International Student Profile: Beldina Atieno

Congratulations to Beldina Atieno, the Assistant Director, Contingency Planning and Response for Kenya’s National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), who recently completed a Master of Engineering Science (Environmental Engineering) at UNSW.

Belinda recalled her two year journey at UNSW.

“Going back to school as a mature student... This meant trans-nighting...again, exams, late submissions, brain freeze (yaani kuona giza), but at the same time it meant diving into new technologies, new ways of thinking, and rediscovering curiosity.

In the middle of all the academia and technical English, the constant reminder of why I did it...Charity and Tabitha in Sagalla, Taita Taveta, reminding me to go beyond theory and find practical solutions for their problems.

I found that space at UNSW. Here I was reminded how mathematical concepts and engineering principles shape real-world decisions, and I witnessed how engineers support governments and communities to solve problems. From environmental sustainability and nature-based solutions to waste management, water resource modelling, and even tracking contaminant movement! Amazing stuff.

One of the highlights was participating in the Humanitarian Engineering course convened by Andrew Dansie and Laura Montaño Luna a powerful reminder of why we innovate, and how dignity of the people we work for must remain at the centre of development work.

So yes, water, waste and environment...but with an engineering lens.

I’m now back to work, seeing problems through new eyes and finding solutions within a different context with different systems.

I’m deeply grateful to Australia Awards Africa and Australia Awards for the opportunity to learn, grow and experience this journey.

To my classmates, fellow scholars and friends I made along the way, thank you for sharing your time, culture, experiences and journey with me. It would not have been the same without you,

I appreciate the UNSW Civil and Environmental Engineering team, who rewired my brain that I can never look at water, waste or environmental challenges without instinctively trying to engineer a solution.

Finally, to NDMA Kenya, thank you for giving me the space and time to learn and for the new opportunity to apply new engineering approaches to drought risk management and climate change adaptation in Kenya.”

Beldina made a huge impact at the School in her time with us.  As Humanitarian Engineering academic Dr Laura Montano Luna said, “Belinda, you are an inspiration! It was a pleasure to work alongside you in the Humanitarian Engineering workshops! And looking forward to keeping in contact and working together! Please stay in touch!”