Biography

In 2013 I completed my Bachelor of Engineering at the University of Auckland. I specialised in Civil and Environmental engineering and developed a passion for environmental engineering in my final years. My work for an environmental consultancy since completing my undergraduate study has confirmed this passion and given me valuable practical engineering experience, and I am excited to contribute to the industry through research. My PhD will focus on contaminated site remediation, which is becoming an increasingly important global issue as usable land becomes a more valuable and limited resource. Biochar is engineered charcoal made from a range of materials and has a range of beneficial properties, including the ability to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and improve agricultural yield. My research investigates the influence of biochar on the behaviour of contaminants within soil and groundwater and the sustainability of its application compared with existing technologies. It is anticipated that this material can improve the overall sustainability of the land remediation industry by shifting the reliance from landfills to using renewable, easily accessible waste products for remediation.