1. Any kind of further study you undertook after leaving Bedales, and any qualifications that you gained.
After leaving Bedales, I went to the University of Sussex to study Biomedical Science. While in my third year, I came into contact with the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) and later completed a Masters in Science and Technology Policy.
2. What kind of work you are currently involved in, and how and why you came to be doing it.
After a chance conversation with a stranger, I discovered the company I now work for and am now a Science and Technology Policy Consultant. The firm I work for is contracted by national and international institutions, funding science or technology research in any way (i.e. the UK Government, research councils, the European Commission, The World Bank, etc.) to conduct studies and evaluations and provide advice regarding their science and technology strategies and programmes. As such, the core of the work I currently do is research, gathering evidence to address the research questions our clients seek to answer. This involves a wide range of research methods, covering interviews, data analysis, surveys, desk research and so on, across a wide range of subject areas. I'm currently working on projects about scientific computing, space technology development and robotics but have also worked on projects across communications, education, health and the green economy.
3. Whether being at Bedales has helped you in getting to where you are now, and how satisfied you are with what you are doing.
I love what I’m doing and in a way, yes, Bedales did help me get here. I think Bedales was key for me to learn confidence in my own voice and decisions. The responsibilities the students are given but also the respect of the teachers and staff were very valuable for bolstering that confidence.
4. Any other interesting activities or occupations that you have been involved in since leaving school.
I spent six months working for an environmental protection organisation in Australia (my home country) which was interesting and heart-breaking in equal parts.