. I captured the most amazing photographs.
What’s the best thing you’ve seen in the last year?
Hadestown, the musical by Anaïs Mitchell. I saw it five times!
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