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Our Alumni: where are they now?
Dylan BaiSEF Class of 2017
At the end of 2016, I had the great fortune of becoming a recipient of a SEF Scholarship to provide financial and professional development support throughout my tertiary studies at the University of Auckland. It has provided me with an abundance of work experience within my chosen field that I could not have attained on my own, as well as access to accredited professionals who would mentor me in the right direction. It has been a privilege to be a part of the Staples Education Family and the opportunities provided have greatly assisted in my transition into the workforce and shaped me into the person I am today.

I began my tertiary studies undertaking a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) at the University of Auckland. However, upon the completion of my first year, I realised that I did not want to restrict myself to the field of engineering and decided to add on a Bachelor of Commerce. I am now in my final semester of a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) & Bachelor of Commerce conjoint, specialising in Civil Engineering and double Majoring in Finance and Account. My degree has been a long and challenging undertaking over the past five years; however, I have thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it in hindsight. My engineering degree, though difficult, demanding, and tedious at times has nurtured my love for problem-solving and analytical thinking.   I have thoroughly enjoyed my commerce degree as it has allowed me to cultivate my business interests and expand my knowledge within a field that differentiates me from the engineering industry. Moving forward, I now acknowledge that my passions within these two subjects have drawn me into the consulting industry, where I may apply a marriage of my two degrees to the best of my capabilities.

Dilworth and the SEF program have been instrumental in developing my career and shaping me into the person that I am today. Nearly all the professional experience I have accumulated to date has been secured through the SEF. I owe a great deal of gratitude to the Foundation for networking me with engineering work opportunities at great companies such as Metro Performance Glass and Dodd Civil Consultants Ltd,  which I needed to complete the practical hours for my degree. These opportunities also allowed me to gain my first taste of the corporate environment and learn many skills and qualities that cannot be taught within a university lecture. It is more than fair to say that the opportunities offered by the SEF have more than adequately prepared me for my transition into the workforce. I’ve been equipped with a broad scope of credentials and a mindset that will enable me to succeed in my chosen career path.

These professional experiences enabled me to accept an offer for a Strategist role at EverEdge Global within their Sydney office. I am beyond excited to make this transition "across the ditch" and will commence my employment on the 4th of July upon the completion of my studies. Dilworth and the SEF have supplied an invaluable number of opportunities that not many tertiary students get offered during their time at university. These have come to define who I am today and allowed me to reflect upon my aspirations and pursue a career that I’m passionate about. I am eternally grateful to the SEF for this, as well as to Rahul Jain of Metro Performance Glass and Peter Dodd of Dodd Civil Consultants, for taking a chance on me and providing me with work experience that has influenced much of my professional development.
Jamie Chen: Class of 2017 shares his journey with us:

"I studied Engineering Science at the University of Auckland. Engineering is essentially the art of making things better, heavily relying on problem solving and maths. If you think you that sounds vague, you’re not alone at all - the techniques are very general, and so can be applied to any number of fields and industries. Given this, I could have ended up working in production engineering, investment banking or anything in between!

During my degree thanks to SEF, I interned as a Mechanical Engineer at Datamars- a very ‘traditional’ engineering role, using computer modelling and getting hands-on in the workshop to make equipment. I learnt much during those long weeks, on communication and professionalism, but also simply that it wasn’t for me! CAD modelling wasn’t something I could see myself doing for decades, so I shifted the focus of my degree.
So where am I now? I work as Data & Insights Analyst at Electric Kiwi - in a very statistical and “corporate-y” role. Wait- back up, what happened here? Well, after my internships, I began taking statistical papers at every opportunity, which is something I thoroughly enjoyed. The possibilities of using models to find the best outcome, or predict the future was such a cool concept to me. Ultimately, this was just a different interpretation of “making things better.” If you’re wondering about what you can do, or what you want to do, don’t restrict yourself! You’d be surprised at how well skills from one area transfer to another, so don’t feel caged by the description of your degree.
Something I consider myself very lucky to have done was go on a study exchange! At the end of 2019, I spent 6 months in an amazing town called Lund, Sweden. The history, people and culture was amazing, and my experience is something I can not do justice in a short writeup. What I can tell you is those 6 months are still to this day the best 6 months of my life, and an opportunity that I encourage all of you to at least consider. More than anything, it offered perspective- about what I wanted, and where my life, study and career were heading.

