Full circle moment as Hotel Management graduate gives back

As a wide-eyed high school graduate, Cindy Van Der Wal’s career ambitions ranged from Wedding and Events Planner to Lecturer – a mixed bag, indeed.

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) certainly wasn’t in the mix. In fact, it’s highly likely most careers counsellors would not have heard of the acronym just over a decade ago.

Cindy’s career counsellor did, however, encourage her to explore Southern Cross University courses delivered by The Hotel School, Sydney campus. 

“I was able to spend a night at the InterContinental Sydney, experience the hotel environment as a guest and from an employee’s point of view,” Cindy said. “I spoke to The Hotel School team and toured behind the scenes.”

“I previously had no idea this was a career option,” she said, “but at that moment I just knew this was an industry I wanted to be part of.”

“You’re able to gain valuable hands-on experience, to see what aspects of the industry you like and best align with your interests, and uncover how a business within the hotel industry functions. You can take your career in any direction you would like to go.”

Cindy excelled in her Bachelor of Business in Hotel Management studies and returned to Southern Cross in 2018 achieving First Class Honours.

“I really appreciate the level of tailored attention that each student receives at Southern Cross and I was challenged to find my true skill set,” Cindy said. “Students get to find where their passion lives as well.”

“There are endless opportunities globally when you embark on this career path and many of the team members and executives across the Pro-invest Group platform and broader industry are testament to this.”

After completing her Bachelor degree, Cindy was offered a two-month paid internship with leading private equity real estate firm, Pro-invest Group – well known for its hotel developments and boasting a $3 billion property portfolio across APAC and Europe.

More than seven years later, she’s still there, though Cindy has never been still. Her determination and attention to detail in a variety of roles led to a custom-made position for one of the firm’s rising stars – ESG Manager.

“There was incredible demand from investors for hotels to become more active contributors in the space of ESG. I started learning how you could integrate sustainable initiatives across the hotel lifecycle from the beginning and through Pro-invest Group’s unique integrated platform of in-house developments, in-house operations and in-house asset management and fund management teams, my knowledge and interest in the space of ESG propelled. The projects that we have since worked on have been incredibly rewarding and impactful, and are very much guided by our One Earth, Countless Experiences ESG ethos and strategy.”

One such project, Reaching for Inclusion through Scholarships and Experiences (RISE), is a wonderful full-circle moment for the three-time scholarship recipient – a chance to give back to her alma mater. 

The recently announced Pro-invest Group RISE Hotel Management Scholarship is designed for Southern Cross students wanting to pursue careers in the Hotel or Tourism sectors. In addition to financial assistance, recipients may also have access to mentorships, paid internships, and potential employment opportunities within Pro-invest Group.

The scholarship program brings together social and environmental aspects of Pro-invest Group’s ESG strategy, as it’s partly funded by the 10-cent container refund scheme operating within the company’s many hotels, consequently, tackling waste, while raising funds for student education. 

“Our teams are excited about this initiative and are embracing how complementary the program is to the business and broader industry while playing such an active role in the community by way of scholarships and internship opportunities. A key benefit that we appreciate is that 100% of the funds raised go towards the students receiving these scholarships. That is enormous, because a lot of the time that just isn't the reality,” she said.

“I am proud to see this program come to life! It will be such a great opportunity to track the careers of those graduates and learn what amazing things they do.”

Interested in a career in the hotel or tourism sector? Find out more about the Pro-invest Group RISE Hotel Management Scholarship program.