Steve Conn

Darwin, NT

Graduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning 2000

On campus study or online study? How was your experience studying either on campus or online?

I had one year on campus and one year of online study.  Both satisfied my academic requirements; living on campus was a whole different experience where I was able to meet plenty of people and have some great university times.

How did you find your UNE lecturers/professors?

They were always helpful and informative.

What was your end goal when you started your degree?

To take my understanding of human geography and channel it into the field of urban planning; a field I knew next to nothing about a few years prior to starting at UNE but which seemed to perfectly fit my interests and skills.

How are you using what you learned in your degree in your professional life?

Planning is a generalist field with elements of law, social welfare, development and project management among others.  In practice, the ability to manage varying interests and influences into a workable solution is incredibly valuable in the professional world.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

Planning provides a real opportunity to push change in a certain direction.  I hope to continue to see the country that I live in grow and evolve, and to provide the best life for my growing family.

What does living in the NT mean to you?

Living in the Top End means always being hot and sweaty!  No, life in Darwin is actually full of opportunities and dynamism that might not be seen in similarly sized cities.  Recently I have been able to contribute planning advice towards the Territory Government’s $100 million public housing stimulus and several significant developments around Darwin.  These projects will see people housed who would not have previously been provided with accommodation and for new development projects to provide jobs and movement across the Territory. These micro and macro changes are very satisfying.  Living in the NT means being exposed to an Australia that is different to much of the rest of the country and to provide positive and meaningful change.