Sarina Todd, a 2020 graduate of Albany Senior High School (ASHS), is making waves in the engineering world. Now based in Melbourne, she works as a Systems Engineer at John Holland, a Tier 1 construction company delivering major rail and infrastructure projects across Australasia. Alongside her Mechatronics Engineering degree from the University of Auckland, Sarina is passionate about encouraging more women and gender-diverse individuals to pursue careers in STEM.

A Journey of Excellence

Sarina’s time at ASHS set the stage for her success. “I’ve always felt encouraged to dream big here,” she shares. “The teachers and students create an environment where you’re not afraid to challenge yourself.”

After ASHS, she earned a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Mechatronics with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland. There, she was recognised with a major award at the 2023 Blues Awards for her efforts to advance gender equity in STEM.

She took on leadership roles, including Chair of Finance & Operations for the Women in Engineering Network and Vice-President of the Mechanical and Mechatronics Student Association. Her achievements led her to represent New Zealand at UNITE Camp 2030 in New York for UN Global Goals Week, where she moderated a panel.

In her final year, she was approached by the U.S. Embassy to organise “Exploring Opportunity,” a STEM outreach event with NASA. Over 200 attendees participated in hands-on workshops aimed at inspiring future innovators.

The ASHS Difference

“The freedom and trust we were given at ASHS made all the difference,” Sarina explains. “It’s a school that believes in its students.” Instead of rigid traditional structures, ASHS fosters creativity, collaboration, and independent thinking. Ākonga (students) engage in open-plan learning, work on real-world projects, and are encouraged to take ownership of their education.

This approach was especially beneficial for Sarina, who thrived in the flexible environment. “I genuinely believe ASHS is a great option for students who don’t excel in a traditional school setting.”

Impact Projects That Shape Futures

ASHS’s Impact Projects played a pivotal role in Sarina’s journey. One of her most significant projects was developing a website for Women in STEM, which became a catalyst for her career and remains the top Google search result for ‘Women in STEM NZ’ today.

She initiated The Butterfly Project at Albany Junior High School in 2018, and the following year, she learned programming through Saph, a project that combined her interests with new skills. “These experiences gave me direction when I started university and entered the corporate world.”

Mentors Who Made a Difference

Several ASHS teachers had a profound impact on Sarina’s path:

• Steff Chambers supported her in NZQA Scholarship Chemistry and Physics;
• Sally van Praag provided perspective and guidance with Scholarship Calculus;
• Sandy Dunlop, her physics teacher for three years, wrote references that secured her a place at the University of Canterbury’s Elaine P. Snowden Astronomy School; and
• Nathan Garton encouraged her in NZQA Scholarship English and through the Free Form Philosophy Club.

A School That Empowers

Reflecting on her journey, Sarina credits ASHS for shaping her confidence and ambition. “If you are passionate about something, you can just do it. If you want to see something happen, you can make it happen. My life would be very different if I didn’t go to ASHS!”

With its culture of innovation and personal growth, ASHS continues to launch extraordinary young people like Sarina, proving that when ākonga are given the right environment to thrive, there are no limits to what they can achieve.