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John Brinsley-Pirie
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What did you study at Otago?
I studied Law and Politics, eventually doubling down on the political side to do a Honours Degree in Politics and began doing a Masters Degree before being plucked out of study and parachuted into the job I am in now.
What have you done since leaving University?
I work for Hon Peter Dunne in his capacity as Leader of UnitedFuture and Associate Conservation Minister. My role is split between the political side (researching and advising on Bills/Media) and the Ministerial Side (where I manage the Associate Conservation responsibilities for Minister Dunne's office).
What was your favourite part of debating at Otago University Debating Society?
Personally, I became very involved in development opportunities at OUDS. I was a bright eyed-enthusiastic novice whose first tournament was the Australiasian Championships. That tournament solidified my passion for debating and OUDS so probably the experiences that were most special for me were when I successfully bid for and convened Australs at Otago meaning we could send seven teams of young, enthusiastic debaters to a really exceptional tournament.
What is one thing you have gained from Otago University Debating Society?
The ability to contest my own opinion. Debating very quickly had me questioning a lot of my predispositions towards ideas and opened up my mind to a whole new world of ideas and interpretations. That has been critical for me both in my university study and debating and also in my career in Wellington. Working in politics has made me very aware of how important it is to see where an opposing view is coming from and what had motivated opposition. If that opposition is reasonable, often there is a middle ground to find consensus in, but that cannot occur if I refuse to assess whether there are flaws in my own argument.
I studied Law and Politics, eventually doubling down on the political side to do a Honours Degree in Politics and began doing a Masters Degree before being plucked out of study and parachuted into the job I am in now.
What have you done since leaving University?
I work for Hon Peter Dunne in his capacity as Leader of UnitedFuture and Associate Conservation Minister. My role is split between the political side (researching and advising on Bills/Media) and the Ministerial Side (where I manage the Associate Conservation responsibilities for Minister Dunne's office).
What was your favourite part of debating at Otago University Debating Society?
Personally, I became very involved in development opportunities at OUDS. I was a bright eyed-enthusiastic novice whose first tournament was the Australiasian Championships. That tournament solidified my passion for debating and OUDS so probably the experiences that were most special for me were when I successfully bid for and convened Australs at Otago meaning we could send seven teams of young, enthusiastic debaters to a really exceptional tournament.
What is one thing you have gained from Otago University Debating Society?
The ability to contest my own opinion. Debating very quickly had me questioning a lot of my predispositions towards ideas and opened up my mind to a whole new world of ideas and interpretations. That has been critical for me both in my university study and debating and also in my career in Wellington. Working in politics has made me very aware of how important it is to see where an opposing view is coming from and what had motivated opposition. If that opposition is reasonable, often there is a middle ground to find consensus in, but that cannot occur if I refuse to assess whether there are flaws in my own argument.
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Alice Sowry
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What did you study at Otago?
I graduated in December 2016 with degrees in Law, Politics, and French. As part of the Honours programme in Politics, I wrote my dissertation on civics education in New Zealand – partly inspired by the potential of competitive debating to motivate people to care about politics and public policy!
What have you done since leaving University?
I start working as a Graduate Policy Analyst for the Ministry of Education in January 2017. I am planning to undertake postgraduate study overseas after gaining a few years’ work experience in public policy.
What was your favourite part of debating at Otago University Debating Society?
Competing at international tournaments, especially the Australasian Women’s Debating Championships (AWDC). I pushed hard for Otago to start competing at this tournament in 2013, and it absolutely paid off as many Otago competitors have achieved success at various AWDCs. I personally found that AWDC was invaluable for building my confidence as a tournament speaker, and it definitely motivated me to keep debating at other tournaments!
What is one thing you have gained from Otago University Debating Society?
The highlight for me was the sheer amount of knowledge I gained from debating. Preparing for and competing at tournaments involves a huge amount of reading about and discussing various social, economic, and political issues. Being part of OUDS meant that I encountered ideas and perspectives I never would have been exposed to otherwise, and that was a really important part of my university experience.
I graduated in December 2016 with degrees in Law, Politics, and French. As part of the Honours programme in Politics, I wrote my dissertation on civics education in New Zealand – partly inspired by the potential of competitive debating to motivate people to care about politics and public policy!
What have you done since leaving University?
I start working as a Graduate Policy Analyst for the Ministry of Education in January 2017. I am planning to undertake postgraduate study overseas after gaining a few years’ work experience in public policy.
What was your favourite part of debating at Otago University Debating Society?
