I returned to Hobart from Melbourne specifically to study in the School of Geography and Environmental Studies between 1989 and 1994 where
I did Honours and PhD in Geography. Plant ecology was my main research interest: tree growth rate responses to environmental gradients on Mt Wellington in Honours and for PhD, the role of soil disturbance by small mammals in the regeneration of threatened plant species. Just as I was finishing writing up my PhD, a permanent position as a fire management officer came up in the Parks and Wildlife Service in Hobart. I still work in this job, which draws not only on my ecological training, but various other aspects of geography including mapping, soil science and climatology

I completed a Bachelor of Surveying and a Bachelor of Surveying Honours in 1996 at The University of Tasmania I now work with Lester Franks Survey & Geographic as a senior surveyor. I am operations manager for the Duke Energy Contract for the Tasmanian Natural Gas Project. I've also worked as a surveyor for the construction of the new Hong Kong International Airport and the Sydney International Airport. During my honours year I provided surveying support for an archaeological dig in Cyprus.

Lester Franks Survey and Geographic Pty Ltd is a firm of land and hydrographic surveyors, and geographic information system based in Tasmania. It is now one of the larger surveying firms in Tasmania.
Employees are involved in a full range of title boundary, construction, engineering and hydrographic surveying services, as well as Geographic Information Systems and photogrammetry survey, cadastral surveying and project management

I started my Bachelor of Science at the University of Tasmania in 1994 and majored in Geography and Environmental Studies and Botany.
In 1998 I studied for Honours, looking at ways to protect native vegetation on private land. At the same time I completed a Traineeship at Greening Australia and the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment.

After completing my Traineeship and Honours I worked for Greening Australia providing training to road workers to minimise damage to native vegetation on roadsides. I then worked for the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment mapping vegetation across the state as part of TASVEG. This job was interesting as myself and a colleague worked together mapping and surveying a lot of the state's vegetation.

To broaden my experience I then worked at the Clarence Council managing the Pitt Water Catchment Devolved Grant, assisting farmers to manage native vegetation, prevent erosion and control weeds.

My most recent position has been the most enjoyable, working on DPIWE's Protected Areas on Private Land program. The position involves working with officers at the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association and the Australian Bush Heritage Fund with the aim of permanently protecting under-reserved vegetation communities and geo-conservation values on private land. I am involved in managing staff, organising media events and promotion, writing reports, budgeting, writing legal documents, setting up databases and web-site design.

Jo Edwards' Employer:
Peter Bosworth Manager Strategic Initiatives and Legislative Review
Resource Management and Conservation Division
Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment

The Department employs a number of people who have obtained degrees from the School of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Tasmania in the area of reserve system development and the integration of conservation information in planning generally.

I believe the degree obtained and the work undertaken prepare students well for such positions because of: the emphasis on the application of academic knowledge (within contemporary research, administrative and governance structures) to the achievement of practical conservation outcomes.

I have a long history with the Geography and Environmental Studies School. I began the first year of my BA in 1991 and studied Geography & Environmental Studies, Sociology, Psychology and Political Science. Since then, I mainly concentrated on social geography in my under- and post-graduate years. I am soon to graduate with a PhD from the school later this year in the area of fisheries management.
I now have a satisfying and challenging job as a social science consultant in the Environmental Services section of Hydro Tasmania and to date I have played an important role in the development of the company's social impact assessment and community consultation programs.

I graduated in 1990 with Bachelor of Surveying and in 1991 with First Class Honours - GPS Surveying.
From 1991 to1994 I was employed by Campbell-Smith, Phelps Pedley in Launceston where I gained my Registration as a Land Surveyor in Tasmania. I also helped establish the first commercial GPS Base Station in Tasmania.

From 1994 until present I have been employed by Chester G Bullock & Associates, which is now Bullock Consulting (Launceston). The company started as a surveyor with an engineer and a draftsman in a garage under a house in Riverside. The company has grown and merged with the largest survey practice in Launceston, G.J.Walkem & Co. and employs in excess of 35 people. Professionals employed by this multi-disciplinary consulting firm includes Engineers, Architects and 11 Surveyors and operates from 5 offices. I am now a director of the company and dedicate most of my time to the management of projects in excess of $3million in value.

I now find that in my current role, that the subjects which I thought were the most irrelevant whilst I studied at Uni are now the most relevant. The degree course in Surveying (now Geomatics) certainly provided me with the tools to succeed in my present field of employment.

As an Employer

The employees who graduate from the Bachelor of Geomatics degree are extremely valuable to our organisation. Compared to other professionals, the Geomatics graduates can arrive on the job running and are valuable employees from day one. Their diverse range of skills and their ability to embrace new technology certainly allows our organisation to stay at the cutting edge for its clients.

Nell Gunn

Healthy Rivers Project Officer

Nell Gunn's employer:
Tony Ferrier
Manager Environment and Development Services
Huon Valley Council

The Huon Valley Council has managed the Huon Healthy Rivers Project since
1995 as a collection of integrated catchment management programs. Local
government is increasingly involved in a wide range of environmental or
natural resource management programs and is subsequently employing
professional project officers as a result. All of this Council's past and
present employees (8 in all) have been geography or environmental graduates
from the University of Tasmania. We have been very satisfied with how their
qualifications has prepared them for the work that we need to get done
within our Healthy Rivers Project.

Three staff are currently employed by the Project. One is preparing a
natural resource management strategy for the Huon Valley, another is
implementing a devolved grant program protecting priority vegetation
communities and the third is supporting all the Waterwatch, Landcare and
Coastcare community groups in the region. The Project is therefore a mix of
planning, on-ground implementation and community education. It requires a
high level of personal commitment and technical knowledge. We have found
that this is best achieved by employing young and enthusiastic graduates,
who are in turn able to obtain valuable practical experience.