Profile
Alex Cartwright
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About Me:
I’m most at home in the hills – skiing, mountain biking, or being pulled along by our two dogs. In 2018 my now wife and I moved from the UK to New Zealand and have lived and worked here ever since.
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Geography helped me be curious in everything I do. Go skiing, wonder what is hidden below the snow. Go scuba diving, get distracted at the formation of coral.
The interaction of people and the environment fascinates me. I lived in a community that was flooded, and this showed me there are jobs that are all about people and the environment, and it starts with geography.
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My pronouns are:
he/ him
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How I use Geography in my work:
I started my career in the UK, looking at how flooding impacts people and property. We used maps to look at who could flood, when.
Now I work in New Zealand, where we develop information to understand and reduce the impacts of natural hazards: earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, floods. Nearly all the hazards you learn about at school we have here in New Zealand.
We look at where we should build homes and communities to avoid hazards, and how we help reduce the impacts for those people already living somewhere hazardous.
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My Work:
I work for the Natural Hazards Commission, New Zealand’s public insurer for natural hazards.
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My job is to help keep people, homes, and communities safe from natural disasters like floods, earthquakes, and storms. I work with scientists, builders, and emergency teams to make sure we understand the risks and are ready if something big happens.
That means helping people make smart choices about where and how we build houses, how we prepare before disasters, and how we bounce back afterwards. It’s a bit like being part detective, part planner, and part helper – all to make Aotearoa New Zealand safer and stronger for the future.
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My Typical Day:
Most mornings I wake up early and take my dogs for a walk — they help me start the day right! After breakfast, I hop on my bike and cycle to work, spend my day talking with others to share ideas and solve tricky problems, and always home in time for tea… and probably another dog walk!
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At work, I help figure out how natural hazards like floods or earthquakes might affect people’s homes and communities. I use maps, models, and big sets of data to understand where the biggest risks are, and I talk to lots of different people – like scientists, councils, and emergency teams – to help everyone plan ahead. My job is a mix of detective work and teamwork: finding useful information and helping turn it into action so that people can stay safe when big events happen.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I’d use the £500 prize to create a fun, interactive “Dog Detective Disaster Trail” – an online map-based adventure that helps students explore natural hazard science through the eyes (and nose!) of a disaster-savvy dog.
Using real-world examples from around the globe, the trail would lead students through places affected by floods, earthquakes, and storms. At each stop, they’d uncover clues, solve challenges, and learn how science helps communities prepare and stay safe.
It would be light-hearted, easy to access, and designed to spark curiosity about how STEM is used in the real world – all guided by a clever cartoon pup who’s part scientist, part search dog, and full of good ideas. 🐾
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Education:
I went to primary school in Winchester, then secondary school in Southampton. I then went to University of Manchester, then I went on to study at University of Southampton.
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Qualifications:
GCSEs – I did 11, these are the main ones: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English, Geography, Maths, Design & Technology, Religious studies…
A Levels: Geography, Maths, Physics, Design & Technology
University:
Geography – Batchlor of Science
Oceanography – Master of Science
Accreditations:
Chartered Water and Environmental Manager
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Work History:
Volunteer Responder, NHS Ambulance Service
Chalet Host, French ski resort
PADI Divemaster, Honduras – Central America
Waiter/ Front of House, Winchester
Flood Risk Management Consultant, London
Climate and Risk Consultant, New Zealand
Strategic Advisor – Resilience, New Zealand
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Current Job:
Strategic Advisor of Resilience at Natural Hazards Commission, New Zealand’s public insurer.
A public insurer is like a big safety helper that helps people with money to fix their houses after things like floods or earthquakes – so they can get back home faster.
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Employer:
Natural Hazards Commission
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
dog-loving disaster detective
What did you want to be after you left school?
Honestly, I didn't know, so just focused on continuing to learn more
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Yes, never big thing, but lots of small things
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Something else that helps people, ambulance service maybe (ideally in helicopter to see great views)
Who is your favourite singer or band?
too many to choose, Spotify tells me that I listened to 225 differing genres in 2025
What's your favourite food?
Mexican burritos
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
Be able to help more people avoid disaster, move to a house with view of the sea, surf everyday!
Tell us a joke.
What do you call a guy with no shins? Tony.
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