Jeff Mullins is a full-time international student in the Master of Environmental Management (MEM) program.

Why did you choose the MEM?
Prior to entering the MEM program I was working as an industrial designer and design instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in the United States. Experiences in product development made me more and more aware of the impacts individuals can have on the larger world; there is a lot of responsibility at the end of a designer's pen. As I began to teach courses in design, my projects increasingly took an environmental skew, but my knowledge was limited to what I could glean from personal reading and online resources.

I chose to pursue a graduate environmental degree to expand that knowledge base and legitimize further teaching in the design disciplines, as well as open doors to other academic and professional opportunities. The Master of Environmental Management at UNSW was well suited to my interdisciplinary interests. Its international profile also allowed me to gain this experience from a different cultural and geographic perspective.

What did you gain from this postgraduate program?
The MEM program has added the breadth and depth of environmental knowledge and experience I was looking for. Its interdisciplinary approach and focus on management has helped balance my views on environmental issues, perhaps tempering some idealism in favor of perspective. I have always had wide ranging interests, and the open structure of the program has allowed me to combine past skills into areas not previously considered, or at least not qualified in, including post occupancy review/environmental auditing of buildings, outdoor environmental education, landscape ecology, and natural resource management.

What were the best aspects of the MEM?
The best aspects of the program can be summed up as diversity and flexibility. Coming from an arts background, I needed an initial broad exposure to the environmental field, but also required a level of detail to provide credibility. The MEM offers this through its core and fundamental knowledge courses. The range of professional and cultural backgrounds of the faculty and students is also very impressive, as well as critical in the consideration of global environmental topics.

Why would you recommend this program to others?
I would definitely recommend this program to those truly interested in broadening their knowledge and perspectives. It is in many ways a transitional program, allowing you to shift your career or establish a new direction. Its interdisciplinarity is its strength, but at the same time requires some creativity and synthesis on part of the student.

How did the program help you change or advance your career? Did your employer view your MEM qualification as an asset to their organisation?
There continues to be a growing awareness of the need for environmental expertise in my previous areas of design and higher education. This program will allow me to work with those particularly forward-thinking institutions interested in sustainable development, or perhaps help others move in that direction. New opportunities in natural resource management and landscape ecology are also very exciting.

Where are you working now? If you are working in the Environmental Management field, please describe your job responsibilities.
I am currently studying full-time as an international student. Throughout the past year, however, I have worked part-time with the UNSW Faculty of the Built Environment co-instructing a course in sustainable design, and coordinated the development of an undergraduate environmental audit-training program with the UNSW Environment Unit. I've also consulted with EC Sustainable and the Center for Organic Resource Enterprises in North Sydney on market research and product placement for various recycled organics.

How has the postgraduate program at IES facilitated access to Environmental management networks?
IES frequently updates students on available environmental management positions, which is how I came in contact with EC Sustainable. The variety of guest lecturers and panel speakers also provides useful networking opportunities.

Tanya Fiedler has just completed the Master of Environmental Management (MEM) program.

Why did you choose the MEM?
I had researched a number of programs in the Sydney region and found this one most catered to my needs in terms of both the flexibility afforded to me through the choice of distance learning; and also the electives available. In addition, I found the staff of the IES, both lecturers and administrators to be very welcoming and supportive.

What did you gain from this postgraduate program?
At the most fundamental level I gained a new career, one which is moving forward at a rate and providing me with opportunities I would not have anticipated. Beyond this, I gained a perspective on environmental issues that is truly interdisciplinary in nature. Whilst this interdisciplinarity resonates deeply with me as a person, it is also the future of environmental management and acknowledged as such by more progressive organisations. For this reason I imagine it to be a quality that employers in the environmental field will increasingly seek of the graduates they employ over time.

What were the best aspects of the MEM?
On a personal level, I felt the staff and lecturers of the IES went out of their way to make the learning experience as productive as possible. I imagine this required a great flexibility on their part, given the diversity of cultural and professional experiences encompassed by MEM students. On a professional level, the MEM was ideally suited to someone from outside of the environmental industry and with no technical expertise. The structure of the course into core, fundamental knowledge and elective courses, enabled me to: apply previously acquired skills in new ways; engage with disciplines I would previously have hesitated in interacting with; and explore areas of particular interest in considerable depth through research. Combined, these attributes have provided a very strong foundation from which I have now been able to launch a new career. Of particular relevance to myself professionally was the ability to tailor the course to my own interests in energy and greenhouse. This included participation in Mark Diesendorf's 'Managing the Greenhouse' elective; and also completion of two research modules investigating the design and efficacy of a variety of emissions trading schemes. Finally, I experienced the program to be a deeply stimulating one in that it forced participants to examine many previously held assumptions. Whilst this approach was often challenging, I do feel it kick-started a more critical stance, one that I am able to apply increasingly in the work that I do.

