Humanitarian and lawyer Anais Menounos has been named Kambala’s 2025 Inspirational Old Girl, honoured at a special school assembly held on Wednesday, June 11, in Alexander Hall, Rose Bay, Sydney.
The event was hosted by Kambala Old Girls (KOG), the official association of former students of Kambala, a private girls school in Rose Bay.
KOG President Amanda (Baird) Kirton and Kambala Principal Jane Danvers warmly welcomed Anais back to campus, where she graduated in 2012.
Anais was joined by proud family and friends as she gave a speech to accept the award for her outstanding humanitarian work, particularly as co-founder of St Nicholas Mission Academy (St Nic’s) in Ghana.
“So honoured to be recognised as Kambala’s 2025 Inspirational Old Girl,” Anais said. “Definitely a full circle moment standing on stage speaking to the girls inspiring the next generation of leaders!”
Following a gap year volunteering in Ghana after completing her law degree at the University of New South Wales, Anais partnered with Inusah Amidu to establish St Nic’s in Kokrobite, West Africa. What began in 2018 with 15 students in a rented church hall has since grown into a school that provides free education, healthcare, meals, and extracurricular activities to over 250 children annually.
Anais shared in her speech how St Nic’s helps break the cycle of poverty for children locked out of education through no fault of their own.
“Our first students are now in high school — more literate than their parents,” she told Kambala students, encouraging them to embrace leadership, empathy and courage.
In 2024, Anais was also named the inaugural Greek Herald Woman of the Year, a title that acknowledged her commitment to equity in education and her leadership within the Greek Australian community.
Since receiving the award, Anais has continued her dual work as a disputes lawyer at Gilbert + Tobin and as director of St Nic’s.
The school recently received its official licence from the Ghana Ministry of Education and has expanded its extracurricular offerings, including ICT coding, Girl Guides, and a Child Rights Club. A new permanent handwashing station has also been installed, and fundraising has begun to secure land for a future junior high school.
