University Award for Placement Student Seanna

One of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s placement students, Seanna McGowan, is encouraging undergraduates to grasp the opportunity to learn with the organisation.

Seanna McGowan, who joined the Council’s Sustainability and Environment Directorate last September, is thoroughly enjoying her time and relishing the opportunity she has been presented with, loving the variety of the job and the invaluable learning experience.

“Every day I do something different. I never know what I am doing next which makes it all so interesting,” she said.

“The support of the Council and my colleagues has been so important. Everyone has  been very welcoming and helpful in supporting my placement, allowing to me take part in many interesting projects and supporting anything I want to get involved in too.”

As a valued member of the Council team and making a key contribution, Seanna said her placement provides her with an insight into the vital work the organisation is doing in a particularly crucial area.

“All the work of the Sustainability and Environment team is vitally important, with staff focusing on biodiversity, climate change strategies, sustainable food initiatives, renewable energies and education.”

Seanna has always had an interest in sustainability, particularly biodiversity, throughout her education and is putting her skills to good use in her Council role.

During her time with the organisation, she has enjoyed getting involved in sustainability education, assisting with community and school talks with the help of her colleagues Patrick McShane and Rebecca McGreevy and Arc 21’s Noel Lyons. In addition, Seanna has taken part in competition judging and helped facilitate various events, such as Environmental Youth Speak. 

Last Christmas, she helped develop staff consultation on the Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, creating questions based on it and distributing a questionnaire. Through this, a competition to win a sustainable Christmas hamper was developed, which Seanna also helped organise.

The placement student also helped out at Newry’s first Christmas market, distributing details of the Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy consultation to the public.

“There was lots of great feedback which will help shape future climate work and sustainable initiatives across the Council,” said Seanna, who was recently presented with the Dean’s List Award for outstanding academic achievement in the second year of her BSc Environmental Health course at Ulster University.

Seanna said working for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has opened her eyes to future work ideas in the world of sustainability or environmental health, describing her time with the Council as  thoroughly enjoyable.

She added: “There are many great opportunities for personal development through both team and independent work. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is a great place to learn.

“I have been allowed to grow as a person through my work experience and would thoroughly recommend the student placement scheme to all undergraduates. The knowledge and learning you gain is invaluable.”