Grace Little

“Engineering Science stood out to me because it wasn’t confined to one area or industry. The elective courses allow you to tailor the programme to your interests. I was particularly interested in technology and the data analysis side of Engineering Science.

"I’m not from Auckland, so when I was exploring universities, I was also looking at halls. I thought the halls at the University of Auckland were great! I stayed in the Waipārūrū  Hall for my first year. It was new, and I was in the first cohort of students in the hall, so I thought that was quite cool. 

“This year I’m the Vice President of SPIES, the South Pacific Indigenous Engineering Students network. Our events aim to support students culturally, academically, and socially. My favourite part of my role is being in a position of influence and creating events that nurture these areas. It’s been an incredibly rewarding role that has helped me gain leadership experience and develop professionally.

“Through my internship with Tetra Tech Coffey, I worked in the Environmental and Social Advisory team, primarily on Environmental and Social Impact Assessments and Environmental and Social Management Plans for various projects around the world. I loved the range of projects and being able to learn about the different environmental and social impacts that must be considered, as well as the different measures to manage these.

“I’d like to make a positive impact on communities through my career and prioritise sustainability and environmental concerns. I hope to include more of the technical skills that I’ve developed, and learn new software and programs used in the industry.”