SEF set me up for success for ways I didn’t even realise at the time. My advice to you is to take advantage of everything. Seriously, everything – the monetary component is arguably the least important part of the package. Actively chase your work experience chances- the amount you learn and process on those jobs is ridiculous, not to mention that the weeks and months look great on a CV when you graduate. Your buddy and mentor are available to bounce ideas off too- if you’re debating taking your degree or career in another direction, or generally feeling lost in a course, another perspective is invaluable. Hell, even the regular catchups with Karen & Jane are awesome in hindsight, you can train for being interviewed and communication in those meetings, and communication is one of the skills that will take you far.
You’ve got an amazing chance with SEF, and at uni to do anything you want. Go for it :)
Cheers,
Jamie

 
Luca Macioce (Class of 2018)

Upon leaving Dilworth in 2017, I was lucky enough to be amongst a group of boys who received SEF scholarships - A scholarship that provided me with high-quality tertiary assistance, relevant mentoring, and crucial work experience opportunities. Even beyond graduating, Staples have offered me continuous access to various support networks and opportunities.
 
I graduated from AUT in late 2020, with a Bachelor of Business Degree - majoring in Marketing, Advertising, and Sales. Shortly after this, I was able to land a job as an Ad-Ops executive at one of the country's most established advertising agencies, FCB Aotearoa - a place I had previously been an intern at through the help of SEF. Within this role, I was responsible for reputable clients such as Flight Centre, The New Zealand Fire Department, Summerset, and Spotify NZ. This role familiarised me with the process of running both paid and organic digital media campaigns within an extremely fast-paced and competitive industry.
 
During my time studying for a business degree, I had become more and more obsessed with the art of photography (and later on videography), and I managed to get myself involved in some truly special projects. I have taken photographs for some of NZ's top brands, including Vice NZ, Redbull NZ, and many others. I was given the role of Director of Photography at YGB records, and within this role, I was lucky enough to take the album cover for award-winning (New Zealand's 2019 album of the year), Avantdale Bowling Club. I have also had a selection of my work exhibited, with one of these exhibitions being hosted and supported by Redbull NZ.  After spending the beginning of last year working at FCB Aotearoa, I decided I was more suited to a professional role where I would be able to have a more creative contribution. This was a tough call to make, but in hindsight, it was a decision that made the most sense for me.
 
More recently, I have just wrapped up the launch of my first (photo) book titled ‘The Bridge’, which was my interpretation and documentation of the Mangere area, the place where I was raised. This project was picked up and published by Photoforum NZ, one of New Zealand’s most iconic photographic publishers. I was truly delighted with how well the launch of my first photobook went, and I managed to sell out all units within a week of launching. I now work a variety of jobs which allows me to focus on my work and keep the creative dream going. Some of this mahi includes freelance photography, videography, digital marketing, website design, and landscaping work. Whilst this path may have less stability than a traditional 9-5 role, I am super proud of my work, and I’m ambitious to keep growing.
 
A huge thank you to the SEF team for being such an influential part of my journey so far.
Indivar Kumar (Class of 2018)

I graduated from the University of Auckland in June 2021 with a BA and BCom, majoring in Criminology, Sociology, Marketing, and Management. My journey outside of university so far has been one filled with lessons, some of which I share below.

Lesson One: work on your passion 

My mind loves following the patterns of society and with this newfound passion, I ventured into the world of advertising. I was lucky enough to be approached for a Content Coordinator role at Daylight - an up and coming creative agency. In a short time, my knowledge of the industry has grown exponentially, as I touch every part of the process from client to dispatch. As our clients are often challenger brands, I have the privilege to work in fields I am passionate about.

Lesson Two: relationships are everything 

Meeting the right people AND at the right time leads to multiple doors opening. Work is based on relationships and SEF instilled this lesson in me very early on. Daylight is a great example of the importance of networking. I had previously interned at an internationally renowned advertising agency, Colenso BBDO, in 2020. My manager at the time is now the Managing Director at Daylight - you can tell how the rest of the story goes.

Lesson Three: the world doesn’t care about you 

When leaving Dilworth in 2017 and the University of Auckland in 2021, the shifts in the environment were drastic. I quickly realised in both instances that the world cares less about who you are. Instead, I am judged on what I can offer to those around me. While being a hard reality to swallow at times, the freedom felt being your own person can be liberating. Nonetheless, when revelling in the freedom of being your own person, it can be lonely at times and that’s when SEF would always reach out. The support that Staples offered meant that each step into this never-ending world was guided. Yes, you fall over, but SEF has placed the student at the forefront of all their efforts. 
 
A massive thank you to Haydn and the Staples Education Foundation team. The influence you have all had on my career trajectory has been nothing less than life changing.
 
