Where are they now? Class Act 2002

Here is an update on the recipients of The Otago Daily Times Class Act 2002.

• Read the story [1]

• Bayfield High School
Katie Schofield (25)
Is: Doing a master of physical education degree at the University of Otago, looking at the adaptations that occur to skeletal muscle and blood hormones after resistance training, followed by a period of not training, in individuals who have a parent or two with type 2 diabetes.

Also: Works part-time as a facilitator for a distance learning paper, for the Southern Institute of Technology. Schofield competed in the senior women's events at the Oceania track and field meet in 2002, finishing second in the 200m and third in the 100m, but after a serious knee injury, she gave up running and took up track cycling. At the NZ Track Nationals last year, she was fourth in the sprints and third in the 500m time trial.

Qualifications: Bachelor of physical education. Bachelor of science in human nutrition.

Plans: To cycle internationally and to focus on improving sport performance in elite athletes.

Jeremy Weir (24)
Is: In Wellington, working for IBM as an IT consultant for Global Business Services, and at present working on the Earthquake Commission account.

Qualifications: B Sc (Hons) computer science. BCom accounting and economics.

Plans: To head overseas for a few years and possibly work for a game development company before returning to New Zealand and starting his own company.

• Blue Mountain College
Tameryn Botha (25)
Is: A flight attendant with Mount Cook Airline (Air New Zealand link), based in Christchurch.

Was: Working for the Bank of New Zealand for four years.

Plans: On eventually opening her own beachside cafe.

Levi McCall (25)
Is: An investment adviser with Craigs Investment Partners (formerly ABN Amro Craigs) in Blenheim and studying to complete the last two papers of the New Zealand Exchange (NZX) diploma.

Qualifications: BCom (finance and economics). NZX associate adviser.

Plans: To establish his career in Marlborough.

• Columba College
Fran Hackshaw (24)
Is: In the process of moving from Dunedin to Upper Hutt with her partner and working on her MA thesis. She specialises in Old Norse language and literature, and her thesis is about the Icelandic Saga of King Hrolf Kraki (a narrative about pre-Viking Age kings and their rivals).

Also: Has been involved in theatrical productions of Old Norse, Old English and Middle English texts and in March travelled to the University of Cambridge for a conference with the topic, "Between the Islands: Interaction with Vikings in Ireland and Britain".

Qualifications: Did a BA at Otago before completing her Honours year at Victoria. GDip arts.

Plans: To complete her MA thesis, then head to Canada to work on her PhD.

Sarah Noble (24)
Is: Assistant manager at Fish Fine Music, a classical music retailer in the Sydney CBD, and an opera critic for NZ Opera News and TheOperaCritic.com.

Qualifications: Bachelor of arts (majoring in English and French).

Plans: Seeing and writing about as much opera as possible (see separate story: Passion for opera traced to gesture of love [2]).

• Cromwell College
Jessica Ferris (24)
Is: Working for Athfield Architects, Wellington, on a variety of projects from multistorey hotel/apartments to college and university projects and waterfront developments.

Qualifications: Bachelor of architecture, first-class honours.

Plans: To continue working in architecture, gaining experience and registration, and to travel.

Matt Seeley (24)
Is: Living in Napier and working as a house surgeon at Hawkes Bay Hospital.

Qualifications: MBChB.

Plans: To do otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat surgery) and would like to spend more time working in Sweden, where he went for his medical elective.

• Dunstan High School
Jenny Willyams (24)
Is: A solicitor at Ward Adams Bryan-Lamb in Invercargill, practising mostly as a family lawyer.

Qualifications: LLB, BA (English). Admitted to the bar.

Plans: To remain in Invercargill at this stage and to travel for a couple of months at a time in the next couple of years.

Joe Dobson (23)
Is: A builder with Stewart Construction in Dunedin, having completed his apprenticeship in April. Last year, he won the Registered Master Builders Apprentice of the Year competition.

Also: Is captain of the St Kilda Surf Lifesaving Club.

