Heather is in her 4th year of a Double Bachelor degree in International Security Studies and Classical Studies, majoring in Ancient History and minoring in Latin.

What is your favourite cuisine from Asia and the Pacific regions?

Indian, but ironically, I am bad at eating spicy food.

What is your favourite movie from Asia and the Pacific regions? What is it about?

Hunt for the Wilderpeople. It is a New Zealand film about Ricky Baker, a foster child, and his relationship with Hec (his foster “uncle”). The story focuses on Ricky and Hec learning to respect each other whilst on the run from NZ child protection.

What issue in Asia and the Pacific regions are you most passionate about/intrigued by?

Temporary migration to (particularly Australia and NZ) and what social security services/supports are there in place to support temporary migrants/what exploitation are migrants exposed to in the region. I also have a particular interest in the Seasonal Worker Programs of these two nations and how these are run and whether remittances are beneficial or detrimental.

What is your favourite book and why?

The Civil War (by Lucan) and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The Civil War is admittedly a Roman poem. I fell in love with after reading the first two lines, it is just so beautifully written and makes you reflect on the uselessness of war, conflict, death, and pain. It also fascinates me for how it manipulates history and memory to facilitate the authors agenda. The Book Thief is another beautifully crafted piece and putting it plainly I love it because the story is heart-breaking, and I love Liesel’s discovery of language and writing and what it comes to mean to her.