Catherine Duthie

Biology hooked Catherine’s interest through to a PhD and sparked a career at the Ministry for Primary Industries.

I came to university late in life after a career as a chef, and in my first semester studied a diverse range of topics as I wasn’t sure what I was most interested in. The biology courses had me hooked from the beginning. I was most interested in the natural environment, so I completed a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolution. I then went on to do an Honours degree studying the potential of wētā to act as seed dispersers of native plants. My PhD research saw me spending my summers in Nelson Lakes National Park studying interactions between native ants and invasive wasps. This opportunity to translate ecological theory to real environments was one of the most exciting aspects of my studies.

I started searching for work as soon as my dissertation was submitted for marking. I was limited as I needed to stay in Wellington until my son had finished school, so the public sector offered the best opportunity for employment. I was fortunate that a position was advertised at just the right time. Until joining the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) I was unaware of the diverse and interesting opportunities in the public sector for someone with my degree. My first job in MPI was as a biosecurity risk advisor. I assessed the likelihoods of invasive insects arriving in New Zealand and the economic and environmental impacts should they establish. The skills I gained from my degree were invaluable in this job. I had to read scientific literature from all over the world on a diverse range of topics and synthesise all this information to give practical advice on pests of concern to New Zealand.

There are numerous opportunities within the ministry, and since that first role 12 years ago I have held five others in MPI. I moved from risk analysis (keeping threats out of New Zealand) to response (managing threats when they do arrive) to my current role in readiness (preparing for threats that may arrive). I am currently a group manager responsible for 32 people in five different teams focusing on developing the training, tools, systems, and processes to enable responses to run effectively. It’s a diverse and challenging role that has direct benefit to New Zealand and involves coordination with external industries, community groups, and much of MPI. My technical knowledge and connection with the scientific community benefit me hugely even though these days I am a few steps removed from the ‘hands-on’ science that got me here.

My advice to students contemplating a degree in Ecology is to get involved with projects that fascinate you. There are a variety of community and volunteer projects as well as opportunities to assist graduate researchers that will let you hone your skills, gain some real-world experience, and make those all-important contacts.