I’m British Afro-Caribbean. My grandparents on my dad’s side migrated from Jamaica to the UK as part of the Windrush Generation. From my mum’s side I’m Irish and Welsh. I was born in the UK and moved here when I was little, growing up in West Otago.
Tell us about your graduate placement and your host agency.
I’m placed at the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) in the Regional Development Policy team. We’ve been working to promote better connections and cooperation between government agencies in the various regions across the country.
Is there a career goal you are working towards?
I don’t have a really clear career goal, but I think the beauty of a programme like this is that it gives me the opportunity to work in a number of different parts of MSD and work out where my strengths are, develop a range of skills and work out where my interests in the Public Service are.
Why do you think it’s important to have a diverse Public Service?
I think any system benefits when you have a diverse range of lived experiences to draw from, and the Public Service exists in a unique space where they can draw from that range of experience but also have a key role in shaping those experiences of people across the public.
What advice do you give to graduates considering a career in the Public Service?
It is a fantastic opportunity and a really good challenge. There is so much to learn, and you meet some fantastic people. It is definitely a space to hone in on your strengths and apply them to work that affects the wider population.