A final message following a chat with Haydn. SEF encourages their students of good character to give back. No matter where you are in your life’s journey, the question always remains - what am I doing to give back?

Tommy Hou (Class of 2018) shares his journey with us;

I left Dilworth in 2017 and I chose to study engineering at the University of Auckland. Four years later, in September 2022, I graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering specialising in electrical engineering.

The most important thing that I have come to realise is that change is constant, and unless you come from the future, you never really know what will happen next. I believe the technical knowledge that I have learnt is great, but by far the most important skill I am practising, is the ability to adapt to change. I had adapted from the structured lifestyle at Dilworth to the messy life at university, and just when things were settling into a familiar rhythm, the Covid pandemic emerged to throw a wrench in everything!
 
I now work in a full time graduate position at an engineering consultancy called eCubed, where I previously interned with the help of SEF.
eCubed is a company that designs building services, and I work on the electrical aspects such as lighting, circuiting and power. While this is electrical engineering, it is very different to the electronics that I studied at university. It is a bit like comparing French with English, there are a few similar words, but at the end of the day it's a different language. So, I have discovered that my degree has wide application across a number of different disciplines, which is great news.
 
I would like to thank SEF and my sponsor Tim Chia. The support that they provided to me was invaluable and was like the backbone that enabled me to stand straight,  throughout the constant change. SEF encourages its students to give back, so for me the question is simply when.
Michael Fisher (Class of 2017)
Michael writes to us from Melbourne where he has a graduate job with L.E.K Consulting, a global strategy consulting firm. He shares elements of his journey to date with us and he has some pointers for our current students.

“I graduated from UoA with a BCom/BProp in 2021. A lot has happened since; I sold a majority  stake in a start-up business, I’ve relocated to Melbourne, and am currently strategy consulting across multiple industries.
My university experience itself was a bit of a rollercoaster, I failed a course and got terrible grades for a year and seriously considered dropping out several times.  But I got there in the end. More importantly, the tough times and overall experience taught me a bunch of lessons/beliefs that I hope are of value to current students:


1.  A degree isn’t enough – unsurprisingly!  It does not teach you many of the more important things you’ll need to win in life, i.e. how to think, how to get people to work alongside you, how to communicate effectively etc. The silver lining? University affords you the time to read books, learn online and in the lecture hall, and to do cool things to help build your capability and differentiate yourself.

2.  University does offer you some great things, take advantage of them: University affords you two invaluable things: 1) time and financial freedom to explore, 2) opportunities to meet people which is especially important to Dilworth boys. I’d encourage all students to take the opportunity to explore and meet new people.

3.  Look after your health: I bought into the stupid notion I could work constantly and thought it was a good idea to juggle my studies, business and part time work at the compromise of my exercise and sleep.  Its simply not possible. Don’t take on too much!

4.  Follow your heart you can afford to: I met a lot of people throughout my studies that were 2-3 years into their degree, hated it, but wouldn’t swap degrees because of all the lost time and money. Those same people are even unhappier two years later.  As SEF scholarship students we are fortunate with the financial assistance we receive and we have a lot of time left with no significant life commitments like children, so take the opportunity to pivot as much as you need.

5. Seek advice from people that are where you want to be – Involve your mentor in the  important decisions in life they have probably been there before.

Most importantly  I want to thank SEF, and in particular  my mentor, Haydn, for the invaluable support, wisdom and guidance throughout my journey so far and continuing into the future – none of this would have  been possible without you".
Joel Ibbs (Class of 2018) and his brother in Washington DC.
It is with great joy that I am able to sit and write about my experience through university and beyond, to be shared with Dilworth boys that will be lucky enough to join the Staples Education Foundation whānau. I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of the Staples Education Foundation legacy and to play a small part in welcoming the next generation of scholars. And where better to be writing this account than over breakfast, here in my new city, Washington, DC.

I started Dilworth at 11 years old in 2011, and whilst it wasn’t all smooth sailing, I had an incredible experience and was proud to graduate as Deputy Head Boy at the end of 2017. One of the most notable chapters of my time at Dilworth started when I was diagnosed with Scheuermann's Disease and learned that I had a herniation of my spinal cord. I underwent two operations in  2016, and after a good stint on both a neurosurgeon's and an orthopaedic surgeon’s operating table, I came away without any major hiccups.

Receiving the Staples Education Foundation (SEF) scholarship at the end of my schooling journey was a great honour and put me on track for success. I started my first year at the University of Auckland Business School with an open mind as to which path within my bachelor of commerce degree I would take. I was really fortunate to take some great advice from my SEF mentor, the late Miles Wallace, and SEF buddy, Calvin Lee, who both directed me to choose Business Analytics as my BCom, major based on my interest in the business application of data analysis. 