Was: An officer cadet in the army for three months before working as a bricklayer.

Qualifications: Certificate of building and construction.

Plans: To study construction management, using a $7000 study grant he won as national apprentice of the year. Is considering doing aid work in South America. Would eventually like to have his own construction business.

• East Otago High School
Toni-Lee Carter (24)
Is: Deputy principal at Timaru Christian School.

Qualifications: Bachelor of primary teaching.

Plans: To stay in Timaru for a few years and later would run a facility for pregnant teens and girls with eating disorders or drug and alcohol problems.

Ben Young (23)
Is: In Auckland where he runs bwagy Ltd, his own company which provides internet marketing advice to start-up companies and general business advice.

Also: Wrote a book, The Best Ideas are Free, and has a blog detailing his ideas on business and marketing, which is republished on The New Zealand Herald website.

Qualifications: Bachelor of commerce in management and marketing.

Plans: To publish two more books he has written, using a portion of the sales as micro loans for entrepreneurs in developing countries.

• Gore High School
Laura Johnstone (nee Crosbie) (24)
Is: In Lorneville, near Invercargill, studying for a master of veterinary science degree at Massey University and writing her thesis by correspondence. Johnstone is researching how lolitrem B, a fungal toxin that is in many New Zealand pastures, affects horses.

Was: In Palmerston North conducting trials for her masters at Massey University. Last year, she worked as a vet at the Canterbury Equine Clinic in Prebbleton, Christchuch.

Qualifications: BVSc with distinction.

Plans: To do further study in the United States to gain experience in equine medicine.

Naomi Johnstone (24)
Is: In her final year of an LLB (Hons) at Otago but has taken time off to travel and work. This included six months with the United Nations doing post-tsunami and post-conflict work in Indonesia, working for an international conflict-prevention and analysis NGO in Sri Lanka for four months, and a university exchange in Belgium.

Also: Travelled around New Zealand and the Philippines for six months playing in high schools with a band she was in. Recently returned from a peace-building and reconciliation conference in Sri Lanka.

Qualifications: BA (linguistics and Maori).

Plans: To work in intercultural conflict resolution and human rights, in New Zealand or overseas.

• John McGlashan College
Tim Walsh (25)
Is: Studying towards a bachelor of music in trombone performance at the New Zealand School of Music's Victoria University campus.

Also: Is a territorial in the central band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, performing public concerts and turning out on parade for commemorations.

Has played bass trombone in the NZSO National Youth Orchestra since 2006. Will play with the NZ School of Music brass ensemble at the Melbourne International Brass Festival this month.

Was: In the National Youth Brass Band when it went to the United Kingdom in 2003. Worked at the University of Otago School of Pharmacy as a research assistant between studies. Was in the bands 'Koile and RFM; the latter released an album and twice toured the country.

Qualifications: Bachelor of science (chemistry). Diploma for graduates (music).

Plans: To finish work on a music release for the summer, "left over" from RFM and his music study at Otago. May study overseas when he finishes studying in Wellington. Ultimately would like to combine playing in an orchestra with freelance work, teaching or recording.

William Jones (25)
Is: Working on his parents' Middlemarch farm which has beef cattle, and merino and Romney sheep.

Also: Is a keen hunter, having shot a 14-point stag and numerous boars over 150lb (68kg).

Was: Working in dairy farming, deer farming and live animal capture from helicopters.

Qualifications: Bachelor of commerce in agriculture.

Plans: To run and eventually own some of the family farm, and to have a flock of superfine merino sheep.

• Kaikorai Valley College
Suny Verberne Heazlewood (24)
Is: Living at Lake Hawea with her partner and, as mother to two children aged 1 and 3, describes her present role as "executive director for the social development and welfare of children".

Was: A Japanese interpreter and English language teacher.

Qualifications: Real-estate salesperson certificate and university political studies (Japanese).

Plans: To be living between Japan and New Zealand and to "continue to be happy".

