Dr Alex Atkinson

Dr Alex Atkinson is a Senior Policy Officer in the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP). DELWP is a Victorian Government department that brings together Victoria's climate change, energy, environment, water, forests, planning and emergency management functions.

Alex works within DELWP’s Energy Group, on the Victorian Energy Upgrades program. This is the largest energy efficiency program in Australia, and a key driver for greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Alex also works on a range of government policy initiatives and communicates with others (most importantly the Victorian public!) on energy related matters.

Why did you choose this career pathway?

My career pathway started in more technical consulting roles before moving into government. I never chose working in government as my pathway but I found my way there. I wanted broad career exposure in energy and water, and government felt like a logical next step.

In more technical consulting roles, you might get to work on multiple projects in a short time. The fast pace is enjoyable, and there is also the potential to travel. On the downside, you have to adapt quickly, and you may not see a project through to completion.

Government or policy focused roles are typically projects that happen over longer timeframes. I love that I get to use a variety of the skills I have learnt during my degree and developed in my career: problem solving, data analysis, technical reports, presentations, oh and lots of emails!

What are the best parts about your job?
What are the hardest parts?

Working in government can, at times, be slow moving. Policy isn’t created overnight! However, the results when a projector recommendation you have made comes to life in the real world can be very rewarding!

I love that my role is focused on having the best interests of Victorian communities at heart, and also takes meaningful action on climate change.

Other things I love about my role are that I get to work on some really technical problems within energy, and working in a large government department, you get to meet lots of different people working on different problems!

How well did your degree prepare you for your career path?

My background in Earth science has laid a great foundation for my career. In particular, being able to write reports, problem solve, perform basic data analysis and communicate tricky/technical concepts to time-poor senior officials.

Working in a government department that looks after a number of environmental areas also means my background in Earth sciences has the potential to open doors to other areas in the future.

Overall my degree prepared me well, however I always thought it was the technical skills (crunching numbers, writing super complicated reports) which I had to focus on and be good at, which in my case isn’t true. It is actually the basics I’ve had to focus on improving, like being able to write an effective email, listen in or hold a meeting, filtering important information. I wish I had a bit more industry experience during my studies, so look for those opportunities!

What were your career worries and expectations when you were at uni?

I had an expectation that completing a university degree meant I had to work in that field (i.e. hydrogeology) for the rest of my life. This hasn’t been the case at all (despite my enduring love for all things water and rocks!).

In my work I have met people with degrees, or doctorates, in a range of other fields (some completely non-related). Not working directly in the field you have studied is not a failure. What is important is having the flexibility to apply the skills you have learnt in different settings – this can open up doors in your career.

What advice would you give to students in your study area trying to decide on a career path?

Don’t worry if you don’t find the job you want straight away, or you haven’t completely decided what you want to do. It takes time. Not everyone has it planned out from the age of 10, and even if you do, in some cases the job you want isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, or the one you weren’t bothered about is.

A degree in Earth science is going to give you a great springboard for the future, and it is a really broad and deep field in the working world. Your career is a progression and you might end up in a role/area you hadn’t anticipated. Embrace the journey! Having a positive can-do attitude can take you far.

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