Our guest is Dr Neda Chepinchikj, implementation manager for English language development at UNSW. Drawing on her background in applied linguistics and years supporting students with English as an additional language, Neda reflects on working at the intersection of teaching, research, and institutional strategy. She speaks about navigating the central–faculty divide, building trust with academics, and the collaborative labour behind embedding language development across programs. For those finding their place in the third space, her message is steady: know what the work demands, embrace the variety, and stay patient — real impact takes time.