Callum Spence (24)
Is: In the final year of his bioengineering PhD at the University of Canterbury. Spence is using a cutting-edge, laser-based flow-measurement technique and mathematical modelling to investigate the flow in the respiratory tract, with the aim of improving breathing therapies.

Also: Does lecturing at the University of Canterbury.

Qualifications: BE (Hons) Mechanical.

Plans: Include being overseas, doing postdoctoral research and industry work, then settling back in New Zealand.

• Kavanagh College
Katrina Yelavich (24)
Is: In Wellington, having moved there this year to further her acting. She works as a medical receptionist at Wakefield Specialist Centre and recently played one of Miss Brodie's prized pupils in the Stagecraft theatre company's production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. In November, she will play the maid in Ophelia Thinks Harder.

Was: Involved with the Globe Theatre in Dunedin as an actor, production assistant and sound operator.

Qualifications: BA (German), PgDip secondary teaching.

Plans: To continue acting.

Paul Maxwell (24)
Is: A registered electrician working for New Zealand company HRV in Melbourne.

Also: Plays Gaelic football and is involved in Edmund Rice Camps.

Was: Working for his father at Victor Brown Electrical in Dunedin.

Plans: To go to the UK next year and has thoughts of joining the police force when he returns to New Zealand in about two years' time.

• Kings High School
Chris Ashton (24)
Is: In Dunedin, where he is a director of Konstruct Clothing Ltd, Unicity Ltd, and children's clothing label Cutesi.

Also: Plays for the Southern men's national league hockey team, and plays for and coaches the University men's B club team. Played for University A when it beat Albany in the premier club final two weeks ago.

Qualifications: LLB.

Plans: To buy a house and hopes to see his business continue to grow (see separate story: Clothing gurus love their lifestyle brand [3]).

Jesse Robertson (23)
Is: In the second year of a PhD in geological fluid dynamics and physical volcanology at the Research School of Earth Sciences at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra.

Was: In Dunedin jazz band Plagiarhythm.

Qualifications: Bachelor of science, with honours, in geology. Diploma of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (DipABRSM) in piano performance.

Plans: To finish his PhD, gain some postdoctoral experience in the US, Canada or the UK, then return to New Zealand in search of a research job (see separate story: 'Having too much fun overseas' [4]).

• Kurow Area School
Rachel Grout (24)
Is: Finishing a bachelor of commerce and marketing at Lincoln University.

Also: Is a part-time barista, seasonal daffodil picker, marks assignments for lower-level marketing papers and is a youth leader at her church.

Was: In the navy until being sent home with an injury.

Plans: To work in marketing in New York or to stay in New Zealand and establish a "home environment" where young women and girls with nowhere to go can learn how to provide for themselves.

• Lawrence Area School
Donna McKnight (23)
Is: A registered nurse in the emergency department of Western Hospital in Melbourne.

Was: Nursing in Perth.

Qualifications: Bachelor of nursing.

Plans: To continue nursing, travel and possibly train as a midwife.

Luke Fahey (24)
Is: A steel detailer at Alan Reay Consultants in Christchurch and is at present backpacking through South America for eight weeks.

Was: At Calder Stewart in Milton for four years doing the same job.

Plans: To travel and work overseas, and to start his own business.

• Logan Park High School
Louise Watson (25)
Is: In her last year of a BCapSci in human nutrition at the University of Otago.

Also: Captains the Dunedin Technical premier women's football team and played futsal for the Otago women's team. Worked as a medical receptionist at the Maori Hill Clinic after completing her psychology degree and now works part-time in the same capacity at the Urgent Doctors centre.

Qualifications: BSc in psychology.

Plans: To apply for entry into the dietetics programme next year.

Paul Crane (24)
Is: Studying for a PgDipSci in telecommunications at the University of Otago.

Also: Works as a lab demonstrator for computer science. Is chairman of the Otago Symphonic Band, in which he plays lead alto saxophone, and plays in the Octagon City Big Band, also as first alto saxophone.