As part of the SEF program, I completed an internship working for Surf Life Saving Northern Region, which later turned into an offer of permanent employment. From January 2019 to February 2023, I was the training and development officer for New Zealand’s northern region, where I managed everything from the strategic planning to delivery of all member development operations for lifesaving clubs as far south as Raglan in the Waikato and as far north as Ahipara in Northland. Working in surf life saving, something that has been such a significant part of my life, was incredibly fulfilling and felt like the perfect first step in my career.

In July 2020, halfway through my final year of university, I was met with yet another health challenge, I experienced a series of  seizures and was diagnosed with generalised idiopathic epilepsy. My first seizure happened on a Saturday night in a busy Auckland restaurant (on a second date, can’t leave that out!), where I proceeded to have quite the fall and split my head open. I went on to have a few other incidents during that period, thankfully not hurting myself quite as badly as that initial fall until I was able to be suitably medicated. I struggled both physically and emotionally, while dealing with my epilepsy diagnosis - including, but not limited to, the fact that I was restricted from driving for nine months and that I wasn’t even able to trust myself and my own brain.  In some ways, it felt like I was going through many of the same struggles I faced when I had my two spinal operations; and whilst it was incredibly difficult, I did feel somewhat equipped to handle what I was going through.

Having spent a respectable stint working in surf life saving, I was ready for my next step. In March of 2023, I moved from Auckland to Washington, DC to start a job working for the Australian Department of Defence in the Australian embassy. I am currently working for the Defence Personnel Support Office, the team responsible for getting Australian service people and diplomats into the United States and sustaining them while they’re here. The role requires a comprehensive understanding of defence policy and legislation, and an understanding of how to administer the services and conditions that those posted from Australia to the United States are eligible for, to be able to sustain themselves and focus on progressing and protecting Australia’s national interests. It is a great opportunity for me to apply the skills that I acquired through university and previous employment, and take them to the next level. 

I believe that the adversity that I have faced and the opportunities I have been afforded are what I can attribute my success to. The SEF has played a key role in my story. The thing that I have enjoyed most about being a part of the SEF family is being surrounded by ambitious, driven, passionate people, whether it is the other students, buddies, mentors, board members, guest speakers, and especially Ian and Haydn.

I think that the best measure of my life is the number of good stories I have to tell and the number of great people I have met along the way. So far I feel extremely grateful and so happy with the direction my life is taking. 
Thomas Swinburn (Class of 2018) - third from left, a recent photo where Thomas was involved in the Ministerial visit to campus.
 
Kia ora koutou e te whānau!
 
It’s great to have the opportunity to share some updates with the SEF network. Despite 2023 being my sixth year of uni, I do not have any graduation photos or work stories to share just yet as I still study away – although I’ve been enjoying the journey and the horizon is now in sight!
 
I’ve now completed five years of medical school. After three years of preclinical studies up in Grafton, I had a great time in Hamilton for my first clinical year, where I enjoyed the smaller city vibes and the proximity of a whole range of trips and tramps. I then returned to Auckland City Hospital for my fifth year, experiencing the scale and speed of New Zealand’s largest specialist and academic centre. Last year, I was also fortunate to win an international essay competition on the student-patient relationship which allowed me to present my work at a conference in Brussels, dovetailing perfectly with an elective in population health I had arranged at the University of Oxford.
 
This year, I have stepped off the ‘med motorway’ to undertake an Honours year, working on a year-long thesis on infectious disease epidemiology. It’s been completely different to my clinical studies and a real challenge as I’ve had to build the plane as I fly it, but it’s also given me the flexibility to pick up some projects and passions that have been on the backburner.
 
Next year, I’ll be based in Whangārei for my final year of medical school. If the stories from my friends (who hop in two-seater planes to do remote outreach clinics around Northland) are anything to go by, I’m in for a whole another experience yet again. If there is anyone in our SEF/Dilworth/wider network who you know is thinking about medical school, please put them in touch; I’d love to help in any way I can!
 
Ngā mihi,
 
Thomas Swinburn
SEF Class of 2018
Oscar Read (Class of 2018) shares with us his learnings from his recent overseas exchange. 

An exchange is a great way to combine study and travel. Between January and April 2023, I participated in an exchange with the University of Toronto. This meant I paid domestic rates to study, for a semester, in a law school ranked first in Canada and 16th in the world; an opportunity that would usually cost $30,000 for international students. The academic experience was great. I had the opportunity to meet with students from different parts of the world who will form a great professional network in the years to come. I had access to world-class resources, including research databases, libraries, and experienced faculty members. The classes were small and engaging. While the program was challenging at times, there was a strong emphasis for exchange students to focus on the overseas experience rather than purely study.
 
