Farewell to Emily Sporik

Georgia Ransome

It is bittersweet to announce that Banksia Gardens’ Gender Equity Officer, Emily Sporik, will be leaving the Good People Act Now (GPAN) Project after five years. ​

Emily joined the GPAN Project as a volunteer in 2018. After graduating from GPAN training that March, she quickly became an indispensable asset to the GPAN team. In 2019, she led the GPAN School Hubs pilot project, creating bonds with the students at Hume Central Secondary College that would extend beyond the life of the hubs project. 

In 2020, Emily assumed the role of Gender Equity Officer, helping me to co-facilitate the GPAN Project and more broadly, push the gender equity agenda at Banksia Gardens. 

We were so excited to be working together, for the first time GPAN was authentically youth-led and we had so many ideas to expand the project. When COVID-19 hit and it became clear that our grand plans were going to be derailed, Emily was my rock. She navigated those two years of restrictions and lockdowns with strength and grace. Not only supporting me but also the members of the GPAN youth action group. This is made all the more impressive when you know that Emily’s home base is in the UK, and she was unable to return home during these trying times. 

These last six months of ‘normality’ with Emily is just the farewell she deserves. We have been able to return to our work in-person, host our favourite event of the year (GPAN’s trivia night) and celebrate all the wins, big and small, with the GPAN team. 
Emily leaves GPAN to start work with our partners at Women’s Health in the North. This is a huge step in Emily’s career and I could not be more proud of her. 

Emily, I hope you know just how loved and adored you are by me and the entire GPAN team. You have left an undeniable mark on the project and we will continue to be better because of you.

Georgia