Was: Working for a local company doing voiceover IP telephony. This involved installing telephony systems and providing customer support for a range of clients worldwide.

Qualifications: BSc (Hons) computer science.

Plans: To do a master's degree and eventually work in the UK, where he was born.

• Maniototo Area School
Isobel Dowle (23)
Is: In Ireland on a working holiday and employed on a farm/garden.

Qualifications: Bachelor of science (majoring in biochemistry). Postgraduate diploma in science (major in biochemistry).

Was: Working for Pfizer in Upper Hutt making veterinary vaccines.

Plans: To find a job in a lab or try something new when she returns to New Zealand in just over a year.

Scott Becker (24)
Is: General manager of the Fox and Ferret bar and restaurant in Riccarton, Christchurch.

Also: Has been in the New Zealand men's curling team since 2006, finishing third at the last two Pacific Games curling championships.

Was: In the New Zealand junior curling team from 2001 to 2004.

Qualifications: Bachelor of tourism, majoring in management.

Plans: To travel to Europe to gain experience in his sport, and to make a push for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

• Mount Aspiring College
Frances Jackways (24)
Is: In Auckland working in the commercial property team of commercial law firm Minter Ellison Rudd Watts.

Also: Plays netball at premier club level and for Auckland B.

Was: Studying in Dunedin and playing netball for the Otago Rebels.

Qualifications: Bachelor of laws. Bachelor of arts.

Plans: To stay in Auckland for a while, then work overseas.

Jennifer Pierce (25)
Is: Working as an on-road chef for Top Deck Tours and is at present on a 27-day tour around 11 European countries.

Qualifications: Advanced certificate in performing arts. Bachelor of social and community work.

Plans: To move to Spain this month to work as a nanny for 10 months. Hopes to travel around South America and walk the Camino de Santiago, possibly to raise money for a New Zealand charity. On her return to New Zealand, she plans to use her social work qualification to work with youth in art and music therapy, and would like to be involved in programmes that use the outdoors as a form of rehabilitative therapy.

• Otago Boys High School
Andy McMillan (24)
Is: A swimmer, living in Auckland, and training on the North Shore at the Millennium Institute of Sport and Health.

Also: Is New Zealand titleholder in the men's 200m freestyle and recently broke Danyon Loader's 200m freestyle short course NZ record. Other achievements include a world record in surf lifesaving (4 x 50 obstacle relay), and five world silver medals and five NZ records in surf lifesaving. Competed at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the 2007 and 2009 world swimming champs and the 2008 world surf lifesaving champs.

Plans: To swim at the 2012 Olympics in London (see separate story: Swimmer inspired to give it one more shot [5]).

Alan Hoffman (25)
Is: Working at Dunedin quantity surveyors Chas E. George & Sons and studying for a BSc in construction through Massey University. He should be finished this in November.

Also: Is on the Otago NZIQS (NZ Institute of Quantity Surveyors) board. Is senior house master at the Otago Boys High School hostel. Competed at the 2003 Youth Olympics in Sydney, where the NZ junior badminton team he was part of was third and he made the quarterfinals of the doubles, and the semifinals of both the singles and the mixed doubles. Had a break from the sport after back surgery in 2004 and started back this year, representing Otago and winning the South Island Open Championships. His ultimate goal is to represent New Zealand at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Qualifications: Diploma in quantity surveying.

Plans: To head overseas for "work and play", then settle in New Zealand or Australia, climb the ladder at work and possibly do badminton coaching on the side.

• Otago Girls High School
Renee Moody (24)
Is: Working as a physiotherapist in the northern beaches of Sydney.

Qualifications: Bachelor of physiotherapy with credit.

Also: Awarded the NZ Society of Physiotherapists Inc prize for the student who attains the best overall standard in the third year of the degree of bachelor of phsyiotherapy (in 2005). Awarded the Otago Girls High School jubilee prize for best performance of an ex-pupil in the first year of university study (in 2003).

