Member Spotlight #6: Sarah Collins
We have an excellent base of dedicated members who have really cool jobs! To help promote our membership base and give you a little insight into some of the cool people we work with, we've developed this quick-fire question series. Every month we will introduce you to members from the different industries within the recreation sector. This month we talked with Sarah Collins from Boffa Miskell Ltd...
Your role... Partner/Landscape Architect at Boffa Miskell Ltd.
What you love most about the sector... As a landscape architect I have worked in the public open space area throughout much of my career. I feel incredibly lucky to work in this area where we provide space for people to be active, socialise and just enjoy. The work we do helps maintain people's health and that of the community.
Why you joined Recreation Aotearoa... I became a member early in my career, due to my interest in parks, open space and play. From the outset, I have found the organisation friendly and helpful. When random issues arise on projects we're involved in I have always felt comfortable ringing Recreation Aotearoa. It's always been helpful to discuss an issue or be given a contact who might be able to assist. A couple of great things organised by Recreation Aotearoa come to mind; the Co-governance and Co-management of Parks and Environments Conference in 2014, and the Play Spaces Study Tour to Melbourne in 2012. Presentations and site visits during these stimulated discussion, debate and a network that has endured.
Favourite part about being member... The Green Pavlova Conferences. These have drawn me to attend as their focus is pertinent to my work and I come away having discussed things that come out of the presentations with different people, often just people I've been sitting near in the conference! That's what I love, it's an organisation with relaxed friendly members who are interested in similar things to myself and are ready to share their perspectives!
One thing you've learned in the last month... We are firm believers in the importance of community involvement. Where the communities are integrally involved in projects from the outset, they can see their design ideas being included in the project on the ground. If the community is involved in the implementation of works it means that they have greater ownership of the project and the project is successful. Recently we've been involved in some co-design projects with Mana Whenua groups and with children. Our learnings from these projects are that the community bring a wealth of ideas and working together we can develop an enriching outcome.
Your hopes for the industry... There are a large range of factors which impact the health of society. The opportunity to recreate in a readily accessible open space and meets the needs of any community is an integral factor. My hope is that this need can be well recognised and funded, it is important!