Alice Lucy

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Royal Yachting Association

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

I began my current role the day after submitting my master’s dissertation at Exeter, and I’ve been working in this position ever since.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

My two passions are sailing and sustainability, so I always aimed to combine them in my career. In my current role, I lead the RYA’s environmental outreach and education programme, The Green Blue. I particularly enjoy working on practical and creative projects that promote sustainable boating, as well as collaborating with the RYA’s extensive affiliate network.

Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?

I was a member of Exeter University’s Sailing Club and competed as part of Exeter Blue, the first team. During my time there, we achieved BUCS Gold in the BUCS Fleet Racing Championships, BUCS Match Racing Championships, and BUCS Team Racing Championships

I was also the GeoSoc PostGrad Rep organising socials for course including Christmas Dinner, Bowling, Summer Dinner and various Pub trips.

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

I really enjoyed the programme, it was engaging and offered the opportunity to learn alongside people from a wide range of backgrounds, which made discussions and projects particularly interesting. My biggest highlight was my dissertation, where I had the chance to intern with World Sailing.

What did you most enjoy about studying here?

I really enjoyed the research-led approach to teaching at Exeter. The lecturers were highly engaged in cutting-edge research on sustainability, particularly around climate change, which made the content both inspiring and relevant. Their expertise and passion created an engaging learning environment that motivated me throughout my studies.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

I chose to study at Exeter because of the strong reputation and credentials of the programme. I also wanted the experience of living in a new part of the country near the coast for my master’s. Additionally, the university is renowned as one of the top institutions in the UK for sailing.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

The knowledge and experience I gained throughout the programme have been invaluable, not only in my day-to-day work but also in securing my current role. Most importantly, the Solutions Project (internship) was a key factor in helping me obtain this position, as it gave me practical insight into how sustainability operates within a sporting organisation. Additionally, my dissertation internship with World Sailing provided me with the knowledge, connections, and foundations to build a career at the intersection of sailing and sustainability, which directly led to my role at the RYA. The internship was an incredible experience that taught me so much and gave me the confidence to pursue this path.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

Say yes to every opportunity and actively seek them out while you’re at Exeter, there are so many ways to get involved that will help you both secure a job and figure out what you truly want to do. Building connections is just as important; use your course modules as a chance to engage with people working in roles you aspire to. For example, in one module, my group interviewed my current boss for a video project. That experience gave me a great starting point and familiarity when I later interviewed for my role.

What are your plans for the future?

I’m only four months into this role, so my immediate focus is on delivering the exciting projects we have planned. Looking ahead, I want to continue building my career in the sailing and sustainability sector, developing expertise and contributing to initiatives that promote environmental responsibility within the sport.