Competing at international tournaments, especially the Australasian Women’s Debating Championships (AWDC). I pushed hard for Otago to start competing at this tournament in 2013, and it absolutely paid off as many Otago competitors have achieved success at various AWDCs. I personally found that AWDC was invaluable for building my confidence as a tournament speaker, and it definitely motivated me to keep debating at other tournaments!
What is one thing you have gained from Otago University Debating Society?
The highlight for me was the sheer amount of knowledge I gained from debating. Preparing for and competing at tournaments involves a huge amount of reading about and discussing various social, economic, and political issues. Being part of OUDS meant that I encountered ideas and perspectives I never would have been exposed to otherwise, and that was a really important part of my university experience.
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Kieran Bunn
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What did you study at Otago?
Medicine: BMedSc(hons)
What was your favourite part of debating at Otago University Debating Society?
There are lots, it really defined my time at University. The feeling of belonging while hanging out on a bicycle in Seoul. Alternatively it would be travelling to Nepal to help training debating
What is one thing you have gained from Otago University Debating Society?
The ability to present on something very quickly
Medicine: BMedSc(hons)
What was your favourite part of debating at Otago University Debating Society?
There are lots, it really defined my time at University. The feeling of belonging while hanging out on a bicycle in Seoul. Alternatively it would be travelling to Nepal to help training debating
What is one thing you have gained from Otago University Debating Society?
The ability to present on something very quickly
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Sophia Frentz
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What did you study at Otago?
I graduated in December 2013 with a degree in Genetics
What was your favourite part of debating at Otago University Debating Society?
The ability to make life long friends, while simultaneously getting to work towards practical outcomes.
What is one thing you have gained from Otago University Debating Society?
The confidence to present information to groups of people, large or small.
I graduated in December 2013 with a degree in Genetics
What was your favourite part of debating at Otago University Debating Society?
The ability to make life long friends, while simultaneously getting to work towards practical outcomes.
What is one thing you have gained from Otago University Debating Society?
The confidence to present information to groups of people, large or small.
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Alec Dawson
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What did you study at Otago?
I graduated in December 2014 with degrees in Law and Arts
What was your favourite part of debating at Otago University Debating Society?
Travelling and competing in debating tournaments. It's where you develop really strong friendships with other debaters, get to debate a variety of interesting topics, meet new people and feel either triumph or heartbreak. As an individual moment, the announcement of the teams who made the finals at midnight on new years' eve at the World Championships in 2013 stands out. No Otago teams had ever made the Worlds finals before, but this time all 3 teams we had there made it through. There was a lot of chanting and jumping around!
What is one thing you have gained from Otago University Debating Society?
The ability to quickly break up an argument or point I wanted to make into smaller, discrete points which flowed logically from one point to the next. This has been very useful in my legal work when I need to present research work in a convincing manner.
I graduated in December 2014 with degrees in Law and Arts
What was your favourite part of debating at Otago University Debating Society?
Travelling and competing in debating tournaments. It's where you develop really strong friendships with other debaters, get to debate a variety of interesting topics, meet new people and feel either triumph or heartbreak. As an individual moment, the announcement of the teams who made the finals at midnight on new years' eve at the World Championships in 2013 stands out. No Otago teams had ever made the Worlds finals before, but this time all 3 teams we had there made it through. There was a lot of chanting and jumping around!
What is one thing you have gained from Otago University Debating Society?
The ability to quickly break up an argument or point I wanted to make into smaller, discrete points which flowed logically from one point to the next. This has been very useful in my legal work when I need to present research work in a convincing manner.
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Thomas Newman
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What did you study at Otago?
I graduated in December 2016 with degrees in Law and Philosophy
What have you done since leaving University?
I am perusing a Law career and currently working as a Law clerk at Chen Palmer Public and employment law
What was your favourite part of debating at Otago University Debating Society?
I'd say winning Claytons in 2016 was pretty good
What is one thing you have gained from Otago University Debating Society?
One of the skills I gained as a member of the Debating Society was structuring information in a way that makes sense for its audience.
I graduated in December 2016 with degrees in Law and Philosophy
What have you done since leaving University?
I am perusing a Law career and currently working as a Law clerk at Chen Palmer Public and employment law
What was your favourite part of debating at Otago University Debating Society?
I'd say winning Claytons in 2016 was pretty good
What is one thing you have gained from Otago University Debating Society?
One of the skills I gained as a member of the Debating Society was structuring information in a way that makes sense for its audience.
