Sarina Todd

(20) COMMUNITY LEADER & INNOVATOR

The former Albany Senior College student is a penultimate year student at the University of Auckland, studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Mechatronics Engineering. The KiwiJapanese Greenhithe local, is a tireless worker for causes she is passionate about – valuing equity, service and leadership.

In her first community project, The Butterfly Project, Sarina instigated, led, designed and built the community garden at Albany Junior High. The garden provides a habitat for the endangered monarchs to grow and thrive. It also educates students about the importance of preserving monarchs.

Sarina’s passionate about encouraging young women and genderdiverse individuals to pursue STEM careers. Her passions and values align with two of the UN Sustainable Development Goals - Quality Education and Gender Equality.

Sarina co-founded the Women in STEM project (WISTEM), at Albany Senior High. In lockdown, they contacted over 200 women in leadership, including Jacinda Ardern, Dr Michelle Dickinson, Dame Juliet Gerrard and Siouxsie Wiles. Interviews were filmed and went live on the women in STEM website which Sarina coded. This was shared with schools all over New Zealand.

Sarina is on the committee of the not-for-profit organisation She Sharp, and is Treasurer for the Women in Engineering Network (WEN) at her University. She was Outreach Leader in 2022, and Marketing Leader 2021.

Sarina has also led robotics workshops by partnering with Kiwibots, and run workshops at the Tauranga STEMfest. She works for the university under the WIE33 project.

Sarina was selected to be the Engineering Representative for Mana Wāhine, a sub-committee of the University Students’ Association. She’s also the VP of the Mechanical and Mechatronics Student Association (MECHA) and led the ‘Women in Mech’ event.

She has organised Enginuity Day in 2021, 2022 and 2023, an annual event for high school girls to explore the possibility of a career as an engineer.

Sarina trained as a sound and lighting technician for events and has volunteered hundreds of hours, most recently being Head Sound Technician for the Engineering Revue at the University.

Sarina was selected as one of 10, out of 1000-plus students, for the prestigious Dean’s Leadership Programme, graduating as a Colin Maiden Scholar. She has many other awards and achievements – too many to list!

Sarina sees her future in engineering leadership, and making it easier for young women and gender diverse individuals to pursue STEM careers. AIMES grant funds will go towards projects and programmes to support young women and minority communities.

Sarina Todd receives a North Harbour Club AIMES Emerging Talent Award, sponsored by Bellingham Wallace, and a cash grant of $7,500.