A little bit about me

Well, my name is Oliver and I’m a 20 year old student in my final year of a BEng Civil Engineering at the University of Warwick. You may have guessed I’ve had a passion for designing for many years now, and it has now turned from something that was simply a hobby into something that could fund my degree.

But designing is far more than just something to make a bit of money for myself. It’s something I love doing, and always look forward to. Trying out new things, whether in printed media or website design, always excites me, and I love to read the magazine Creative Review – amongst other creative journals and blogs – regularly to fill my mind with ideas and try to put them into practice.

I do other things, too, of course. Aside from the usual student life, I have given rowing and paragliding a go, and have most recently joined the sailing club. Over the past few years I have also assistant stage managed a production called Threepenny Opera performed at Warwick Arts Centre, became Marketing Manager for Opera Warwick and their latest production The Marriage of Figaro, worked at five of the UK’s largest music festivals including Glastonbury, Reading and Bestival and taught Maths in Ghana with Warwick in Africa.

In August – September 2011 I led a project based on an idea I curated, out of which came the Lectures App suite of programs. The project was funded by Warwick University Engineering department, and we’re now looking to launch the program for the whole University body. In July I worked for Kier Group on a fire station site as an Assistant Engineer.

I’m currently involved in a research project looking into how SMEs and HEIs can engage more effectively with each other, and what role (if any) might intermediaries such as local councils have in this? The research is funded by the Higher Education STEM Programme and due to be completed in May 2012.