Plans: To continue working in Sydney and do more travelling, returning to New Zealand in four or five years. She and her fiance want eventually to own their own physio clinic.

Kelly Nichol (24)
Is: Studying costume construction at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in Wellington. At present she is in a costume-management unit for the school's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Qualifications: Bachelor of music, majoring in performance on double bass.

Plans: To find costume work, hopefully, after graduating in November.

• Queens High School
Helen Caley (25)
Is: Working at Environment Canterbury (Canterbury Regional Council) processing resource consents.

Also: Does ITF taekwon-do, winning a gold medal at the Taekwon-Do World Cup in Italy in October and gaining her black belt in December. Competed in the 29er world championships (yachting) in Italy in 2003, finishing about halfway down the field.

Qualifications: BA/BSc, combined honours, first class.

Plans: To spend some time living overseas, do a masters/PhD and eventually be involved in environmental policy-making. Is also aiming for a spot in the NZ team for the taekwon-do world championships in 2011.

Zoe Moffat (25)
Is: An environmental scientist in Sydney with MWH, a global engineering consulting firm. Moffat has worked on a range of projects, including developing sustainable water-servicing strategies for new growth areas in Sydney, mitigating the impact of odour emissions from sewage-treatment plants, and managing the environmental impacts of building new water and wastewater infrastructure. She is working on a project to improve water quality at Sydney beaches by reducing wet weather sewage overflows.

Also: Top in her class at university for three years. Won scholarship to attend Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology winter school in 2006. Won the NZ Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) national champs in 2006 with Maree Kelly and was second with the same partner in 2007 and 2008.

Qualifications: Bachelor of science (first-class honours) in chemistry.

Plans: To stay in Sydney for a few more years and in the same area of work.

• Roxburgh Area School
Elyse Bennetts (25)
Is: In Perth, working in procurement administration for multinational oil and gas company Eni Australia.

Also: Helps out with the family orchard and export company on a seasonal basis.

Was: Working for Select Recruitment and HR Ltd in Dunedin.

Qualifications: Bachelor of physical education (major in sport and leisure studies). Bachelor of commerce (major in management).

Plans: To work in the sport/event management field when the opportunity arises.

Kiri Pullar (24)
Is: Is at the University of Otago zoology department, finishing her master's.

Pullar, who is studying spider locomotion, has written a computer code that tracks the position of the various joints of spiders' legs. These walking and running results are compared with those of other animals to see if the same sort of energy-conserving mechanisms already observed in animals ranging from cockroaches to mammals are also used by spiders.

Also: Works part-time as a senior demonstrator for the first-year animal biology paper. Presented her work at a conference for the first time last year (at the Australia New Zealand Mathematics Convention) and is about to see work she did with a PhD student published in a scientific journal.

Qualifications: BSc (zoology major, mathematics minor).

Plans: To continue her research through a PhD and would like to end up with a job that requires computational biology research.

• South Otago High School
Sarah Latta (nee Eyles) (25)
Is: A paediatric occupational therapist, working for special education, Ministry of Education, Timaru.

Was: Working at Timaru Hospital for two years after graduating from Otago Polytechnic.

Qualifications: Bachelor of occupational therapy.

Plans: To continue working as an occupational therapist.

Daniel Gibbons (25)
Is: A tax consultant at WHK Taylors, Dunedin, an accounting and business advisory firm.

Qualifications: LLB (admitted to the bar). BCom.

Plans: Does not foresee any change to his present occupation but has not closed the door on other opportunities.

• St Hildas Collegiate
Bridget Fenton (24)
Is: Working as a judge's clerk for the Hon Justice Bruce Robertson, at the Court of Appeal, in Wellington. Employed for a two-year term straight after graduating from law school, judges' clerks are involved in research and writing, and have an opportunity to experience the law outside of practice.

Also: Spent a semester in 2006 as an exchange student at the University of Virginia.

Qualifications: LLB (Hons). BA (philosophy).

