Future Tasmania: Easy place to make strong connections

A Tasmanian woman says working as a political adviser helped her realise how naturally many locals engage with power.

Angela Wilson of South Hobart and Emma Tanchik of Sandy Bay enjoy a coffee and tea at Etties. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

WHEN you grow up with a hairdresser mum and bookmaker dad, you learn a thing or two about the art of networking.

Marketing and events consultant Angela Wilson, 36, of South Hobart, says being raised in hair salons and at Devonport racecourse was excellent preparation for her future career.

“I had exposure to so many different people,” she said. “I can talk the leg off a chair and it really showed me the importance of making connections.”

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Ms Wilson’s contact list is crucial for her work – she runs an informal networking group for women, WoMo (a cheeky take on Mona’s acronymic naming).

Recently, through another network, she volunteered to mentor rising communications professional Emma Tanchik, 27, with whom she caught up yesterday at Etties restaurant.

Ms Wilson said working as a political adviser helped her realise how naturally many Tasmanians engaged with power.

“When I worked for a minister’s office in Tasmania, members of the public constantly rang up wanting to talk to the minister about their issue or idea. When I worked in a similar role in Victoria, constituents just didn’t ring the offices and I found that really sad.

“I love the way that in Tasmania people entirely feel a connection with the politician they might see at the supermarket.”

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Hobart’s size, relative isolation, friendliness and compactness all contributed to this easy access to influential people, situations and institutions that might be harder to achieve elsewhere.

Combined with personal and professional networks, it provided a great springboard for entrepreneurial young people to make their way.

“It comes back to that age-old thing: it’s not what you know, it’s who you know, ” Ms Wilson said.

When Huon Aquaculture communications adviser Ms Tanchik moved from Deloraine in 2011 to study at the University of Tasmania, the only person she knew in Hobart was her brother.

It was tough forging networks at first, she said, but once she had a Mona marketing role on her CV, doors opened.

“Suddenly everyone paid attention, but the flip side was everybody wanted free tickets,” she said with a laugh.

Ms Tanchik said she was delighted to be building a career in Hobart rather than interstate.

“It has changed so much,” she said.

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