How would you introduce yourself in one sentence?

I am a forward focused student from a small town in Taranaki who enjoys tramping and gaming.

Why did you choose to study engineering?

I enjoy trying to work out how everything around me works. So I took the next step and started to design and put things together. I then went on to study engineering so that what I can design more complex and interesting things to help people.

In which projects have you been involved in and outside of university?

My final year project is with Unison to guide their asset replacement program. My team is running hundreds of tests on different conductors to determine what affects the strength of the conductors. This information can then be applied to their entire network to determine which lines would be in the greatest need of replacement.

I have also built an infinity table. This is a table with LEDs enclosed by a mirror and a one way mirror. This gives the illusion of LEDs moving down through the floor.

How would you like to contribute to the electricity supply industry in the future?

I enjoy working with software and writing code, as well as the scale of the power industry. I would like to be in a position where I can be developing software for automation of power systems.

What is the most important piece of advice you would give to high school students wanting to start a degree in engineering? And to university students who are about to select their engineering specialisation?

Engineering is challenging, but it is so worth it. Pick the degree and specialisation that you will enjoy the most (and have jobs at the end of it). Then do your own little projects. This will make everything you do and learn so much more relevant.