Charlie Mortimer-Short graduated with the Flinders Class of 2022 as the College Captain. Like so many of our Old Flinderians, he is generous with his time and knowledge, and gives back to our College community. Charlie recently visited the campus to help Mr Morrow and Mr Hooper mentor some of our keen Maths students.
We also asked him a few questions, to reflect on his years at Flinders. In the following Q&A profile, we share some of Charlie's journey since graduation, including an exciting internship in quantitative finance.
What does life look like for you now?
I just finished my first year at the University of Melbourne, studying a three-year Bachelor of Science, majoring in maths; it’s basically a maths degree. I'm living on campus at the university, enjoying all the perks of inner-city life there—making new friends and studying. I've just secured a really exciting internship in quantitative finance at a trading firm in Sydney, which I start this year. I’m looking forward to studying and working in that industry.
Can you share more about the internship opportunity and application process?
The internship opportunity began with an email from the career advisory team at the University of Melbourne inviting me to apply to a junior internship with IMC Trading that is catered towards first year uni students. I completed the application process, which involved five stages, from online quizzes and interviews to big technical exams. I was then fortunate enough to be offered the junior internship traineeship. I went to Sydney for a week to complete some more testing and activities there and to see the company and learn more about the quantitative finance industry. After the Sydney training, I got a call about a week later saying I had a final interview for their official internship in 2025. The final interview was huge; it took four hours. I was fortunate enough to get the offer for the internship for 2025-2026 at the company, which is amazing.
The amazing thing is that I connected with another Old Flinderian, Yusef, on LinkedIn who had completed the internship program, and he was a huge help as a mentor and just someone to talk to as I went through the application process.
Well done. It sounded like a tough process!
Thanks, it was really tough. Some questions were complex and abstract mathematical challenges; they reminded me of the questions in the Maths Olympiad and Australian Maths Competition, which I was never that good at during school! I also had to communicate well in the final interview as they asked a lot of questions. I tried not to panic and to stay calm, working methodically through the process and explaining my thinking.
I thought I had tanked it at every stage of the process, but somehow I made it through. I'm really grateful for the opportunity that I've been given. I think it's going to be really interesting work. I'm at a time in my life where I want to be challenged and this is the sort of industry and a company that will definitely offer that.
Did you know what path you wanted to follow after graduating from Flinders?
I had no idea at all. I was going to be a barrister because I loved English and was enjoying debating. I considered studying to be a doctor, but maybe I had watched a bit too much of “Grey's Anatomy” on TV…
It was frustrating, because I wanted to have that set idea of what I wanted to do. I did feel pressure to follow a degree in medicine, because I had achieved the marks. But I think it’s important to do what you want and do, what you're good at and what you love, because you're going to do it for a long time.
During Year 12, I kept asking myself, what am I enjoying doing the most? And for me, it was a no brainer: it was my maths I enjoyed the most. And I could imagine completing a three-year degree in maths.
Why did you decide to study a maths degree?
I began to realise that there are so many different pathways with maths as there are so many jobs that require problem solving and creativity, which maths requires. Also, my dad studied physics so he told me stories about his mates and people he graduated with who are mathematicians and have gone on to work in diverse jobs around the world.
After graduating from Flinders, I had a stint working as a bartender in London and people I met there encouraged me to give a maths degree a go. I came back to Australia and was excited to start at the University of Melbourne. I’m really enjoying it.
Who was a role model at Flinders you appreciated?
Mrs Fiona Forsyth was an amazing teacher for both Maths Methods and my Maths Specialist classes. She encouraged me and supported me with pastoral care through my illness in Year 11, where I was wiped out and so tired that I wasn’t able to attend school or study for an entire term. It was a stressful time.
What did you enjoy about the student community at Flinders?
I enjoyed that at Flinders, students got involved in lots of things, so they might be captain of the rugby team and also in a music band. And the kids don’t muck around much. There were a lot of really well-rounded individuals who were also smart and cared a lot, so they studied hard. It’s a culture where most of the kids give their academics a good crack and want to see what they’re capable of.
What advice do you have for students at the school that you learned during your years at Flinders?
I’d say, try and pursue as many hobbies and talents as you can.
Also, don't lock yourself into one study or career pathway, because things are going to change along the way. When I got sick in Year 11, I suddenly couldn’t do anything, so I went from doing a full day of school and a lot of training for water polo, to not getting out of bed for a while. After that shock, I was grateful to focus on my academics and try different co-curricular activities with a goal to hopefully become a College captain, which I was able to achieve.
Do the things you find generally enjoyable. No matter what people say, be true to yourself. And then also just focus on the things that are in your control.
To learn more about our Old Flinderians, visit our Beyond Flinders News.
with Charlie Mortimer-Short visiting to help mentor
along with Flinders Head of Learning Futures, Mr Patrick Morrow
END.