While on the exchange I had the opportunity to travel. On the way to Toronto, I had a three-day stopover in Vancouver to explore. During the Semester break, I made a quick trip to New York—a short hour and forty-minute flight away—and was able to travel to Hong Kong to compete in a moot with a team from the University of Auckland. After my semester concluded, I flew to Montreal to check out Quebec and spent three months travelling through the UK, Europe and Japan to visit family and friends as a ‘scenic tour’ en route home.
 
I would readily recommend an exchange to anyone interested. The experience is a great way to break up your degree and gain access to different papers at incredible institutions. Moreover, living and travelling overseas builds desirable and employable skills. If you are thinking of going on exchange, I would offer three pieces of advice. First, over-estimate the cost—there are always unexpected costs and things always cost more than anticipated: travelling is not cheap. Second, think about timing—an exchange is a great way to end your degree when you are confident studying and when motivation is low.  However, the end of your degree is also when you will be finding the best part-time and graduate working opportunities in New Zealand so you need to consider this - Third, enjoy your time—it can be easy to be stressed by the pressure of studying overseas; be sure to remember that exploring the culture and country is as important as your studies, so have fun.
Sam Michie (Class of 2019) graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 2021.  He subsequently undertook a Master of Physiotherapy Practice, a new degree offered at the University of Auckland. Sam completed this in 2023, winning the Sport and Exercise Physiotherapy (SEPNZ) student research prize.  This award was made to the student submitting the best research project as part of their final year program. Sam’s thesis investigated the effects of carbon plate footwear on ground reaction forces during treadmill running. 

Sam writes: “In February 2024 I started working for Habit Health College Rifles as a graduate physiotherapist, primarily focused on musculoskeletal physiotherapy. I have been selected as one of the physiotherapists to attend the Touch Rugby World Cup in Nottingham in July this year, working with one of the New Zealand Masters Touch Teams. This is an exciting opportunity and I am enjoying the process of being the team’s medical lead as we build towards an intensive two weeks in July.” 

With a commitment to building his physiotherapy experience, Sam is also making sure he gets some work/life balance by playing rugby for College Rifles.

Liam Jacobson (Class of 2016) started at university studying a BA (Film & Sociology) and a BCom. He says that “there was always a suspicious divide between the two study areas and both tried to unravel the world in different ways.” Liam took a break from university to engage in other interests and this allowed him to embrace tīkanga, whakapapa, and creativity better. He returned to university part-time and chose to complete only his BA.  Liam recalls realising that other people’s ideas of success were not his own, and he has now established a trajectory that feels rewarding and honest to the worlds he wants to uphold. Liam says “I’m grateful to be surrounded by beautiful people who inspire me, both through their work and ways of being.”

Supported through early internships facilitated by SEF, Liam is currently employed in various creative industries. In 2023, he published a book of poems, Neither, with Dead Bird Books, an outstanding achievement for a young person. Liam is now working on another book alongside his other creative pursuits.  We look forward to reading it!  Congratulations Liam - we celebrate you.

Mudiwa Makaza (Class of 2021) recently updated us on his career journey which has resulted in quite a different outcome to his original intent.  Initially disappointed at not gaining admission into medicine, Mudiwa pursued a Bachelor of Science. In this second year of university, Mudiwa says "I discovered a YouTube video detailing the inner workings of the financial markets. My initial intrigue became an obsession, and I spent many hours self-educating on the topic in addition to my science course."
 
Mudiwa sought advice from Haydn and Jane at SEF on the idea of a career in finance. Through a connection in Hadyn's business, Jane was able to arrange a coffee meeting for Mudiwa with contacts at Westpac.  Mudiwa was encouraged to attain the highest possible grades in his science degree and apply for graduate roles in finance. One of the Westpac contacts followed up several months later and suggested that Mudiwa apply for a role as a Financial Markets Graduate at Westpac. The subsequent interview and assessment process led to an unexpected opportunity to join Westpac as an Institutional Banking Graduate. Mudiwa has been in this role for approximately six months.  He has been learning how to acquire, structure and execute big deals for multinational corporations and listed companies, with guidance from very experienced banking professionals.
 
In summarising his journey, Mudiwa believes that ultimately it was adversity, courage and lots of support that allowed him to make the uncommon transition from a science degree to high level finance.
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