Education: Masters Geographc Information Systems (Stellenbosch University, South Africa)
Job Overview: I wear a few hats in my role with Management Consulting – I started off as a GIS technician, but my roles has since evolved into business (systems) analyst, with a dash of project management, while still providing GIS support when needed.
How I ended up at MWH: I was interviewed by the New Zealand BSG Technology Group Manager in South Africa in 2005. It was the most pleasant interview I’ve ever had, with him telling me over a coffee in a restaurant how wonderful MWH is and when can I start! A few months later I was relocated and settled in the Christchurch office with the GIS team. 9 months later I moved to Australia to work on an exciting project on the Gold Coast. Been working in Brisbane and Adelaide for the last 7 years.
What is on my desk right now: Lunch! I have a very bad habit of eating lunch at my desk. A few piles of paper (I know exactly what’s in each pile… I do, really), laptop, desktop, 2 monitors, a few hard drives and stationary to last a lifetime. A gazillion notebooks. And last but not least, a small plastic Dalek replica …
Free time activities: I’m a geek – Xbox and PC gaming, lots of reading: different genres, sci-fi/horror/fantasy being the favourites, with self-improvement a strong second, and occasionally something humorous;
Lately, taking my cat for walks - embarrassing yes, but I’m doing the right thing and not letting him roam free;
I’ve just taken up belly dancing again: took a 2 year break after 6 years of dancing, can’t wait to get back into performing again!
Painting – oil on canvas. I never plan a painting: I just start somewhere on the canvas and let the theme develop itself. I’ve had some interesting results …
Going to the gym – this has become a hobby – it’s the only way I can motivate myself to go regularly.
Going to great restaurants with friends, winetasting
Best career advice I’ve ever received: Don’t work hard, work smart. Be clever and more efficient with any and all of your duties in life, not just work. That way you free up more time to get even more done or have more time for fun. It also means you constantly strive to be better. I don’t always follow this advice, but growth and improved performance is evident when I do.
Experiences at MWH: I have been working on a clients Water decision support tools projects for the last 3 years. The team I work with has been responsible for developing a set of innovative predictive analytics tools. I’ve been working in both my data analysis/management (GIS) and Business Systems Analyst capacity. For the last few months I have also taken over as Project Manager due to internal restructuring which lead to the loss of our previous PM.
Story to tell: What I would do with my life if earning an income was not a priority:
I would spend my days at animal welfare centres giving massages to cats, dogs, horses, snakes, rabbits … anything really. I’ve already been trained as a massage therapist, just need some animal behavioural training and a good stash of hay fever tablets, and I would be in heaven! I should add I’m a passionate animal lover. And yes, being an animal massage therapist is a real thing. Look it up
Pictured top is Rene with her cat Moby, named after mathematical object Mobius strip. Pictured bottom is Rene with a friend at a winery restaurant in South Africa
