Suji Sanjeevan grew up in the UK before falling in love and moving to Australia. Despite graduating with a medical degree, being a doctor was never her passion. Instead, she held roles in clinical research and policy, started her own boutique candle business, and is completing a law degree. She talks with Charlene Macaulay.
You have a medical degree, but stopped short of practising medicine. Why?
Growing up, my parents were very focused on us having a career that involved going to university. I was the first person [in my family] to enter medical school and I think that was my mother’s childhood dream.
I took two years off [my degree] and did an honours degree in oncology. But in the back of my mind, I felt unresolved about med school. I felt like I’d started something and hadn’t finished it, and I hate that. So I went back, finished medicine … but I drew the line there. I never really refer to myself as a doctor. I’ve always seen myself as a policy officer, or researcher … that’s where my passion was.
How did you meet your husband Jeeva?
I met Jeeva out in London. I knew instantly this was the guy for me. This was the guy that’s going to support me because, unlike other guys, he listened to what I wanted. He was already settled in Sydney, but he was out there training. We met, we clicked, and within six months we were engaged, and within a year we were married and I was travelling here. That was 10 years ago. We’ve got three children – a six-year-old, a two-year-old and an eight-month-old.
How did you come to live in Wyndham?
We actually lived in Notting Hill when we first moved here because that’s where Jeeva was based [for work]. It was random – our neighbours said they were going to Point Cook to look at some land, and we came out and I loved it. I loved the open space, the ability to build on, and it was close enough to the city at that time that it was driveable. We’ve moved houses, but we’ve always stayed within Point Cook and when we moved to Saltwater Coast, it was the community there that was incredible. Everyone knows everyone.
Tell me the Light and Glo story.
Just as I was about to go on maternity leave with my second son, I made some candles for my baby shower … and got a good response from everyone and encouragement from friends.
It’s been a huge personal growth for me. It’s allowed me to express things that I wasn’t able to express before, and one of the things I’ve been really passionate about is mental health. We’re in the process of setting up a not-for-profit out of the business called The Ambience Foundation and it’s going to be solely focused on mental health.
If there was one thing you could change about Wyndham, what would it be?
It would have to be public transport. The infrastructure’s not growing as fast as the area is growing.
What’s your favourite cafe or restaurant?
Crooked Fork. We come here all the time. Every business meeting we seem to have here!