Why would you recommend this program to others?
I would recommend study at the IES through the MEM or otherwise without hesitation. This is because of the flexibility it affords participants; the attributes of the (MEM) program structure; and also the qualities it imparts to participants - in particular that of the interdisciplinary perspective. The program should not be underestimated in the quantity and quality of commitment required by students but, for those willing to take on board those challenges, the rewards and opportunities available to graduates of the program are significant both personally and professionally.

How did the program help you change or advance your career? Did your employer view your MEM qualification as an asset to their organisation?
Participating in the MEM was the first step in a career change and, as I achieved employment with my company of choice whilst still in the MEM, I would say it has been pivotal in enabling that change. The MEM also now continues to help me move forward in my career in that some of the electives I chose to study are of particular relevance to the carbon markets area that I am working in. Through interaction with staff and clients I am myself beginning to view the MEM as an asset; I know of at least three colleagues who have or are in the process of completing the MEM, and have now met a number of clients who have themselves participated in the MEM. I also find that I am frequently meeting MEM graduates at conferences, industry events, stakeholder consultations etc. Finally, I have on a number of occasions received comments from senior management who had met with clients and found that they too had participated in the MEM. On each occasion they have been very impressed with the quality of the MEM graduates and have communicated this to me. The qualification is without a doubt held in high regard within the environmental industry.

Where are you working now? If you are working in the Environmental Management field, please describe your job responsibilities.
I am currently working as a consultant for Energetics, a consultancy that specializes in advising both industry and government on integrated energy, greenhouse and sustainable solutions. I am working in the area of Carbon Markets and Strategy area which has enabled me to work on a large variety of projects that are relevant to my particular interest in carbon markets and carbon policy implementation. For example, I have assisted on a number of projects advising both governments and industry as to the implications of reporting energy and greenhouse information to State and Federal programs. I have also assisted a number of abatement projects to become accredited under the Australian Greenhouse Office's Greenhouse FriendlyTM Program, and others to become carbon neutral under the same program. Both types of work have required the use of Life Cycle Analysis. In addition I am involved in on-going work with some very large organizations in determining their greenhouse gas inventories. For very complex organizations this is an evolving process that can only mature over time, as a more comprehensive understanding of those complexities and of carbon accounting methodologies improves. With Australia moving towards an emissions trading scheme, my work is increasingly aligning with research undertaken during the MEM into emissions trading. Increasingly clients are requesting strategic advice and research in developing both domestic and international carbon trading opportunities and strategies.

How has the postgraduate program at IES facilitated access to Environmental management networks?
As a consequence of the international scope of the students participating in the MEM, access to environmental management networks was facilitated both locally and internationally. This is evidenced in my daily work where, when meeting clients, attending conferences, industry meetings, stakeholder consultations etc., I am constantly meeting fellow students from the course. In addition, the IES provided access to visiting lecturers from a wide spectrum of the industry. This access was pivotal in providing a perspective to the students from those who had gained many years of practical experience within the industry and government.

Richard Gilmore is currently enrolled in the Master of Environmental Management (MEM) program.

Why did you choose the MEM?
The MEM appealed because the diverse nature of the program curriculum allowed me to tailor my studies to my professional development and career aspirations. Also the choice of electives and the program's excellent reputation were important factors in my decision.

What did you gain from this postgraduate program?
The key outcome from the program was the ability to make more informed environmental decisions in my work and personal life. My participation in the MEM was also instrumental in me achieving a long-time goal of securing full-time employment in the environmental not-for-profit sector and continues to aid my decision making.

What were the best aspects of the MEM?
I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of independent and group learning and field-based experiential education. The standard of lecturers was very high and the workload was appropriate

Why would you recommend this program to others?
I highly recommend the MEM program to anyone considering studying for a career in the environmental management field. The program is well regarded and offers a diverse portfolio of study areas.

How did the program help you change or advance your career? Did your employer view your MEM qualification as an asset to their organisation?
The MEM has significantly advanced my career. Without the MEM, I would not in my dream job today.

Where are you working now? If you are working in the Environmental Management field, please describe your job responsibilities.
I am currently the CEO of Earthwatch Institute (Australia). Earthwatch promotes sustainability by supporting research and education, engaging people and inspiring action. Established in 1971, Earthwatch manages a global portfolio of 150 conservation research projects in 55 countries and was recognised by The Financial Times in 2007 as one of the world's Top 5 environmental NGOs.

How has the postgraduate program at IES facilitated access to Environmental management networks?
Aside from the educational benefits I developed a useful network of contacts among the program alumni, a network I still regularly draw on today. These networks operate across several states and have been invaluable since joining the NGO sector.