Julio Marquez

“We liked the sense of community we found in Hamilton compared to other places, and we loved the layout of the University of Waikato with the lakes and all the green spaces, as well as the amazing facilities like the library and computer rooms. It’s also close to Raglan and Tauranga beaches - it seemed like a great place to study!

“I come from a city that is double the size of Hamilton and has more than 3 million people.  For us, Hamilton has the best things of big cities combined with the best things of small towns.”

Julio completed the Certificate of University Preparation (CUP) when he first arrived in New Zealand from Argentina as he didn’t have the required background for direct entry. “It helped me gain some background in Physics and Calculus as well become immersed in university life.”

Julio says he chose civil engineering because he wanted to make a positive impact on the world.

“I was always attracted to cities and infrastructure, every little thing that allows societies to progress in this modern world such as transport, water, all kind of structures, utilities, etc. I was a project manager on a small construction in the building I was living in. It was a great experience and I was able to help my neighbours by improving the 11-story structure. That feeling of community and building something it’s hard to beat, it made me feel satisfied and complete.

“During my study I’ve discovered there is so much more to engineering than I first thought. It’s not just about roads, houses and utilities, engineers help develop everything required by towns, cities and societies. Through improving river channels to avoid floods, stabilising slopes for roads and structures, involvement in megastructures such as bridges and tunnels, enhancing the safety measures on site, considering and protecting the environment, interacting and listening to local communities, engineers have a huge role to play. I get the most satisfaction when I’m able to link theory with examples and then to real life.

“I often find myself looking at things in a different way than I used to. Now I see behind the basics to things such as forces and moments acting on a structure, or slips and topples on slopes. Everything is more interesting after an engineering degree!”

Julio is about to take up a graduate role with Stantec, a Canadian company with a presence in New Zealand and around the world.

“With more than 23,000 employees, is one of the Top 10 Engineering consultancies in the world, and I’m super proud to be joining their successful team in sunny Nelson. I’m looking forward to contributing to different projects happening in the region and becoming a helpful and productive member of the team. A new Nelsonian from Latin America!”

All the best for your new role Julio!