What did you study at University?
I studied a Bachelor of Arts in History and Sociology at the University of Auckland, with Honours in History.
I relocated from Auckland to Wellington for the graduate programme at MBIE, which has been a great experience so far. Living in Wellington is different to living Auckland - it is smaller and it has a different vibe. I like the fact that I can walk around the city easily and I don’t need to have a car.
Why did you apply for the Graduate Programme at MBIE?
As part of my Sociology major, I did a few policy-related papers, particularly around welfare. Looking into the various aspects of policy behind the welfare system was really interesting to me and gave me an insight into policy work. At MBIE - being one of New Zealand’s largest regulators that sets government policy - there are many more policy areas to explore and work on.
What is your favourite thing about the Programme so far?
The cohort has a community feel, a real friendliness. I think there are about 25 of us this year. I have made some really good friends, which is really important to me. It is great meeting people that are in a similar position to me; it helps with learning, and you can pop a quick email to the graduate email address list and say - “Does anyone know about this?” It has been quite helpful having this peer support.
What is an interesting piece of work you have been working on?
From day one, I have been working on the KiwiSaver Default Provider review. It is a piece of work that has made us consider different ways of thinking. As a History graduate, I wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to engage with financial markets – my team at MBIE. The variety of work available is really great!
What do you hope to get out of the Graduate Programme?
For the most part - the learning. The Graduate programme is a really good opportunity to prepare you for working in the public sector. I would like to excel as a Policy Analyst and this programme is catered to that aspiration. I can’t emphasize enough that I particularly enjoy the exposure we get; from day one I was meeting with external stakeholders relevant to my area of work.