Natasha Ryan

Natasha drew up plans for her career and extracurricular passions and found her place in the future through Lincoln University. 

“I was attracted to the course because it is recognised worldwide and offered me the opportunity to join the scholarship programme for netball.” 

After graduating with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture with Honours, Natasha was well-equipped to enter the workforce after getting on the tools early.

“The course offered a variety of learning practices, including site visits, lectures, practical work and 1-on-1 studio labs.” 

Drawing on these experiences, Natasha found the most value from her fourth-year major design project, the ‘Ōtamahua/Quail Island project’. 

“My Otamahua project restores and revitalises Quail Island’s ecological and historical heritage while being designed to become a resilient and sustainable island that responds to society's future needs, successfully integrating the past, present, and future history of the island,” she explains. 

Natasha accomplished academic and sporting excellence with innovative ideas during her studies, supported by a wide circle of knowledgeable faculty and professionals. 

“They contributed to my overall success by encouraging me to expand on skillsets or inspire my creative design abilities,” she says. 

Upon graduating, Natasha was snapped up by Novo Group Limited in Christchurch, where she had completed practical work during her fourth year of study. Today, her role encompasses a variety of work in the Landscape Architecture profession, from master planning to residential design and landscape planning. 

Gearing up to send her career international with abroad industry contacts, she reminisces over small but mighty Lincoln. In terms of university facilities, her journey began in Stevens Hall. 

"Being a part of the Halls created a safe space which allowed me to create a support network around me while adjusting to the full-on University Life."

When it was time for the mahi, you’d find Natasha in our state-of-the-art School of Landscape Architecture building (SoLA).

“It offered me an ideal learning environment with high-end resources and design spaces,” she says. “The open studio labs allow year groups to collaborate and draw inspiration from one another.”

And when it was time for ‘play’, Natasha would move to the courts as part of Lincoln University’s Premier Netball Team, who clinched the ‘Team of the Year’ title in her final year at the annual Blues and Golds awards. 

Becoming heavily involved in the way of life here at Lincoln, Natasha found her purpose and path to success in the industry.