When I finished my geography degree at Otago, I'd like to say I knew exactly what I wanted to do, but the truth is I was drawn to planning because I literally had no other idea what to do and my friends were doing it. It ended up being a hugely fun, hilarious and rewarding two years that has given me incredibly useful and transferable skills but more importantly a wide network of professional links and countless great mates. The course also gave me the opportunity to travel around Southeast Asia and India for 2 months while researching my thesis topic, a true once in a lifetime chance that wouldn't have been possible without MPlan and the Geography Department. Of course, it's a challenging two years; whether you're juggling coursework, half way through your thesis literature review, or interviewing small business owners in the 40 degree Indian sun – but every opportunity you get in MPlan gives you skills that are not only sought after in New Zealand but around the world.
While completing my thesis I was fortunate enough to be able to work on the development of Dunedin's 2nd Generation Plan with a fantastic bunch of people at the Dunedin City Council and I continued there after finishing my thesis, making great friends and great connections while helping to shape the future of my home town. After graduating in August last year, I moved to the UK in search of a different challenge. Now, thanks to the skills that the MPlan course taught me and the confidence it gave me, I work at Westminster City Council as a Planning Officer. I am lucky enough to be working in one of the most exciting places in London, dealing with occasional applications at the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace and large scale redevelopment in one of Europe's wealthiest suburbs. I am out site visiting on a daily basis in some of the most iconic places in the world, a real dream job that is only possible because of the work I put in and the skills I picked up during my time at Otago.
Studying MPlan was a hugely rewarding and enjoyable time and it was well worth the late nights in the planning studio to have met so many fantastic people - both students and staff – and to now be able to use my degree in a way that allows me to travel while working in such an exciting place!