Where are they now? Belinda Gurd (1998)

Since leaving PLC in 1998, I’ve been fortunate to enjoy an interesting, invigorating, and rewarding career — and life.

Looking back, I cherished my time at PLC, and I’m delighted that my niece can now enjoy the same experiences my sister and I once treasured. Beyond the discipline and strong work ethic the school instilled, what stands out most for me are the exceptional opportunities and unwavering support I received. My Year 11 Textiles & Design Tour to Europe first ignited my curiosity about living abroad—a passion that has since taken me to London, New York, Paris, Amsterdam, and almost everywhere in between.

Currently, I live and work in Amsterdam, in The Netherlands. I have been here for three years. Before that, I worked for the United Nations in New York and Paris. My role is in communications and advocacy, where I try hard to raise awareness for vulnerable communities caught up in conflicts and natural disasters, as well as advocate for important issues such as International Humanitarian Law, Gender Equality, and Human Rights. 

                          Belinda In The Hague Office of the UN (2025) and in front of the UN Building in NYC ( 2015)

There have been far too many incredible moments in my time at the UN to list them all but working on the humanitarian response in South Sudan and supporting cyclone recovery efforts in Mozambique are close to the top. I was also lucky enough to see Obama speak at the General Assembly, witness the heartfelt testimony of a Syrian mother address Member States, and to have met influential people from across the globe in my bid to shine a light on the strength and resilience of some of the bravest people living in darkest corners of the world.

I am very lucky in that I have always wanted to get up and go to work every day. I love what I do and always have. I really believe that finding a mission or a purpose in what we do, day in and day out, is so important. It is the difference between loving your life and just living it.

Belinda in South Sudan 2019

How did I get here? My path was far from conventional. My advice for the girls at PLC is to work hard to create opportunities for yourself, follow your passion, do what you love.  When doors open, say yes. Knowing that your hard work and passion prepares you for that open door.

My first degree was a Bachelor of Design at UNSW. I was terrible at it (I almost failed!), but I refused to give up because I knew a degree mattered. At school, I loved design and art — my HSC work was even featured in Art Express, at the Art Gallery of NSW — so I thought it was the right choice. In hindsight, my heart was in writing and psychology, but it took a few more years for me to realise that.

After finishing my Bachelors, I moved to London for two years, worked in admin to pay my way, backpacking around Europe and Africa. I returned to Australia in 2016 and began a degree in Journalism and a certificate in Public Relations. I was much better at writing and storytelling, so it was an easy step into Marketing and Public Relations.

My first real job was at Virgin. I started as a PR assistant, and by the time I left Virgin for New York, 8 years later, I was head of Public Relations for Asia Pacific. I adored my work with Virgin. I often took journalists to Hong Kong, Shanghai, London, and Japan, I organised major travel industry events across Sydney, and ran global marketing campaigns. Honestly, though, the real highlight was spending my 30th birthday with Richard Branson in Bondi!

Belinda hosting at a Virgin Atlantic event in LA in 2014

I moved to New York when I was 33. New York is a magical place: fast-paced, full of opportunity, and brimming with people willing to help you realise your wildest ideas. Every corner, cafe, restaurant, and subway ride offers the tantalizing excitement of possibility – one conversation with the right person and your life can change in a New York minute. And that’s exactly what happened. I was in the right place, at the right time, with the right connections which landed me my job at the United Nations, and life completely opened up. The city is a melting pot of culture, hard work, and curiosity — truly the city where dreams are made. Believe what they say “ if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere”. It was a fabulous way to spend my thirties, and I would highly recommend it.

Belinda in New York 2024 ( Turning 40)

The adventure didn’t end there. I moved to Paris for two years. where I worked for UNESCO – the UN office for Education, Science, and Culture. I tried very hard to learn French, only partially succeeding. Paris is something else. It is a constant juxtaposition of grace and grit, dirt and dignity, and a fabulousness that only the French have, a kind of joie de vivre that respects a slow pace of life. I love Paris for teaching me to slow down, take my time, to appreciate the small things.

Belinda in Paris 2017 and 2018

I have had an incredible life following my instincts. I’ve trained as a yoga and meditation instructor in India, ran the Amsterdam Marathon, studied Buddhism and mindfulness in New York, travelled to Bhutan, climbed Everest Base Camp, all whilst doing my best to get home as much as possible so I could be a part of the lives of my niece and two nephews, who I have had the privilege of watching grow into incredible humans.

I’m now close to completing my Master’s in Psychology and will become a registered psychologist in Australia in 2026. It’s by far the hardest degree I’ve undertaken, and the biggest career change I’ll make. While global advocacy is deeply meaningful, I wanted to have a more direct impact on individuals, so I returned to my long-standing fascination with psychology and the human mind, beginning my studies at age 38 (I am now 45! So it’s been a long road).

Since leaving Pymble, I’ve learned so much about myself and the world: work hard, create your own opportunities, say yes, and never let the world dictate how you show up in it.

I cherish my years at Pymble. The school gave me academic grounding, but also the confidence to understand who I was and what I could achieve. Most importantly, it gave me friendships that remain some of the strongest in my life today.