Tom Bailey
Current Employer/Organisation Name
Stantec
What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?
After completing my Masters by Research at Exeter, I moved to Bristol with my partner (now fiancée!) and started as a Graduate GIS Consultant with Stantec. I have been with Stantec ever since and I am now an Assistant GIS Consultant. In my roles, I work closely with many teams across a range of disciplines, producing interactive outputs on projects, including web apps, dashboards, and models. Using the Esri GIS suite, I have developed curated web apps and produced my own custom tools which are used on dozens of projects. I also organise Stantec’s Corporate League football team…to mixed successes!
Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?
I chose GIS after pursuing the Applied GIS pathway in my Geography BSc (inspired and motivated by Damien Mansell and David Hein-Griggs), fascinated by the geospatial analyses opportunities GIS provides to help solve problems and add value to projects. It is this that I enjoy most about my current role, and having the GIS learned in my degrees as the base to build upon has been incredibly useful.
What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?
I enjoyed the great range of optional modules, allowing you to get a taste of many aspects of Geography, and then begin to discover what areas interest you the most.
What did you most enjoy about studying here?
The campus is beautiful and very green. Coming from Cornwall, it was nice to have a campus in a city that still felt reassuringly rural!
Why did you choose to study at Exeter?
I participated in the Exeter Scholars programme at school and so was able to have a taste of the university before applying. From my days spent there on the Geography pathway, I knew I would enjoy my time there. I participated in a panel talk in the Great Hall in my first year, answering questions from school students currently on the programme.
What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?
The GIS skills I learned at Exeter have been incredibly useful in my career, not only having experience in the software we use at Stantec, but gaining an understanding of geospatial analyses and when and how to apply them.
What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?
Make the most of your GIS modules, ask lots of questions and think outside the box. Sometimes the best solutions to problems aren’t obvious, but can be very satisfying to think of a new approach! Definitely talk to Damien Mansell and David Hein-Griggs who were incredibly helpful and knowledgeable.
What are your plans for the future?
Continue to develop my geospatial analyses skills and add more value to Stantec’s projects. Also, increasing awareness of GIS and its incredible potential to solve issues and enhance opportunities.
