Bachelor of Engineering, University of Canterbury

Growing up in the small towns of Clyde and Alexandra, Amelie Sutherland-Harris learned to find joy in the outdoors – tramping local tracks, swimming in lakes and rivers, and exploring the landscapes that shaped her love for nature. “Living in small towns with beautiful scenery led me to have a passion for our environment and getting outdoors,” she says. Her curiosity extended inward too, through books that sparked her interest in science, physics, chemistry, and the way the world works. Creativity remains a constant thread, from crafting gifts to painting landscapes reflective of home.

Her family unit is small but close. “Family to me is really just my mum, my little brother, and our two cats.” Together, they have navigated loss and challenges, and their resilience has carried her toward her goals. When she learned she’d been awarded the Milford Foundation Scholarship, the moment felt transformative. “When I got called about my success, it was like being told I had been accepted into my dream job,” she recalls. For the first time, university felt possible.

Beyond easing financial pressure, the scholarship has given her confidence and guidance. “The mentorship program will be extremely valuable to me,” she shares, especially as the first in her immediate family to enter university. Engineering has become her pathway – a way to combine her love of science with her commitment to sustainability and Aotearoa’s natural environment.

Amelie hopes to create renewable solutions that safeguard the future, and just as importantly, to inspire others who doubt their own potential. Though “scared of the unknown,” she is equally excited to step into it – ready, curious, and determined.