Since starting my degree in Urban and Environmental Planning, I have learnt a lot about the importance and impact of planning, as well as its complexity and challenges. Within its wide scope of study, I discovered a passion for the spatial and social aspects of planning. Naturally, my favourite courses were the three that focused on these areas of interest, as listed below:

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Urban Analysis 20 (2056ENV)

• Achieved a Distinction grade

• Developed critical thinking skills to analyse the historical, cultural, social, political, economic and ecological relationships that comprise the character of a city

• Accepted into a study tour of Hong Kong and Shenzhen with ten other planning students based on academic performance in this course

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Design for Public Spaces (2624QCA)

• Achieved a Distinction grade

• Worked in a interdisciplinary team of five to design a sculptural public artwork for the city of Chengdu, China

• Submitted our "Pod" concept design into the Gold Coast and Chengdu Public Art Design Competition and won against competing teams from Griffith and Bond universities

• Selected to represent our team at an awards ceremony at Sichuan Normal University in Chengdu

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Public Involvement and Community Development (4047ENV)​​

• Learnt how best practice public participation can improve planning processes and development outcomes

• Organised an asset-based community development workshop for our class, and critically evaluated a real-life public participation event

• Later built upon these learnings to develop a proposal for a Gold Coast Community Planning Network, which won first prize at the PIA Young Planners Innovation Showcase 2016

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I also enjoyed Resolving Environmental Issues (4227ENV), for which I earned a Distinction grade, and Urban Planning Law (5020LAW).