Plans: To join the Crown Law office next year, in the criminal process team. Some time in the next few years, she would like to study for a postgraduate degree at a US law school, before returning to work in New Zealand.

Sarah Bryant (24)
Is: A dentist in a general practice in New Plymouth.

Was: In the New Zealand triathlon team for six years, placing third in the 2003 under-19 duathlon world champs in Switzerland and second in the 2004 under-19 triathlon world champs in Portugal.

Qualifications: Bachelor of dental surgery.

Plans: To continue working as a dentist, and enter professional triathlon races overseas next year, competing in the half ironman distance. Possibly travel to Nepal to do some alpine trekking and offer dental aid work.

• St Kevins College
Mary Burke (24)
Is: About to go on her OE to Dundee, Scotland, where her partner has a rugby contract.

Was: Working for the past three years at the University of Otago Union, in the conference and events department.

Qualifications: BA in art history.

Plans: To get into marketing and sales of New Zealand produce and wine and eventually to have her own event-management business.

Craig Smith (24)
Is: Completing the graduate diploma of secondary teaching at the Dunedin College of Education (training to teach PE and health) while having rehab for a back injury, which meant he missed half the cricket season last year and the start of the season before that.

Also: A bowler, Smith has played several games for the State Otago Volts since 2005, and last year was part of the first Otago squad in 20 years to win the State Shield final (against Auckland at Eden Park). Spent six months playing club cricket in England in 2007 (playing for the Ainsdale Cricket Club in the first division of the Liverpool Cricket League). Went to Bangladesh in 2004 with the New Zealand under-19 cricket team to play in the Youth World Cup.

Qualifications: Bachelor of physical education (majoring in exercise prescription and management, and sport and leisure studies).

Plans: To get fit in time for this cricket season and back in contention to play for Otago. To return to the UK, preferably Scotland, to play cricket in the next few years and to eventually be a PE teacher.

• St Peters College
Veronica Boyle (25)
Is: A first-year house officer (a junior doctor) at Southland District Health Board, Invercargill.

Qualifications: Bachelor of human biology, bachelor of medicine and surgery.

Plans: Are "constantly changing" but involve staying in New Zealand for the long term.

Duncan Gibson (24)
Is: Assistant winemaker at Chard Farm winery near Queenstown, working for about three months each year in a winery in the northern hemisphere. This has taken him to Napa Valley in California, and Burgundy in France. He recently returned to Burgundy and will then head to Germany.

Was: Working at Villa Maria in Auckland, Australia's Hunter Valley and at Esk Valley Estate in Hawkes Bay.

Qualifications: Bachelor of viticulture and oenology.

Plans: To live in France for a year or two and eventually create his own wine label.

• The Catlins Area School
Karyn Lean (23)
Is: A rotational physiotherapist at Southland Hospital, Invercargill.

Also: Helps with the youth group at her church and last year spent 10 days in Cambodia as part of a missions trip.

Qualifications: Bachelor of physiotherapy.

Plans: To specialise in physiotherapy for neurological patients and spend time working as a physio in a third world country.

• The Taieri High School
Gina Williamson (25)
Is: In Wellington, working as an analyst for the Reserve Bank in the stability analysis team in the financial markets department. This team considers the relationships between the general economy, financial system and banking system in New Zealand, and identifies and analyses pockets of risk within the banking system as a whole.

Qualifications: Bachelor of arts with honours (economics - first class). Bachelor of laws with honours (first class). Received the Reserve Bank of New Zealand academic scholarship at university.

Plans: To gain more experience at the Reserve Bank before heading overseas to possibly work and do a master's degree in economics in the UK.

Bevan Lawson (24)
Is: A physiotherapist at Physiotherapy NZ in Christchurch.

Also: Has represented New Zealand at age-grade and senior level in korfball, a mixed team sport in which players must elude their personal opponent to shoot a ball through a korf - the Dutch word for basket.

Qualifications: Bachelor of physiotherapy.

