TAKE 5 WITH WHO’S WHO IN SPATIAL Jasmin Callosa-Tarr, S+SNZ Spatial Stream In this edition we feature a new series profiling spatial professionals and their careers. For our education and professional development theme this edition, Jasmin CallosaTarr talks to Mairéad de Róiste, Associate Professor/ Reader in Geographic Information Science (GIS)/Ahonuku School of Geography, Environment, and Earth Sciences (SGEES)/Te Kura Tātai Aro Whenua, Victoria University of Wellington/ Te Herenga Waka.
What was your journey like as a
A year in and I realised I wanted
professor in spatial?
to lecture in GIS but needed to bulk
I came to New Zealand in 2007. I’m
up my GIS skills. So, I took a year
from Ireland originally and completed
out to complete a master’s in GIS in
my honours degree in geography and
Leicester and then returned to Trinity
economics at Trinity College Dublin.
to finish my PhD. I started applying
I did a PhD in geography looking at
for jobs before the end of my thesis
how geographic information was
and thought New Zealand sounded
being presented on government
exotic. I wanted to travel. And I have,
websites as part of the planning
but also managed to stay in place
process and how public participation
and I’ve been working at Vic [Victoria
was being facilitated or restricted by
University of Wellington] for over 15
the choices of technology to commu-
years.
nicate local and district plans.
SURVEYING+SPATIAL
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