Former student reaches for the stars
Posted on November 02, 2021
Former Macleans College student Sarah Blyde (Batten House 2006 – 2010) is currently working as a Project Engineer in the Configuration Management team at Rocket Lab in Auckland.
She is also a Rocket Lab Space Ambassador - a programme launched in July 2021 to inspire future generations around New Zealand into further education and career pathways in STEM industries.
"A career in space wasn’t something I considered while at high school or university because it wasn't really an option that existed at the time. I certainly never thought I’d be working on a spacecraft that’s launching to the Moon from New Zealand. So it’s pretty cool that I now get to talk to students about space and all the exciting opportunities that exist today.”
Sarah was Deputy Head Girl and Batten House Captain in 2010. She received her Gold Duke of Edinburgh award in 2014. She completed a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical and Materials) and Commerce (Accounting and Finance), First Class Honours from the University of Auckland in 2015. After university she worked as a petroleum engineer in Perth, Australia.
"I distinctly remember coming home for Christmas one year and noticing the Rocket Lab logo on what used to be my everyday commute into the city. The space sector suddenly felt much closer to home and I started thinking that maybe a career in space was possible.”
Sarah further developed her interest in the space sector and went back to university. In 2020 she completed a Masters in Space Studies (Cum Laude) at the International Space University, based in France. She undertook a remote internship at Northern Sky Research as a market analyst for interplanetary space communications – investigating missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond – before starting with Rocket Lab.
"I'm passionate about my work but I think it's important to balance work with other things you love doing. For me, running has provided that balance ever since I was at high school. I actually still run the Macleans College loop every now and then when I need to get some extra hills into my training.”