Joanna Clarke

Joanna grew up in the Waikato and knew that the University had a great reputation, so her decision to study political science there was an easy one.

The studious scholar whose goal is to one day work for the United Nations was fortunate enough to be awarded a number of scholarships and awards over her time at Waikato –including the Lewis Fretz Prize in International Relations, the Alumni Association Prize for Excellence in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the Theo Roy Scholarship in Politics, and many more.

“My biggest achievement since graduating has definitely been attaining a job with the Ministry of Defence. In my second year at university I decided policy analysis would be a great career option, and my interest area lies in security studies, so I was very fortunate to be offered a position that incorporated both of these aspects.”

Joanna’s job is to analyse and assess current capability and acquisition issues as required. Working in close collaboration with the New Zealand Defence Force, she is currently involved in developing the Indicative Business Case for the Littoral Operations Support Capability. This involves policy and technical analysis of capability requirements, problem and benefit definition, and a lot of writing.

“Waikato will give to you what you put into it. Everything is there – great lecturers, good facilities, and such a wealth of knowledge – just make the most of it!”