EnviroStrat has just welcomed another cohort of interns to our Auckland office, and our Comms Lead caught up with Liam, Georgia and Alicia to find out what brought to them to us and to hear about their summer plans.
Liam Arthur-Hunt (20) is originally from Devonport in Auckland, where he met EnviroStrat CEO Dr Nigel Bradly while playing Wednesday night cricket. The pair got chatting about Liam’s study of economics at the University of Otago, and Nigel shared that he did his Phd in economics. Liam is heading to Vienna, Austria, for an exchange in February but will spend his summer at EnviroStrat, and on and around the water over Christmas and New Year in the Far North.
Georgia Wilson (21) graduated from AUT last year with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Marine Biology and is originally from Pukekohe. She has been working in cosmetics, and this – combined with her interest in seaweed – got her thinking about how marine resources like seaweed can be used in cosmetics and sustainable products.
Alicia Scott (20) also hails from Auckland (Campbell’s Bay on the Shore) and has been studying at Victoria University in Wellington. She finished her Bachelor of Science last week, majoring in Environmental Studies and Biology.
Liam: “Nigel and I got chatting about university, and when I mentioned I was studying economics, he lit up because he studied economics too. After the game we kept talking, and over a beer he mentioned the internship. A week later we had a two-hour coffee meeting, and not long after that he invited me to join the team.”
ESL: “What were your first impressions?”
Liam: “I really love it here. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do career-wise, but now I know I want to work in areas that are profitable and genuinely benefit society — that’s what EnviroStrat is all about.”
Georgia: “I was working with Lindsey White at AUT, and he put me in touch with Hamish [Hamish Howard, Greenwave Aotearoa’s product development lead]. I’d been talking to Lindsey about ideas around seaweed, cosmetics and wanting to be part of solutions for environmental issues. I was floating the idea of doing a master’s on that, and he connected me with Hamish – and here I am.”
Alicia: “I had a mentor who introduced me to a few people, one of whom knew Nigel. I had an initial chat with EnviroStrat’s Sustainability Director Cerasela [Stancu], then with Ross [Abercrombie], and I thought I was just coming into a general consulting internship. Ross asked what motivated me, and I started talking about growing up around the Hauraki Gulf, our family place in Omaha, fishing, diving – all of that. When he mentioned the reef restoration work and other marine projects, it was like a perfect match with what I love and what I studied.”
ESL: “What do you each hope to get out of your time here?”
Liam: “Skills. University learning is so different from workplace learning. This is my first office job – I’ve only ever done hospo and labouring – so it’s a whole new environment. I want to gain real-world skills, contribute meaningfully, and learn how a company like this operates.”
ESL: “How are you enjoying office life?”
Liam: “The coffee is great! And I love the space. It feels homely and historic, but still modern, and there is a nice view of the sea. I would like to think that I can contribute something to the company while I’m here. It’s a cool office with a good vibe, and everyone is approachable here.”
Georgia: “Like Liam, I want to soak up as much knowledge as I can. Everyone here is incredibly smart, which is quite intimidating at first but also really inspiring. Being the youngest in the room means there’s so much opportunity to learn and grow. I’m excited to learn how science and business come together, and how seaweed farming can produce both environmental and economic benefits”
ESL: “And you’re bringing strengths the older generations don’t always have – you’re digital natives. You’re adaptable. It’s hugely valuable.”
Alicia: “I feel like everything is connected – land, sea, people. I’m keen to learn about all sides of EnviroStrat’s work, from consulting to hands-on environmental projects. I’d love to contribute to things like river plastic solutions or reef restoration, which is the broader consulting work and the ORA Reefs work. It all ties together.”
Exposure to big projects
ESL: “You’ll also be exposed to some big national and international projects like the work being done for PEMSEA (Partnership for the Environmental Management of Seas of East Asia), as well as EnviroStrat’s own reef restoration venture through ORA (Ocean Regeneration Aotearoa), seaweed aquaculture, and sustainability strategies for clients. Has that surprised you?”
Alicia: “It has, actually. I didn’t realise how much of the work by EnviroStrat was international until I started reading about PEMSEA. It’s really cool to realise how broad the work is.”
Summer plans and ocean connections
ESL: “So what does summer look like for each of you?”
Alicia: “Lots of time in Omaha, boating, fishing, diving. Dad and my brother will be out on the boat as usual. It’ll be good to get back out on the water after Wellington’s weather!”
Georgia: “I’m sure I’ll be at the beach a lot and spending time with family. Hopefully more diving too – I’m working towards my Dive Master certification.”
Liam: “I’ll head up north to visit family near 90 Mile Beach. The beaches up there are incredible and so untouched.”
Hope for the future of the ocean
ESL: “Do you feel hopeful about the future of the ocean, given everything we know about the challenges faced?”
Liam: “I do. There are so many smart people working on solutions. Innovation is happening everywhere, especially with sustainability startups. I think innovation will outpace the crisis. And giving young people opportunities like this makes a big difference.”
Alicia: “The team here is so collaborative. Everyone brings different skills, and people are generous with teaching. It makes you feel optimistic.”
Georgia: “I’m hopeful too. Seaweed has so much potential – environmentally and commercially. And I think New Zealand is waking up to the reality of our ecosystems and the need for recovery.”
Georgia’s time at Kelly Tarlton’s
ESL: “Georgia, you’ve also spent time at Kelly Tarlton’s where we have our Greenwave Aotearoa seaweed hatchery. What have you been doing there?”
Georgia: “Mostly changing the water for the seaweed gametophytes so they get fresh nutrients. I’ve also been trying to isolate male and female gametophytes. I thought I’d be quite good at it because I’ve done isolations with mussel spat, but seaweed gametophytes are harder – a really humbling experience. But I’ve learned heaps.”
Further thoughts from Georgia: “I think that seaweed farming really is the way of the future. Not only can we develop products from it, but it also contributes to restoring our marine environment. New Zealand is really waking up to the state of our environment, and I enjoy being able to contribute to positive change through seaweed innovation”
And from Liam? “My brother’s generation and ours and those younger than us have all grown up with a different way of thinking about the ocean. We have a deep caring of it, because of the climate crisis, and it’s something we want to solve. More people are innovating, and finding sustainable solutions to things like plastic. EnviroStrat gives opportunities to people like us which gives us insight where we will learn and want to work in the future.”
Adds Alicia: “I feel hopeful, there’s a lot of really smart people, like everyone here, they’re doing amazing stuff, they’re smart and they all have a lot to contribute, they seem to be good at collaborating.”