Alumni Interview: Amy Clements
Class of 2013 | Years at ISPP 2010 – 2011
Amy Clements is an Australian lawyer turned television journalist. From 2010 to 2011, she attended the International School of Phnom Penh, an experience that gave her a lifelong love for Cambodia and sparked her interest in journalism.
Back in Australia, Amy studied Law at the University of Melbourne and qualified as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Yet she soon discovered her real passion lay outside the courtroom. She was drawn instead to the rush of breaking news and the opportunity to tell stories.
Her first posting was in regional Australia, where she found herself on the frontlines of the nation’s devastating “Black Summer” bushfires. From there, she moved north to Darwin as a court reporter, covering high-profile murder trials. She also reported on NASA’s first rocket launch in the outback, the East Timor Presidential Election, and even had a few close encounters with crocodiles.
Today, Amy reports for Seven News in Sydney, where no two days are the same. Beyond the newsroom, she continues to explore storytelling through writing fiction and regularly returns to Cambodia, where her parents still live.
Name the countries you have lived in.
Australia, Cambodia and the UK.
What did you love about Cambodia?
My family and I loved Cambodia from the very beginning. We spent hours exploring Phnom Penh, drifting on boats along the Mekong and eating along the riverside. The city has transformed so much since those days. I still remember when Sambo the elephant was part of daily life, gently roaming around the streets before retiring to a jungle sanctuary. Weekends were often spent in Sihanoukville, where the sand was white, the water warm, and the beach shacks served fresh seafood. Among my most treasured memories is seeing Angkor Wat for the first time and later running the marathon there through the temples with my dad.
What do you miss most about Phnom Penh?
The food and the people!
What are some of the best memories you cherish from your time at ISPP?
My brother Matt (class of 2015) and I settled into ISPP quickly. Some of my best memories come from the opportunities the school gave us outside the classroom. I travelled to Laos to learn about the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins, earned my scuba diving licence on the reefs off Sihanoukville and represented the school at a Model United Nations conference in Singapore. Each trip pushed me to try something new and gave me experiences I never would have had anywhere else.
ISPP Week Without Walls: Laos (2010)
I also cherish the friendships I made at ISPP and feel lucky to have met people from all over the world. We shared so many laughs, and it was far more fun than I could have imagined. Those connections made my time there truly unforgettable.
ISPP Fun Run (2010)
Phnom Penh (2011)
ISPP formal (2011)
Sihanoukville (2013)
Were there any teachers at ISPP who had a significant impact on your life or career choices?
Thanks to Mr Preece and Ms Shaw, I discovered a love of literature. And I’ll always remember climbing the stairs to the treehouse classroom for Mr Etienne’s French lessons.
Students with Mr Preece (2010-11)
What was your favourite subject?
English was always my favourite subject. For my MYP Personal Project, I decided to write a novella. That project lit a spark for writing that has stayed with me ever since, and it’s still something I’m passionate about today.
MYP Graduation (2011)
What sparked your initial interest in journalism?
My first taste of journalism came during an internship at the Cambodia Daily. I’ll never forget walking down to a pagoda-shaped newsstand one morning, handing over some riel and seeing my story in print.
How did you figure out what you wanted to do with your life?
After completing the IB in Australia, I went to law school and spent some time working in entertainment law. I enjoyed it, but I kept finding myself drawn to reporting and writing. Making the leap into journalism felt right, and I’ve never looked back. My legal training was invaluable when pursuing my new path and gave me the confidence to build a career in the media.
What do you enjoy most about your work at Seven News?
Every day brings something completely different. One morning, I’m at a crime scene, the next I’m flying in a plane or stepping aboard a ship to cover a story. I meet people from all walks of life, including politicians, celebrities, and everyday people doing extraordinary things. I love having the opportunity to tell their stories. There’s also nothing quite like the rush of breaking news.
If you could give ISPP’s current Grade 12 class some advice at their graduation, what would it be?
Ask yourself every day, “What would I do if I weren’t afraid?” Be courageous, follow what excites you, and never give up. My brother Matt now works in finance in New York after playing college football. We both love having jobs we’re passionate about and places we’re excited to live in, though we know it didn’t come without hard work. Fifteen years later, Cambodia still feels like a second home every time we visit, full of the adventures and memories that made our childhood so special.
Amy and Matt in NYC (2024)
This interview was first published in the ISPP Pulse Magazine (August – October 2025).
More “Where Are They Now?” interviews:
- Class of 2015 – Phnom Penh 2025 Reunion
- Sarah Woods-Killam (2009 – 2015)
- Mugabi Byenkya (2001 – 2005)
- Clara Kim (2012 – 2014)
- Victor Byenkya (2001 – 2005)
- Joseph Surivong (2002 – 2014)
- Visakha Som (1991 – 1996)
- Yoobin Kim (2012 – 2015)
- Gaurav Raul (2005 – 2007)
- Meghan McMurray (2015 – 2017)
- Enya Pangilinan (2009 – 2012)
- Vimuolea Hang (2006 – 2013)
- Frank van Zoggel (1991 – 1993)
- Sharlynn Ng (2005 – 2010)
- Brian Webster (2002 – 2016)
- Thida Leiper (1991 – 2005)
- Luca Fleschler, Fraya Fleschler, Ximena Herrera (2011 – 2017)
- Dany, Soriya and Kalyane Warren (1996 – 2001)
- Nadia Fernando (1999 – 2015)
- Lotta Urban (1998 – 1999)
- Sreyneath Poole (2000 – 2005)
