Pembroke Career Connect - Performing Under Pressure
Description
Performing Under Pressure: Decision-Making When It Matters Most
Career Connect provides a forum for Pembroke alumni to learn from one another, explore ideas and strengthen professional networks across industries and generations.
Following the outstanding success of our inaugural Career Connect event, which brought together more than 60 alumni for an evening of meaningful conversation and connection, we are delighted to continue the series in 2026.
Details for our next event are outlined below. We look forward to welcoming our alumni community for another engaging evening designed to inspire, challenge and connect.
Event Details
Date: Wednesday 11 November
Time: 6:00pm – 8:30pm
Venue: Westside Room, Electra House, 131 King William St, Adelaide SA 5000
Dress: Smart Casual
Cost: $25 (includes canapés and drinks)
RSVP: with ticket purchased by Wednesday 4 November
Our guest speakers:
We're thrilled to feature three outstanding professionals, Dr Amber Halliday OLY (1996), Dr David Lam (2005) and Matthew Richardson (1988).
Our topic:
Performing Under Pressure: Decision-Making When It Matters Most
A discussion about staying calm, thinking clearly and making confident decisions when the stakes are high.
In every profession, there are moments that test our judgement, resilience and ability to perform under pressure. Join us for a conversation with alumni working in high-stakes environments as they share how they navigate critical decisions, manage uncertainty and maintain perspective when it matters most.
Discover practical insights into leadership, resilience and decision-making that can be applied to any career, industry or stage of life.
To update your details: https://www.pembroke.sa.edu.au/old-scholars/update-your-details
Lineup
Dr Amber Halliday OLY (1995)
Dr Amber Halliday is a three-time world champion and Olympic rower, as well as an international cyclist. Amber has worked across commercial, academic, not-for-profit and charity sectors and served on commissions and boards of state, national and international sporting federations. In 2011, Amber endured a traumatic brain injury and has made a long, but remarkable recovery. She is now a Doctor of Psychology, working to measure and foster resilience, performance and wellbeing in individuals and teams. Amber is also an educator and an experienced speaker to audiences ranging from 5 to 500.
Dr David Lam (1995)
Dr David Lam is a Rural Generalist Anaesthetist based in Murray Bridge, South Australia. He has worked in Port Lincoln, Streaky Bay, Cleve and Kimba, South Australia since 2016 and is also a Senior Lecturer at University of Adelaide Medical School. He was awarded the prestigious 2019 RACGP National General Practitioner of the Year Award, InDaily 40Under40 South Australia in 2020 and University of Adelaide Distinguished Alumni Award in 2023. David is a graduate of the University of Adelaide Medical School and a fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP-RG).
Matthew Richardson (1988)
Matthew Richardson has been CEO of Port Adelaide Football Club since 2020, bringing nearly three decades of sports industry leadership to the role. He began his career in sports development at the South Australian Cricket Association in 1992 before establishing a sports management consultancy in 2020. He joined the Port Adelaide Football Club (SANFL) in 2001 in a marketing consultancy role. In 2004 he became the CEO of the SANFL club before transitioning across to the AFL club in 2008. He was responsible for leading the historic One Club reunification (2010-12) that brought together the club's SANFL and AFL operations. He subsequently held several executive roles including Commercial Projects, GM Marketing & Consumer Business, and Executive General Manager where he was involved in transformative projects including the transition of AFL football to Adelaide Oval and Port Adelaide's games in Shanghai from 2017 to 2019. In 2020 he was appointed Chief Executive. Under Matthew's leadership, the club has seen significant growth off field, membership to almost 80,000 in 2025, overseen significant capital projects including the transformation of Alberton Oval with over $60m of investment and led the introduction of the club's AFLW program in 2022. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Education (PE) from the University of South Australia, a Graduate Diploma in Marketing, and an MBA.
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