Rosella

Why did you decide to come to Goldsmiths?

I came straight from sixth form to Goldsmiths as I knew my degree would broaden my knowledge and understanding of the world, especially of politics and world affairs, and greatly enhance my employment opportunities. I picked Goldsmiths because it had a reputation for excellence, which was confirmed by my experience.

What was your favourite part of university?

I’ve enjoyed my Goldsmiths experience, especially the second and third years as I gained more confidence and was more involved in directing my studies. I found the course challenging, yet engaging and thought provoking. The lecturers are very supportive, so I’d recommend all students take advantage of all the help and support available. And you should always discuss your coursework and essay practice with your lecturer – they’re the ones marking it! 

I'd advise any Politics students to keep up-to-date with current affairs and carefully balance university work with a social life. I'd also recommend students make the most of the Student Union societies.

What have you been doing since graduating?

After leaving Goldsmiths, I wanted to work in the energy industry to focus on energy efficiency, energy sustainability and reducing energy costs for consumers. I have been lucky enough to be able to focus on all three areas throughout my career since leaving Goldsmiths.
During my first role in EDF Energy, I worked on the smart metering project, where I focused on how we could deliver a robust smart metering solution whilst reducing costs to consumers.

My second role in EDF Energy involved working as a Nuclear Liaison Analyst, where I was responsible for maximising the value of the Generation Assets to ensure that providing a low carbon energy source was financially viable to ensure the longevity of nuclear generation and avoid plant closures.

Since leaving EDF Energy, I have begun work at ElectraLink as an Industry Change Analyst. This role requires me to understand and respond to widespread changes within the energy market, such as regulatory changes driven by the government or system changes driven by market actors. While my core role requires me to understand these changes and liaise with market actors to understand how these changes affect ElectraLink, working for a central actor in the energy market like ElectraLink allows me to liaise with key actors in the energy market and influence how these changes are delivered.

What are the key skills you developed at Goldsmiths?

Studying at Goldsmiths provided me with the skills to investigate and scrutinise the economic and political environment that the energy market resides within. I also believe the values of fairness and equality that are embedded in the culture at Goldsmiths continue to guide my decision-making to ensure I do the right thing by consumers of the energy market.