Two decades on and my MA is still relevant.

Why did you want to study MA International Political Economy?

I did a BA in Social and Political Studies, also at the University of Sheffield. So I went straight on from that to doing my MA in International Political Economy. I chose this course because of the research elements, so that I had the option of doing a PhD later.

What has been your career path since graduating?

I expected to walk into my dream job once I had my Masters and that definitely wasn’t the case. I did some temping, an unpaid internship, and working as a staff member at a students’ union before I got my big break nearly two years after graduating. I’d wanted to work for an international development NGO for a few years and got my first role in the policy and campaigns team there covering a staff member’s maternity leave. I ended up staying there for more than six years, doing four different jobs, including spending six months in South Africa. My MA was crucial to me getting into international development and then developing my skills – critical thinking, research, communications – taking complex arguments and distilling them for your audience – all vital.

After this I worked for an NGO in Australia, I got involved in the Australian Green Party and volunteered for both a federal and state senator. The experience got me hooked on green politics and I worked for the Green Party of England and Wales when I returned to the UK. I even stood in the 2015 General Election. Spoiler alert – I didn’t win!

I was really keen to work in local or regional government – I always think it’s good to try new things. I got a job in the communications team at the newly-created North of Tyne Combined Authority. After a sabbatical during the pandemic I then came back to a new job – working in the North of Tyne Metro Mayor’s office.

What is your current role?

I’m the North of Tyne Metro Mayor’s speechwriter and researcher. I draft nearly all of his speeches -he always edits them- and do my best to write in his voice. I also manage the Mayor’s casework, help organise visits, and do other bits and pieces of research when needed.

Much of my work revolves around the Mayor’s diary. We go through it as a team at the beginning of the week with the Mayor, looking back on what went well and what we can improve on, and looking forwards over the next few weeks. We go through every single entry – the Mayor might have as many as ten different engagements per day – and make sure he has what he needs for each. My job is to make sure he has the speeches he needs – each week is different but there are often 3-4 speeches on 3-4 different topics. Usually I get a steer from the Mayor in the weekly team meeting on what he wants and then it’s up to me to do a first draft and get it to the Mayor in good time for him to do any final edits.

I’ve always enjoyed writing. It’s a particular skill to be able to write in different styles and for different audiences and that is one skill that I definitely possess! And it comes back to my degree – all the reading, note-taking, discussion, essay-writing – two decades on and it’s still relevant. 

What did you enjoy most about your time at Sheffield?

I loved my time at Sheffield. Both the courses I did there were excellent. And I really enjoyed the Students’ Union and all the different clubs and societies. It was a brilliant four years.

What advice would you give to new and existing students in the department?

Don’t expect to walk into your dream job the day after you graduate. But do keep a hold of your dreams. If you are committed and have the skills you will get there in the end!

Enjoy it while you’re there – it all goes by too quickly!