Student Highlights
Creating a career of passion through postgraduate study

In Poppy’s words, her study journey has been a winding road – but it’s one that’s led her to an ideal role that combines her passion for environmental management with sustainability.

Already armed with a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Honours) and years of experience working for a major construction contractor on rail, roads, motorways and substations infrastructure projects across NSW, Poppy had a lightbulb ‘who do I want to be when I grow up’ moment.

“A few years into my career, I moved from working on huge infrastructure projects to a program of smaller projects. At this time, I realised I was drawn to projects that had more broad benefits to people other than just moving people or electricity from A to B.

“I started looking for postgraduate study that could help me apply my engineering knowledge to other types of development and saw sustainability would provide more opportunities for my career. So, I enrolled in the Master of Environmental Management and Sustainability,” Poppy said.

Completing her postgraduate degree part-time while also working meant that Poppy needed to be able to tailor her studies to suit her lifestyle.

“For me, the flexibility offered at the University of Newcastle was one of the key features that drew me to the program.

“I’ve always studied part-time and have done almost every mode of delivery available over the duration of the program. Most of the time it was online, but there were some weekend intensive sessions on campus in Newcastle, as well as night classes at the Elizabeth Street campus.

“As my lifestyle changed over the course of the program, I was able to select delivery modes that suited my needs at each point along the way.”

Poppy didn’t have to wait long before being able to use her studies in the real-world – securing her current position as Environment and Sustainability Manager at Transport for NSW on the Sydney Light Rail project half way through the program.

“My current role combines environmental management – something I have lots of experience in – with sustainability. This role is the ideal launch into the sustainability field and also fulfills my need to see tangible community benefits come to life through the urban renewal aspects of the project,” Poppy concluded.

Study Environmental Management and Sustainability

`

Poppy Coleman

Poppy studied a Master of Environmental Management and Sustainability at the University of Newcastle.

For me, the flexibility offered at the University of Newcastle was one of the key features that drew me to the program.