Digital specialist

"I’m the Digital Studio manager at the Auckland War Museum. The Digital Studio maintains, enhances, and develops the Museum’s web products and some of the digital products on-site. We also work on online analytics and tracking, digital project delivery, and futureproofing the Museum’s digital development and initiatives.

"The best part of my job is that I work in a space that is so important to Aucklanders and my work really matters. There are many highlights to my role! I have a wonderful team who I enjoy working with. We’re always creating something new or making something better, and I love that the work is diverse, exciting, and it never stagnates.

"The opening of Te Ao Mārama (the South Atrium of the Museum) in December 2020 was a great time. A number of onsite digital initiatives that we had been working on for the better part of the year were successfully launched to the public – I love being in that space and watch visitors interact with our work.

"I use skills that I’ve learnt through both my degrees every single day and couldn’t do my job without them. These skills include the ability to take in complex and technical information and translate it into something that anyone can understand. I also need to be able to listen to and understand many diverse perspectives, make hard decisions based on limited information, and convey those decisions in a clear and diplomatic manner.

"As an undergrad I didn’t have a clear career path in mind, but I knew where my strengths lay - writing, communication, languages and an appreciation of different art forms. An Arts degree allows you to be curious, so I knew I would be able to use my strengths and find out what I loved and wished to do as a future career.

“After graduating I moved to London where I worked in several public relations and communications roles, before going onto New York to freelance as a communications specialist and getting involved in the tech community there. 

"Back in New Zealand I completed my Master of Public Policy while working at Auckland Council which brought even more new skills to my work. We live in a fast-changing world, so the critical skills acquired through an arts degree are invaluable in any industry."