Plans: To continue working as a physio for as long as he finds it fulfilling, possibly combining it with overseas travel and volunteer work in developing countries. Hopes to go to China next year for the Asia-Oceania korfball champs.

• Tokomairiro High School
Kate Flett (24)
Is: Working part-time at Big River Educare in Balclutha and relieving at different early childhood centres in South Otago. Is also studying for a Bachelor of teaching and learning (ECE) through Victoria University.

Qualifications: Diploma of early childhood teaching.

Plans: To complete her degree next June and continue to work in the early childhood sector.

• Waitaki Boys High School
Sean Church (25)
Is: Working for KPMG Auckland, while completing his professional exams to become a chartered accountant. Church splits his time between the audit and accounting advisory divisions, with clients ranging from listed corporates to professional sports teams.

Qualifications: B Com (finance and accounting majors).

Plans: To obtain his chartered accountant accreditation this year and then do his OE, possibly by being placed on a secondment through KPMG somewhere in Europe. Hopes to eventually work for himself in New Zealand.

Ben Macgregor (24)
Is: The self-employed managing director of Gymeez Health & Fitness Ltd in the Wellington CBD.

Qualifications: Bachelor of science (anatomy and structural biology). Postgraduate diploma in science, with distinction (anatomy and structural biology).

Plans: To continue expanding his business and to pursue interests in advanced paramedics (particularly search and rescue) and/or clinical research.

• Waitaki Girls High School
Jinty MacTavish (24)
Is: Living in Whaingaroa, on the west coast of the North Island, and working for the Enviroschools national team, supporting schools to adopt a whole-school approach to sustainability. MacTavish has been travelling the country, running workshops in which young people examine issues like climate change and peak oil.

Also: Is a Sustainable Dunedin City committee member and does volunteer work for 350 Aotearoa, the local arm of 350.org, which is co-ordinating an international day of climate action in October.

Was: In the middle of a master's degree in science communication when she was offered the Enviroschools position, and hopes to complete her studies by the end of next year. As part of her thesis, looking at the state of climate change education in secondary schools, she produced the film, Lessons From a Melting Icecap. This followed the journey of three Otago Girls High School pupils from Dunedin to Greenland, where they came face to face with the impacts of climate change, and won Best New Zealand Film at the Reel Earth Film Festival (the southern hemisphere's premier environmental film festival). The film is now in more than 200 schools nationwide.

Qualifications: Bachelor of science. Postgraduate diploma of natural history filmmaking and communication.

Plans: To return to Dunedin in October , to work with local secondary enviroschools, and is considering standing for the city council next year.

Shannon Blackbeard (25)
Is: Working full-time in Dunedin as a bakery assistant, while thinking about what she will do with her degree or whether she will continue with her studies.

Also: Went on a student exchange to Lyon, France, in the first half of 2006.

Qualifications: BA (Hons) in French. Master of arts in French.

Plans: Ultimately, she plans to do something where she can use French and help people.

• Wakatipu High School
Josie Young (22)
Is: A youth worker for Child, Youth and Family at Te Puna Wai o Tuhinapo - Youth Justice in Christchurch. She works with young offenders aged 14 to 17 years, helping them to deal with their issues and "transition" them back into the community.

Also: Spent a month recently travelling through Vietnam, doing volunteer work in orphanages.

Was: Running a small sports coaching business for 5- to 8-year-olds in Wellington, and playing for the Wellington Blaze domestic women's cricket team.

Plans: To travel to Argentina in February to work with young people in a slum in Buenos Aires. Wants to continue working at Te Puna Wai for a while and eventually open a halfway house for young people "without places to go and people to care for them".

Rebecca Lawrence (22)
Is: Doing an MSc in ecology at the University of Otago.

Also: Went to Denmark in 2004 on a Rotary youth exchange. The New Zealand outdoors was a big part of what she missed while there and led to her studying ecology.

Qualifications: BSc (major ecology, minor statistics).

Plans: To finish her master's degree, then find a job that has an ecological focus.