Kate Baird : Giving back to her coast community

Leaving the West Coast to board at St Margaret’s, Kate Baird (2015-2019) knew it wouldn’t take much to draw her back to the place she grew up. Hokitika, in the heart of the west, is where Kate is at home, at the Westland District Council, where she gives back to her community in her role as Asset Management Officer.

Kate is excelling in this role, attending the recent Āpōpō Congress (National Asset Management Professionals Congress) held at the Tākina Wellington Convention Centre at the end of May, after being selected as a finalist to receive the "Priyani de Silva-Currie Emerging Asset Management Professional Scholarship", as well as a finalist in the Āpōpō Congress Poster Competition. 

The Priyani de Silva-Currie Emerging Asset Management Professional Scholarship will allow Kate to complete the Australasian Professional Certificate in Asset Management Planning and Integrating Asset Management Governance courses, with support of up to $5,000. 

Kate was awarded the scholarship during the Gala Awards dinner ceremony on the second night of the three-day Congress; she says, “This was a huge shock, and I will forever be grateful to have been selected out of such a large pool of talented young applicants.” 

For the Āpōpō Congress Poster Competition, Kate’s submission highlighted the asset management life cycle process of a recent capital project completed by the Westland District Council—the restoration of the Hokitika Cenotaph War Memorial. “I spent most interval breaks standing next to my entry answering questions, discussing the project's success and what the restoration meant for my community.” Kate's passion for her project paid off; she was awarded the winner of the Best Emerging Professional Poster category and the Best Overall Poster. 

Looking toward the future, the 2025 Āpōpō Congress will be held in Christchurch, where Kate will present what she achieved during the year of her scholarship. “I look forward to presenting what will be a valuable asset to not only myself and my professional development but also the positive effect I can have on the Westland community.“