Ruth Kippax is a 63-year-old person who has worked hard throughout her life. After her mother passed away from a massive heart attack at a young age of 45, she realized how short life can be. This prompted her to explore the world and travel to various countries.
As a single mother, Ms Kippax was determined to provide the best for her son. When her son Blaze became a successful YouTube commenter/entertainer, she decided to pursue her studies and went back to university at the age of 43.
She left her job as a sales consultant at Qantas and completed a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a focus on Sociology and Counseling. Later, she earned a degree in Psychological Science with Honors, and her thesis focused on the impact of music videos and peer influence on the self-esteem of young girls aged 6-12 and how it could lead to harmful psychological outcomes.
After graduation, Ms Kippax worked at a non-profit organization called Access Community Services Ltd, where she served as a counselor/therapist in the Torture and Trauma Clinic.
Her role was to help refugees adjust psychologically to their new surroundings and cope with traumatic experiences from their homeland and refugee camps.
Later, she became the Settlement and Small Grants Manager, responsible for helping refugees understand Australia’s customs and processes, including its judicial system, transport, and housing.
Her measuring tools for program effectiveness were adopted by the Australian Immigration Department for all Settlement Programs funded by the department for refugees throughout the country.
She is now the General Manager for Relcorp (Fiji) Pte Ltd, Naisoso Island.
What are your hobbies?
Swimming, playing the board game Backgammon and the occasional game of Golf.
Golf
How many places have you visited around Fiji?
Driven all around the Island. Have been out to the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands and of course my Rotuman family’s home in Rotuma.
The Mamanuca Islands
What is the one place in Fiji you would take visitors to and why?
I love the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands.
To me, that’s where Fiji comes alive !!
Sawa-i-Lau caves in the Yasawas
What is your favourite place for coffee/ pie and why?
Coffee Hub and Bulaccino’s.
The staff are wonderful.
Coffee hub
What is your favourite backyard spot and why?
My house on Naisoso Island.
You can’t beat the beauty of the Sabeto mountains and Naisosovou river with a BBQ and good friends.
What is one place in Fiji that remains on your bucket list, and why?
Turtle Island and Vomo Island. The islands look divine, and I have been told I would not regret staying there, as they live up to everything you would expect a beautiful place like that would be.
Turtle Island Fiji
Feedback: charles.chambers@fijisun.com.fj