Georgia Wilson: What I love about my role at GreenWave Aotearoa

What I love most about my role at Greenwave Aotearoa is that I get to contribute to something meaningful. Every day I’m working in a space that aligns with my interests and the career I want to build long-term. There’s a big difference between doing work because you have to and doing work because you believe in it.

I really value the experience I’ve gained in the hatchery, which has been my main area of work at GreenWave. Before this role, I had no hatchery experience. Now I’m responsible for caring for our seaweed as it develops through its different life stages – from microscopic spores to juvenile sporophytes ready for outplanting.

The hatchery is such a critical part of what Greenwave Aotearoa does because without healthy seaweed to start with, the farming and product development cannot happen. Knowing that my role contributes directly to that foundation has given me a genuine sense of purpose and responsibility.

This role has also taught me a lot about myself – how I learn, how I communicate, and how I work best. I’ve realised that I’m someone who needs to understand the whole picture: how ideas connect, where information comes from, and why conclusions are made. It’s important to me that I can stand behind every piece of work I produce confidently knowing the information is reliable and that I haven’t cut any corners. Especially because the work we do at GreenWave informs real decisions, real products, and real outcomes.

One of the most exciting parts of this role is how it connected me to my passion for using marine ingredients in cosmeceuticals. Only a few months ago I was working in the cosmetics industry, talking about this passion and my dream one day to create a marine-based skincare range. Now, I’m actively contributing to that space - learning how these ingredients are developed, sharing ideas, and watching my two interests, marine biology and cosmetics, come together. It feels like such a full circle moment.

I feel incredibly fortunate to be learning from people that I genuinely look up to in this field. Having a seat at the table with the experts has both inspired me and helped me grow so much in my professional development.

I can clearly see my own growth in the way that I ask better questions, the confidence I’ve gained with deeper understanding, and the resilience that has come from making mistakes and learning from them. I feel deeply grateful for this opportunity that has come at a time of significant personal and professional growth, and I’m super excited to see where it leads me.